Start your system infrastructure, the physical 'guts' of the network, with a contractor that has been certified by the Building Industry Consulting Service International (BICSI). As a certified contractor, Baynetwork is well-versed in infrastructure issues and could help avoid a surprise such as an incompatible connection, or the need to pay high labor costs to repair a network which was not designed correctly in the first place.

Baynetwork handles the entire spectrum of office and building management technology — including network design, installation, configuration and maintenance, Windows domain setup, exchange and other mail system configurations, backup systems integration, antivirus protection, as well as website hosting, firewalling, and filtering setup. We also configure routers, switches, servers, VOIP phone systems, and do in-house network and computer equipment repair and refurbishing.

As part of every network installation we go through a comprehensive checklist to make sure your IT network works flawlessly:

• Security:

  Anyone with access to your wiring closet can dismantle your network in seconds, so we strive to secure your wiring closet.

• Cooling:

  An overheated computer can kill your business stone cold dead. Network and server equipment create abundant heat and also tend to shut down when overheated. We plan for this heat by making sure you have adequate cooling at the ready.

• Wireless:

  Considering wireless networking, also known as WiFi? If you are, you will have to choose a standard: 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, or 802.11h. There are newer standards which provide higher data transfer speeds, but these systems cost significantly more. The wireless standard that you select should depend on whether you're running a thin or fat client.

• Overwire:

  Most existing buildings are wired above the ceiling. Wiring is then dropped down the walls. When wiring, we recommend 'double drops,' as the largest cost of wire installation is the labor. If, when wiring, everywhere you think of a network connection, you wire two drops, you will thank yourself when you want to annex more network devices. (Networked printer, time clock, wireless access point, kiosk, for example). It's wise to consider installing a network drop wherever you anticipate the placement of diagnostic equipment, as this will help facilitate future interface needs.

• Electricity:

  It's standard IT practice to spend a bit extra to have a certified electrician install circuits for your network and servers. Typical Cat5e wires have either T568A or T568B as a standard. Select either one and be sure everything is wired to the same standard. The Cat6 wire standard is newer and a bit more expensive, probably a bit overkill for most businesses. Copper wires between telephone communications closets should not contain segments longer than a hundred meters. Consider using fiber optic cable for longer wiring distances, as these cables can move more information and is not as vulnerable to interference and effects from lightning. Fiber optic is a bit more expensive, however.

• Wide-Area Networks:

  To make a connection between remote offices, you'll have to create a wide-area network, or WAN. By doing your homework, you should be able to get a clear sense of the wide-area network options which are available to you. In most cases, large metropolitan areas have better options for wide-area networking.

• Local Phone Service:

  There are more phone options than Ma Bell. We understand the technological offerings in your geographic area. Some points to consider include T1 lines: Would a Point to Point (PTP) or Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) be more beneficial? Be sure to inquire about both burst and committed info rates. A fast T1 connection may not be enough for your needs if the max is not there when you need it most. Will the phone company supply and maintain the router hardware, or is that your responsibility?

• Fiber Backbones:

  Local utilities commonly maintain a fiber backbone which they allow businesses access to. These fiber backbones can create options for high (10-100Mpbs) bandwidth rates between office locations at rates that are quite competitive.

• New Building vs. Old:

  The cost of a network infrastructure is much lower in a new building. Actually, the ability to oversee the creation of network wiring in a building under construction is a huge advantage for clear design and reduced costs. However, the majority of practices will be located in an existing building, and especially in these cases, sound design and forethought in infrastructure planning will help save your practice from the costs and disappointment of a network design blunder.

Such a checklist can be daunting for you but this is what we do every day for hundreds of businesses. Baynetwork handles everything including network design, installation, configuration and maintenance, Windows domain setup, exchange setup and other mail system setups, backup system setups, antivirus protection, website filtering setup. We setup routers, switches, servers, VOIP phone systems, and do in-house network and computer equipment repair and refurbishing. If you want your network done right, it is time to get started now.