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If security and fast data sharing are the prime concerns for your small enterprise, then wired networks fit the bill. With its kernel being the hardware, such as routers, switches or hubs, wired networks are extremely difficult to trespass. Most small businesses, which have limited workspace, find it most cost-effective to set up wiring and possess a rather robust and more secured network.

For setting up wired networks, it is extremely crucial to deploy the right hardware. Most people confuse between the roles of routers, switches and hubs.

What are Hubs, Switches and Routers?
Hubs are fairly unsophisticated devices that broadcast all packets coming through any of their ports to the rest of them. Since packets are sent indiscriminately, there is a lot of packet collision, which results in slower transfers. However, they are handy in computer clusters when each member computer is supposed to receive the data which is being sent out by other members.

Switches are a far more advanced form of hubs. They innately recognize the requesting computer and transmit data packets to specific IPs only. Switches operate at the data link layer and create a different collision domain per port. What it means is that each computer in the network can interact with the other without affecting the whole network. They do not cluster up the bandwidth and, thus, offer faster networking.
Routers are the smartest of them all. They perform the same functions as a switch with more capabilities in terms of networking between two or more LANs or WANs. They can provide connectivity inside enterprises and between enterprises and the Internet.

For small enterprises, a router, therefore, becomes a must along with switches for effective and fast data exchange within the network.

Cost and Installation of Wired Networks
As compared to wireless networks, most wired network hardware is inexpensive. Adding more value to money is the free connection-sharing software, such as ICS.

A Small Business Enterprise (SME) will require the following hardware to set up a wired network:
Routers: Look for the Quality of Service (QoS). It prioritizes packets from LAN to WAN, aiding in conserving significant bandwidth.
Firewall filter with scheduler: It restricts access to certain ports.
Wake on LAN: It comes handy in waking up a computer remotely if it shuts down due to a power cut.
Gigabit switch: Gigabit switch negates the need to buy add-on switches and enables quicker data transfer.
Jumbo frames: They increase the transfer speed of LAN and reduce the CPU use involved in file transfer. This gives the network as well as the CPU more power and efficiency.
Cables: CAT5e Ethernet cables are the best for data transfers. Ensure that you do not use CAT5, as they will not support gigabit Ethernet. Alternately, you can consider CAT6, albeit a more costly option.
File servers: There are various options available in this segment. One can opt for the Windows SMB server and mount its shares on each computer or consider iSCSI, which is among the fastest TCP packet headed protocols.

With India’s internet penetration rate at around 6 percent (according to November 2009 figures), wired networks still seem like a fairly good option. A wired LAN for five users could cost as low as Rs.10,000. Installing a wired LAN is similar to installing a home theater system. The only problem could be loose wiring so be careful at the time of fitting the cables.

Benefits of Deploying A Wired Network
If mobility is not a major concern for your business and most computers are hard wired (desktops rather than laptops), wired networks are a good option, as they offer the following benefits:
Speed: With advancements in technology and Ethernet cables, data transmission has reached 10 gigabits per second. Even the CAT6 wires have been introduced to make data transmission a lot faster. Improvements in wireless networks are still lagging.
Security: The toughest network to intrude and eavesdrop on is the wired one. As there are no wireless signals to be intercepted, wired networks offer the maximum security. One just needs to install a robust firewall. It is for this reason that most SMEs and even some bigger organizations opt for wired networks to protect their business intelligence.
 Reliability: With robust wiring in place, sharing heavy files and even applications becomes more reliable with wired networks. Unlike wireless networks, where weaker signals or positions can affect the speed and may result in disconnections as well, wired networks offer more robust connectivity.
 Cheaper: Wireless networks, being the latest innovations and using more sophisticated hardware, tend to be costlier than the wired ones.

The Flip Side
The major disadvantage of a wired network is its mobility. Being fixed, they limit the number of users as well. A slight movement incurs not only labor cost for planting new jacks, but the cost of new hardware as well.

Therefore, scaling with wired network costs more money. In wireless networks, this issue does not exist, as any computer with wireless connectivity can add to the network after authentication. Wiring mess is another concern with wired networks.

Catching errors and breakdowns in the wires thus becomes a major issue. Also, in case of a slight fault in the wire, the entire cord needs to be replaced.

This is not the case with wireless networks, as the connection is set up through signals.

Summary
So, when it comes to deciding between a wired and a wireless network, what matters is the kind of work and load your network will bear. Opt for a wired network when:
 You need to share big files on a continuous basis.
 Security and cost are the paramount issues.
 You need reliability and robustness of network throughout the operational time.
 The office space is small enough and wiring will not add to the cost much. (Small space also negates the need of mobility.)
 You need faster speed and accessibility of the network. Wired networks offer the best remote controlling prowess to administrators.
 You have older PCs with no wireless connectivity and do not wish to spend on making them wireless capable.
 You expect to run heavy applications on the computer. Jumbo frames used in wired networks enable more capability in CPUs, as they take the load.

Unlike wireless networks where a section of your CPU is engaged, computers retrieve their original power and can run heavy applications with ease.

In a nutshell, choose a wired network when you have budgetary constraints and when security and performance are all that you desire from your network. That is when this will work best to your advantage.

©Entrepreneur May 2011

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cables, CPU, data, hub, ICS, Network, port, routers, security, servers, SME, switches, WAN, wired