Bead Bar Reccomendations

Recommendation 1

Bead Bar Network Recommendation.

Paul Galbreath

Axia College of University of Phoenix

IT 205 Supervision and Leadership

Marianne Daugharthy

December 15, 2007

Recommendation 2

Bead Bar Network Recommendation.

The Bead Bar is looking for a new network system to replace their current paper- based system. In this recommendation the information that will be discussed includes a recommendations overview, a proposal for which specific network topology and architecture to use, and the advantages and drawbacks of the recommended topologies and architecture.

To better understand the recommendations and how they will fit in with the Bead Bar a little background is needed about the company. The Bead Bar is a company that specializes in allowing customers to create their own bead jewelry(Malaga, 2005). Meredith S. founded the company in 1998 and today the company has three divisions: (1) studios, (2) franchises, and (3) Bead Bar on Board(Malaga, 2005). The Bead Bar still uses paper-based forms, but is now large enough that the paper-based system is inefficient and has caused some problems, including lost orders, incorrect invoicing, and fulfillment delays(Malaga,2005).

A quick recommendation overview shows that a wireless network with client server architecture has been determined best for the Bead Bar. For the network topology it has been determined that a wireless network, based on the 802.11g standard, would work best for the Bead Bar(Malaga,2005). This decision is based on two different reasons. The first reason is the discussion with the owner and her concerns with having visible wires running everywhere. The next reason for choosing a wireless network is the saved money on installation.

Recommendation 3

For the network architecture it has been determined that a client/server architecture will work best for the Bead Bar. The power of this setup will ensure the Bead Bar has the resources it needs to meet its daily business demands.

The network topology proposed for the Bead Bar is a wireless network based on the 802.11g standard. By using a wireless network, the company will save money on the installation of physical media(Malaga,2005). "In addition, a wireless network gives the studios the ability to expand or rearrange their interiors, without the need to move cables" (Malaga,2005). Other network topologies would have cost more to install and also would limit how and where new devices were able to connect to the network. The 802.11g standard was chosen for its high speed of 54 mbps, low cost, and compatibility with the many notebook and handheld computers that come built with 802.11b network adapters(Malaga,2005). "The implementation of the wireless network required the purchase of a wireless access point (WAP) for each location and a wireless network adapter for each computer" (Malaga,2005). The main server will connect to the WAP, which in turn will connect wirelessly to all the computers in the headquarters.

The network architecture that is recommended for the Bead Bar is one that is based on client/server architecture as opposed to peer to peer. If a peer-to-peer network was used all computers would be clients and servers(Malaga,2005). "Any computer in the network is capable of sharing its resources, such as disk space and printers, with any other computer." (Malaga,2005). This arrangement is simpler than client/server systems and is usually not as powerful as using dedicated servers(Malaga,2005). After

Recommendation 4

assessing the needs of the Bead Bar, peer to peer architecture would not be powerful enough to meet the needs of the Bead Bar.

The Bead Bar ran into some problems when pricing the telecommunications services that would connect each studio with headquarters(Malaga,2005). After a careful analysis, it has been determined that the Bead Bar requires a connection speed