Re: Large network question

whytwelve13@xxxxxxxxx wrote:

I have a question regarding one network I am supposed to build and
administer. It should be put in a building that has 23 floors, of which
around 10-15 will be connected. Every floor will have 20-50 computers
connected, which are separated by walls. Each of the wall-separated
groups include 4, 8 or 10 computers and there are at most 5 groups per
floor. There is a possibility of devices like printers to be connected,
but that is not important right now. The computers will be primarily
used for file-sharing, possibly some gaming (Counter-Strike-alike
games). Some servers might exist on the network (HTTP, FTP, mail
server), but that is not a requirement.

I have built small networks with around 10-20 computers, but never a
network of this size. I am sure that there are some problems that I am
not aware of, so I would like to explore this in depth. Does anybody
have links to some tutorials on the Net about how to make such network?
It should address possible problems that do not happen (or are not a
problem) in small networks.

Here is a solution that I am thinking of. I would put enough 8-port
(for small computer groups) or 12-port switches (for bigger computer
groups) on the floor, depending on how that floor is about to be
connected (not every computer should be). I would put two or three
switches on some floors which have 16 or 24 ports, so every of 10-15
floors would be connected to them directly. A scheme would be:

Legend:
[] - Group of 4, 8 or 10 computers
n* - n-port Switch (e.g. 12* - 12 port switch)
MFS - To some of the main-floor 16- or 24-port switches

Example floor (with 26 computers):
[4] [8] [10] [4]
| | | |
8* 12* 12* 8*
| | | |
MFS---/ | |
| | | |
| \---------/ |
\-----------------/

All other floors would be connected in the same way, so MFSs would have
say 40-60 places occupied in total. Some of MFSs would be used as a
central gathering point:

MFS1---\
|
MFS2---+--- *(possibly)* ---Router----Internet
|
MFS3---/

It would be possible to connect this network to a broadband Internet
link, using a router connected to MFS2, as pointed. What do you think
about this? Any problems with this? I am concerned about the
possibility of a broadcast storm. Is this a problem? How could be this
avoided e.g. by using routers? As I found out, using routers would
prevent users from using file-sharing (at least using Windows
machines). Is this true and what is the solution?

Help is VERY appreciated.

I think what you need to do is work out the logical structure of this system
in some detail before you work out the physical structure. With the number
of users you seem to envision, trying to work by peer-to-peer file sharing,
unless there is some very unusual circumstance that you have not explained,
is going to be chaotic at best.

--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)
.

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