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Hello,

I have been reading Spiceworks for a while but this is my first time posting. I dont know if this is the right area to post this.

I have just gone to work for a small business that needs new computers and possibly a network upgrade as well. The owner has asked me to create a report to list the new computer design and what network infrastructure they would need to support growth in the company. The owner and managers are not computer professionals, so explanations must be understandable by all parties

Here is their current set up:

Currently there are 12 computers within the company. They work using a peer-to-peer network with the office manager’s computer as the database machine that everyone logs onto for use of the database. Each of the computers are running Microsoft Windows XP and have Microsoft Office 2003.

Current hardware for the majority of the computers is a dual core processor, 2 GB of RAM, a 130GB hard drive, and a 100mbs LAN adapter. The Office manager’s machine has a 320GB hard drive and 4GB RAM.

The network is currently running a 100mbs and is managed with a 16-port switch. Current network cabling is CAT 5 and may not support higher bandwidth. There is a possibility of expansion, so there needs to be more connections available for future Ethernet drops. Internet access and DHCP are handled by a ISDN router supplied by the internet service provider

Here is what they are requesting:

The staff have been complaining about computer slowdowns and some of the computers locking up during normal use.

They have requested access to multiple printers attached to individual computers. Currently they only have access to print to their local printer (connected to their computer)

The database has gotten quite large and may need to be moved to a stand-alone server and possibly upgraded from Microsoft Office Access to something more robust.

They currently have internet access via an ISDN digital line which does not allow more that 3-4 users at a time.

They have requested the network and internet bandwidth be improved. Users have requested the ability to use high definition streaming video to the desktop

What would you all suggest? As far as network upgrade and servers and such. They have nothing. I dont have a budget but they need to be logical decisions.

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Dude, send me a private email this will take some time. mayurragha@gmail.com

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Since they are already on Windows, a server running Hyper-V to take care of the printing, permissions, and possibly act as a file server if they can’t get a NAS.

Need to get them on a modern OS and version of Office. That will probably cause some things to break, but they are a ticking time-bomb with XP & 2003. The PC specs you mention should be fine for Win 10 with a cheap RAM upgrade to get them to 4GB.

That cat 5 needs replaced, go with 6 if you can but they have to at least get 5e if they want gigabit speed.

New core switch for expansion.

Access db? Eek! Yeah, that needs to go. Hopefully you know a developer who can work something up for them if an off the shelf product won’t do what they need.

Hopefully they have another option for internet service in the area?

That sounds like a fun project. Good luck!

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Hunter8463 - welcome to Spiceworks!

This does sound like this customer needs a complete “overhaul”, which will obviously cost $$$$. My questions for you:

  1. Are you an employee of this company, or just trying to help them out as an independent tech/subcontractor?

  2. Does the customer have any money?

It sounds like you are working as a freelance tech, and you’re just starting out with this customer. You also said “they have nothing. I don’t have a budget”, which is concerning…

You said the owner asked you to create “a report to list the new computer design and what network infrastructure they would need to support growth in the company.” I say this is a complete waste of time, if this company has zero IT budget!

Rather than a detailed technical report, put together a very short list of options with your best estimate for cost (parts + labor) for each option. For example:

Option 1: Replace (12) Win XP machines with new Win 10 machines, move current Access database to new machine, for enhanced security and support ($9,000)

Option 2: Includes work from Option 1, plus installation of a new Server and upgrading Access database for increased performance and reliability ($15,000)

Option 3: Includes work from Option 2, plus installation of new Cat6a network cable and firewall/router/switch for 1 Gbps network speed. ($25,000)

The pricing above is somewhat arbitrary, but that’s not the point. If you present the owner(s) of this company with these simple options, and explain the benefits of each option, you can have a meaningful conversation without getting too technical. The owner(s) can pick the option they feel best suites their needs, wants, and budget, and you can get to work.

In a case like this, where the company is running Win XP and a 100 Mbps network, they obviously haven’t spent a dime on technology in a very long time and it’s VERY IMPORTANT to have a discussion about budget expectations BEFORE you do any work for them.

Again, if this company has zero IT budget, don’t waste your time.

@hunterbertoson

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He probably meant Doesn’t have a budget as in no limitations, as he said to keep it reasonable.

my first thought when redoing a network is consolidating. Is there anything that can be combined into one larger, nicer thing? get a enterprise MFP instead of 10 laser printers for example.

Also no idea as to what your RTO, RPO, and network traffic is. I’d get a gigabit network just to future proof, beefy file server/DC/DNS/DHCP host (With file server as a separate VM and then the rest as one VM) and a backup target and backup software as well. I’d recommend veeam, but sometimes an appliance works better, so then Unitrends or Barracuda. Everything other than that would be depending on business software/needs/wants.

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My first thought here is “wow, what a mess”

Second thought: “He needs to be backing this up”

I’m going to address their concerns here:

The staff have been complaining about computer slowdowns and some of the computers locking up during normal use.

A simple backup solution will work just fine, these computers likely haven’t been restored in ages. Use a tool like Rollback Rx to create a baseline, then schedule a weekly ‘roll back’. This will keep these machines consistently clean and free of issues. It also will help with providing a light backup and troubleshooting tool which will prove helpful.

You can use Rollback on the servers as well, or look into Veeam . I use a mixture of both, really depends on the function of the server.

They have requested access to multiple printers attached to individual computers. Currently they only have access to print to their local printer (connected to their computer)

Why?

The database has gotten quite large and may need to be moved to a stand-alone server and possibly upgraded from Microsoft Office Access to something more robust.

This is doable. This is why consolidation is needed. Drop the unnecessary bits and go with what’s needed.

They currently have internet access via an ISDN digital line which does not allow more that 3-4 users at a time.

Yeah, upgrade that.

They have requested the network and internet bandwidth be improved. Users have requested the ability to use high definition streaming video to the desktop.

That can be done, but you want them streaming video? You should come up with computer usage policy (Template) . Otherwise I can guarantee you that they will invite many more issues for you.

I think the real issue here is that this org is totally out of hand, she’s a wild bull and you have to reign her in. Employees and management may not like it, but there’s a lot of issues here, and you want to get on top of it before you are stuck with nothing.

Budget what it will cost to consolidate, lock down, and backup everything and present a few options to management. If you need more help or elaboration feel free to ask me here or you can DM me.

@Veeam_Software

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Just because there is no budget doesn’t mean that you can’t make progress in this organization.

You have already identified the pain points. Now write up how that affects users and procedures in the company. You’re going to want to have an ROI for your expenditures, and this will help with that.

I would avoid solutions that will need to be replaced in a short period of time, or that ignore things like security and scalability. If you must do this, make sure that management understands the impact of their choices.

I think that this problem actually sounds interesting. You’re only going to make things better, and you’ll get to be creative in your solutions.

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Glad you reached out to the Spiceworks community Hunter8463! This is a great place to start! :slight_smile:
Are you currently working with an IT provider to help with some of this stuff? They can help you prioritize, procure, and/or install based on your needs. CCB would be happy to assist. Here’s our website but you can always connect with me on here on Spiceworks too. I hope you get to lead some awesome changes at your company! Managed IT Services for Small and Medium Businesses | CCB Technology =

@hunterbertoson

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If you can afford it look into getting Cisco or Cisco Meraki network gear. It is really nice and meraki allows you to manage everything from anywhere in the world.

@Cisco @Cisco_Meraki_1

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Hey Hunter,

Regarding your network, @Linksys has an array of switches and access points that could be a good fit for your SMB environment and budget.

Also, I wanted to leave you with a little information on Linksys in the SMB space which has some quick case studies and how Linksys can be optimal for your SMB

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HI there Hunter! Welcome to posting in the forums! You could probably edit your post to include the networking and maybe the wireless groups as well. Also, can you clarify if “I don’t have a budget” means there’s no hard restriction on your funds or are you are looking to spend as little as possible because there is no money being allocated to you?

If you are looking to update your wireless network at all (seeing that your boss wants growth in the company later on), feel free to give @Cambium Networks ’ line of access points a look. Our indoor wi-fi APs are designed for any multi-dwelling structure and they are managed by cnMaestro, a cloud-based/on-prem controller. If you need any assistance or would like more info, message or tag me at any time! Good luck!

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If they want a complete networking and computing overhaul, I would say the first step would be to shop around with your local ISP’s assuming you have more than one or two options. Look into getting fiber or an ISP that only works with businesses. We have an ISP where I work that only has business customers on it and no consumer (home) traffic congesting the lines. I cannot stress enough how important it is to have a good relationship with whatever ISP you choose. I would pay extra if it meant going with a better company. Next, you need to evaluate the budget. I know you said there is no budget but there is always a budget and you need to find out how much they are looking to spend. This isn’t to used to cap that budget but more of a guideline as to what you can afford vs the needs of the business. If you budget is substantial, you will likely be able to buy everything new. If the budget is not as large, you may have to “cut corners” in few areas. You may need to buy last gen, refurbished computers for the users instead of new. I would look into different network solutions for switches, routers, etc to see what works. Look into Ubiquiti networks, Cisco, Netgear (business grade stuff only, none of the consumer stuff), or whatever you find. Make sure you are comfortable with you decision and do your research on network equipment. Again, best thing to do is to get an estimate of a budget that way you can get more detailed advice. I hope any bit of this helps.

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Hey OP- you definitely have a lot of options when if comes to overhauling your network. I just wanted to give you some info about Aruba’s SMB solutions that will get you started in the right direction. We give you the flexibility to design your network to fit your specific business needs- one that can support the growing number of mobile devices and cloud-based applications that typically come with a business of your size.

More details for you here: http://www.arubanetworks.com/solutions/smb/

Let me know if you’ve got any questions!

@Aruba

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These posts seem more common now where OP asks for help, but without some pertinent details and then never returns to the thread to provide the requested further details.

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