Our first IT upgrade! –HELP!
Finally, the time has come. I have a file server set up. I know how to run it. I know how to secure it. I know how to back it up. The time has finally come to ‘centralize’ NMCC’s network.
Before I can begin, I need a router. Because the network has only been used for internet so far, we haven’t used one. One is in place, and is routing, but it’s the ISP’s and because the connection is wireless we can’t have access to it. I guess they think we would steal wep keys and distribute them or something. Nonetheless, the time has come for us to control our own network.
I need suggestions. We are saving up for a huge technology bump later this year, and I don’t want to distract them from that goal. Nor will they stray from that goal. I had to work hard to get them working on that goal! Anyway, it’s time. We need this. Even though this is an important piece of hardware, we don’t want to spend a lot of money at this point. Our network is still very small.
My question for the geeks out there, what is a good router for our starting point?
I’d get a good DLink router for now … they work well and aren’t a lot of $$ esp if you can get a rebate. Then save up for a “real” router down the road.
I run DLink at home and I’ve got 2 small biz clients running on DLink routers … for a small amount of users they work fine.
I’d also consider placing a switch in front of the router rather than using whatever switch functionality of the router. The less things the router has to do the happier it will be.
Do you plan to use DHCP from the router or the server?