Are all of the nodes in the network within roughly 200 meters
of each other?
If so, consider connecting them with 100Base-T links, or ThinLAN
links with Ethertwist. For entry-level servers, choose ThinLAN since
that adapter will offload part of the CPU load.
Are all of the nodes in the network within roughly 550 meters
of each other?
If so, consider connecting them with ThinLAN 3000/iX links. The
maximum cable length for segments of ThinLAN 3000/iX cable is 185
meters, with a maximum of three segments connected by
repeaters.
Are all of the nodes in the network within roughly 1,500 meters
of each other?
If so, consider connecting them with ThickLAN (thick coaxial cable).
The maximum cable length for each segment of ThickLAN coaxial cable
is 500 meters, with a maximum of three segments connected by
repeaters.
Are all of the nodes in the network located within 2 kilometers
of each other?
If so, consider using FDDI/iX links. The maximum cable length for
each segment is 2 kilometers with a maximum network length of up to
200 kilometers.
Are nodes located at remote sites? (For example, in different
buildings in the same city, or in different cities?)
If so, consider installing an X.25 network or a Point-to-Point
network using dial links or leased lines. Choose leased lines if you
have a critical need for clear transmission or if the volume of data
to be transmitted is relatively large.
Routers, switches, bridges and hubs are used to set up networks.
Routers are used to route packets between networks and subnets
based on the packets destination address.
Bridges are used to connect two LAN networks that are far
apart.
Hubs are multiport repeaters, used to build or extend a LAN
network. New nodes can be added to the LAN without disrupting the
existing network.
To connect two networks that run on different protocol stacks,
a gateway is needed. A gateway does conversion between the two
protocols at every layer until the application layer.
Is the set of nodes you wish to connect composed of some nodes
that are in close proximity to one another (for example, in the same
building) and other nodes that are geographically distanced (for
example, in different buildings or different cities)?
If so, you may wish to use ThinLAN 3000/iX, Token Ring 3000/iX, FDDI,
100VG-AnyLAN, or 100Base-T networks for nodes that are located near
one another and Point-to-Point or X.25 links for nodes in different
buildings or cities.
Will HP 9000s or other minicomputers need to be part of the
network?
If so, consider ThinLAN 3000/iX (or its ThickLAN option), Token Ring
3000/iX, FDDI/iX, 100VG-AnyLAN, 100Base-T, or X.25/iX System
Access.
Do you need access to nodes on public or private X.25
networks?
If so, consider using DTC/X.25 iX Network Links.
Is a subset of nodes either geographically or organizationally
distanced from another subset of nodes?
If so, you may wish to establish a network boundary between them in
order to make them two separate networks joined by a full gateway or
router. Alternatively, you may want to use subnets to divide one
network into two or more physically distinct subnetworks.
If you must use a gateway half, is the partner-gateway half in
the same building or further away?
If the two gateway halves are in the same building, you can use a
direct connect link between them. If the two gateway halves are
further away, you will need to use a dial link.