Author: David Botero
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Power over Ethernet (PoE) sends electricity and data over a single network cable, so devices like cameras, phones, and access points don’t need their own power outlet. Why use PoE? – Fewer cables and outlets – Easier installation in ceilings and remote locations – Central power backup (one UPS protects all connected devices) – Remote…
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Many small businesses run on whatever router their internet provider supplied. It often becomes a limitation. Why consumer routers fall short – Limited security features – Poor handling of many simultaneous users – No VLANs, VPN, or advanced controls – Little visibility or logging – Infrequent firmware updates What to look for – Throughput that…
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Businesses with multiple locations used to rely on MPLS, a private, carrier-managed network. It’s reliable but expensive. SD-WAN offers an alternative. What is SD-WAN? Software-defined WAN uses regular broadband, fiber, or LTE/5G links, and software to decide how traffic travels between sites and the cloud. Key benefits – Lower cost than MPLS circuits – Multiple…
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A firewall inspects traffic entering and leaving your network. Modern “next-generation” firewalls (NGFW) do much more than block ports. Typical capabilities – Intrusion prevention – Web filtering and application control – Malware scanning – VPN connectivity – SSL inspection – Logging and reporting Hardware appliances Physical devices installed on-site. Predictable performance, mature, and widely used.…
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“The Wi-Fi is bad” is one of the most common office complaints. Usually the cause is design, not the internet speed. Why one router isn’t enough Consumer routers don’t scale. Offices need multiple access points (APs) managed together. Principles of good design 1. Plan coverage and capacity. Consider both how far signals reach and how…
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Wi-Fi standards keep advancing. Here’s a plain comparison. Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) Still common, but dated. Works on the 5 GHz band and struggles in dense environments. Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) Better efficiency with many devices connected at once, improved battery life for clients, and higher speeds. A strong, mature baseline today. Wi-Fi 6E Wi-Fi 6 extended…
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A switch connects devices on your network: PCs, printers, servers, access points, and phones. Unmanaged switches Plug and play, with no configuration. They’re inexpensive and fine for simple, small setups like a home office or a few extra ports. Managed switches Offer configuration and control, including: – VLANs to separate traffic (staff, guests, cameras, phones)…
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What a UPS does – Provides battery power during outages so equipment shuts down safely – Filters surges and voltage fluctuations – Keeps critical systems running through short interruptions Types – Standby (offline): basic protection for desktops and small devices – Line-interactive: regulates voltage, ideal for small offices and network equipment – Online (double-conversion): continuously…
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RAID combines multiple drives into one logical unit for speed, redundancy, or both. The common levels RAID 0 – Striping Spreads data across drives for speed. No redundancy: if one drive fails, everything is lost. Never use for important data. RAID 1 – Mirroring Two drives hold identical data. Survives one drive failure. Simple and…
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Shared storage is central to most business networks. NAS and SAN are the two classic approaches. NAS (Network Attached Storage) A NAS is a storage device that serves files over the network (SMB, NFS). Think of it as a dedicated file server. – Pros: simple, affordable, easy to manage, good for file sharing and backups…