WebJunction

Local Area Network (LAN) Assessment

Use these questions to help you think through your local area network needs.

If you do not have a LAN:

1. What would a LAN enable you to do that you can't do now? For example, a LAN might:

2. • Allow staff members to access each others' files on the computer

   • Enable you to share Internet access across all the computers on the LAN

   • Allow staff members to use one central database

   • Allow you to set up an automated backup system for all computers on the network

How many computers do you want on the network?

Do you have computers with different operating systems, such as Macintosh and Windows?

What is your budget for setting up a LAN? Have you explored fundraising possibilities?

What support staff can you dedicate or hire to maintain and troubleshoot the LAN?

Do you have access to a consultant who can set up your LAN? If not, do you know of other libraries that might be able to recommend someone?

If you do have a LAN:

1. What network software are you using?

2. What kind of cabling does your LAN have?

3. Are you having any problems with your LAN?

4. Is everyone who needs to be on the network, on the network?

5. Is there room to put more computers on your network with your current cabling and hub?

6. Is the network fast enough? What tasks are too slow, if any?

7. Does the network break down often? What seems to cause the breakdowns?

8. Do you have a network server? What kind of computer is it? Has it been down more than once in the past few months?

9. What kind of backup system (ZIP drive, tape backup) does your network have? How frequently do you perform these backups? Do you backup all the hard drives connected to the network, or just the server?

10. Do you have a network consultant? If so, how much would you estimate that you have paid them during the last year?

11. Is your LAN connected to the Internet? If so, what kind of connection do you have?

12. • Shared modem (28.8 dial-up or dedicated line)

    • ISDN

    • 56K line

    • T1 Connection

    • T3 Connection

What do you need to be able to do using your LAN that you can't do now? What about the LAN is slowing you down?

What solutions or next steps do you see?