Network Two Offices Advice I currently have a small office of around 8 users. Were currently running Server 2000 as a File Server. DHCP is a local router with a couple of small switches hanging off it. OK my plan is to rewire the cabinet with a patch panel and a 24-port switch to make it more office. (I have just taken over the contract and it was wired very badly.) OK here I go. The company is now going to build another building that will be right next door to the current building. BT are going to lay telephone lines. How should I connect the office? There will probably be a requirement for max 16 more data points. Should I be looking at fibre?

Depends on how much they want to spend. For only 16 users I doubt they'll want to pay for fibre (although since they're having the building built it would be the ideal time). Probably a more cost efficient method is to use a wireless connection between the two buildings. A Fibre connection will allow the extra bandwidth that will be needed if there is any plan for the company to grow in the second building. Not sure if this helps you at all. <

Thanks, I would rather not go wireless thats the thing. However I think that Fiber would be great if BT charge the right price. CAT5 to far, I cant see any other way really. I dont know any cheeper way?

The company is now going to build another building that will be right next door to the current building. BT are going to lay telephone lines. Since the buildings are right next door to each other you should be able get whoever's pulling your telephone lines between buildings to pull you a fibre optic cable at the same time. I would go with a 12 strand multi-mode myself to allow for future growth. We're expanding where I work and as a temporary measure (it will be 2 years before expansion is built and ready for occupancy) they're bringing in 7 trailers for temporary office space. We're pulling a 12 strand multi-mode to the trailers and hooking that into our existing network. We already own a roll of 12 strand multi-mode so all we have to do is pull/terminate it and wire the trailers when they're done renovating the space inside. We'll be doing that again when the new expansion is built to connect it with our existing building/network.

You m ay have other issues...are you a workgroup or a domain...how far away are the 2 buildings...how much internet access do you need???... You need to talk to your phone company to get a reliable, adequet bandwidth service between the 2 buildings...unless you really know what your're doing with fiber, and because you ask the question, I think I can safely assume you do not...do not do this yourself...get professional help...

Well, I have to say its the first time I have used fiber with any of my clients. I have put in a 300 Mtr Fiber from one office to another, I was throwing the idea around really to see if there was any other way. I have looked around and worked out that fiber is not as expensive as I thought. I have now been toying with the idea of getting a cable conduit layed between the Computer Room and into the new office. I am unable to work out distance as I have to get permission to get a location for the patch panel and switch. Plan to pull a fiber and then get this directly into an unmanaged switch with Fiber Slot. This will give me a Gigabit between sites. Probably got for Cat 6 to the desktops in the new office. I have no idea what my budget is yet but I am sure they will take my advise. Plan to do the work myself now. The company only have 512MB for net but they have just upgraded the exchange so upto 8MB available soon.

If you're not too concerned with expansion take a look at preterminated fibre optic cable. It is more expensive than unterminated, but it will do the job and you don't need to terminate it yourself. Thus eliminating the need for someone like me to come in and do it for you (very expenesive, trust me!). In either case (pre or unterminated) you need to measure accurately and allow some extra (always better to be too long than too short in this game). This will require you getting your wiring closet in place in the new building then making your calulations before ordering. I wouldn't really bother with Cat6. We're carrying 1000 Mbps (1 Gb) on Cat5e just fine here where I work. We are just now recabling our server room with Cat6 on overhead trays and let me tell you, it's not as easy to work with. The copper itself is a thicker gauge than Cat5e and harder on the fingers to untwist when preparing to punch it down. Two days and several hundred cables later, my fingers we're pretty darn sore as were my co-workers........LOL. The entire cables are thicker also than Cat5e and you need to take that into consideration if pulling through conduit. Compare Cat6 and Cat5e prices and you'll see the main reason I recommend you not bother with Cat6 Plan to pull a fiber and then get this directly into an unmanaged switch with Fiber Slot It's actually called a Media Converter. If you can't find a cheap switch with a media converter built in, or as an add-on part, you can get media converters pretty cheap.