Networking Between Buildings

Hi All

Not sure that this is the best group, but hopefully someone will have
experience.

My company is looking to take a lease on an adjacent offfice building and
I'm interested in the group's opinion on communication options.
Basically the company has outgrown the current premises, so some members of
staff will be moving to the new location.
The buildings are approx 15m apart with an estate access road and footpaths
separating them.
It makes sense to me to try to extend the network rather than install
additional servers, software, backup hardware etc.
What is the most reliable way of linking the buildings and approx cost?

Also, the existing building apparently uses wireless networking.
How reliable is this and is this a suitably stable alternative to the
100Mbps cat5 cabled version in our current office?
Any links to wireless networking for newbies gratefully received!

TIA

Phil

Personally, I would not be keen on running wireless... but maybe that's just
me, I like cables

If the building is only 15m apart, I would call the city out and have them
do an analysis on the ground for exisiting wires, water lines etc...
They'll paint all obstacles. Then have a little bobcat come out and just
trench a foot down or so from building to building. This 'access' road, is
it paved? If so, you may have to forget my bobcat idea Anyhow, if you
an lay it down, I'd run conduit in the trench and and wire the offices
directly.

Failing that, search for wireless solutions Good luck though, this sort
of stuff is actually pretty fun coming up with solutions.


"TheScullster" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi All
>
> Not sure that this is the best group, but hopefully someone will have
> experience.
>
> My company is looking to take a lease on an adjacent offfice building and
> I'm interested in the group's opinion on communication options.
> Basically the company has outgrown the current premises, so some members
of
> staff will be moving to the new location.
> The buildings are approx 15m apart with an estate access road and
footpaths
> separating them.
> It makes sense to me to try to extend the network rather than install
> additional servers, software, backup hardware etc.
> What is the most reliable way of linking the buildings and approx cost?
>
> Also, the existing building apparently uses wireless networking.
> How reliable is this and is this a suitably stable alternative to the
> 100Mbps cat5 cabled version in our current office?
> Any links to wireless networking for newbies gratefully received!
>
> TIA
>
> Phil
>
>

I'd stay away from wireless, and wires too. I'm in South Florida where
there's plenty of lightning. I wouldn't have anything but fiber running
between buildings.

Media converters should run about $300 for both ends, 6 pair fiber is about
$1 a foot, 1 meter fiber patch cables about $70 for 2. You'll want 2 wall
cabinets, $100 to $150 each. They get a lot of money to terminate the ends,
$35 seems to stick in my head, so $280 for a pair & a spare. Altogether
$1,000 or so for hardware, not including running the cable.

If you can't dig can you run an overhead cable? Hope I haven't added to the
confusion.

Cleve

"TheSingingCat" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:40d058ee$1_2@news....
> Personally, I would not be keen on running wireless... but maybe that's
just
> me, I like cables
>
> If the building is only 15m apart, I would call the city out and have them
> do an analysis on the ground for exisiting wires, water lines etc...
> They'll paint all obstacles. Then have a little bobcat come out and just
> trench a foot down or so from building to building. This 'access' road,
is
> it paved? If so, you may have to forget my bobcat idea Anyhow, if you
> an lay it down, I'd run conduit in the trench and and wire the offices
> directly.
>
> Failing that, search for wireless solutions Good luck though, this
sort
> of stuff is actually pretty fun coming up with solutions.
>
>
> "TheScullster" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > Hi All
> >
> > Not sure that this is the best group, but hopefully someone will have
> > experience.
> >
> > My company is looking to take a lease on an adjacent offfice building
and
> > I'm interested in the group's opinion on communication options.
> > Basically the company has outgrown the current premises, so some members
> of
> > staff will be moving to the new location.
> > The buildings are approx 15m apart with an estate access road and
> footpaths
> > separating them.
> > It makes sense to me to try to extend the network rather than install
> > additional servers, software, backup hardware etc.
> > What is the most reliable way of linking the buildings and approx cost?
> >
> > Also, the existing building apparently uses wireless networking.
> > How reliable is this and is this a suitably stable alternative to the
> > 100Mbps cat5 cabled version in our current office?
> > Any links to wireless networking for newbies gratefully received!
> >
> > TIA
> >
> > Phil
> >
> >
>
>

Another option - make sure there's decent Internet connectivity in each
location & create a VPN site link between the two networks. I usually do
this with two Sonicwalls, but you could do it with many other
routers/firewalls....

TheScullster wrote:
> Hi All
>
> Not sure that this is the best group, but hopefully someone will have
> experience.
>
> My company is looking to take a lease on an adjacent offfice building
> and I'm interested in the group's opinion on communication options.
> Basically the company has outgrown the current premises, so some
> members of staff will be moving to the new location.
> The buildings are approx 15m apart with an estate access road and
> footpaths separating them.
> It makes sense to me to try to extend the network rather than install
> additional servers, software, backup hardware etc.
> What is the most reliable way of linking the buildings and approx
> cost?
>
> Also, the existing building apparently uses wireless networking.
> How reliable is this and is this a suitably stable alternative to the
> 100Mbps cat5 cabled version in our current office?
> Any links to wireless networking for newbies gratefully received!
>
> TIA
>
> Phil

Fiber is what we used too and it has worked out great. I don't know the
cost,...it was completed before I worked here. I believe now-a-days they
have machines that can drill down and across the road without having to dig.
So you trench up to the edge on each side and then drill under to get
across.

We ran ours overhead because there was already an overhead rack and conduit
in place. One building has an old 600ft TV Broadcast tower and the other
building has the transmitter, so the rack was already there to carry the
Rigid Coax across to the Tower. By using Fiber we didn't have to worry
about any EM or RF interference.

--

Phillip Windell [MCP, MVP, CCNA]
www.wandtv.com


"Cleve S." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> I'd stay away from wireless, and wires too. I'm in South Florida where
> there's plenty of lightning. I wouldn't have anything but fiber running
> between buildings.
>
> Media converters should run about $300 for both ends, 6 pair fiber is
about
> $1 a foot, 1 meter fiber patch cables about $70 for 2. You'll want 2 wall
> cabinets, $100 to $150 each. They get a lot of money to terminate the
ends,
> $35 seems to stick in my head, so $280 for a pair & a spare. Altogether
> $1,000 or so for hardware, not including running the cable.
>
> If you can't dig can you run an overhead cable? Hope I haven't added to
the
> confusion.
>
> Cleve
>
> "TheSingingCat" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:40d058ee$1_2@news....
> > Personally, I would not be keen on running wireless... but maybe that's
> just
> > me, I like cables
> >
> > If the building is only 15m apart, I would call the city out and have
them
> > do an analysis on the ground for exisiting wires, water lines etc...
> > They'll paint all obstacles. Then have a little bobcat come out and
just
> > trench a foot down or so from building to building. This 'access' road,
> is
> > it paved? If so, you may have to forget my bobcat idea Anyhow, if
you
> > an lay it down, I'd run conduit in the trench and and wire the offices
> > directly.
> >
> > Failing that, search for wireless solutions Good luck though, this
> sort
> > of stuff is actually pretty fun coming up with solutions.
> >
> >
> > "TheScullster" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > Hi All
> > >
> > > Not sure that this is the best group, but hopefully someone will have
> > > experience.
> > >
> > > My company is looking to take a lease on an adjacent offfice building
> and
> > > I'm interested in the group's opinion on communication options.
> > > Basically the company has outgrown the current premises, so some
members
> > of
> > > staff will be moving to the new location.
> > > The buildings are approx 15m apart with an estate access road and
> > footpaths
> > > separating them.
> > > It makes sense to me to try to extend the network rather than install
> > > additional servers, software, backup hardware etc.
> > > What is the most reliable way of linking the buildings and approx
cost?
> > >
> > > Also, the existing building apparently uses wireless networking.
> > > How reliable is this and is this a suitably stable alternative to the
> > > 100Mbps cat5 cabled version in our current office?
> > > Any links to wireless networking for newbies gratefully received!
> > >
> > > TIA
> > >
> > > Phil
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

"TheSingingCat" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:40d058ee$1_2@news....
> If the building is only 15m apart, I would call the city out and have them
> do an analysis on the ground for exisiting wires, water lines etc...
> They'll paint all obstacles. Then have a little bobcat come out and just
> trench a foot down or so from building to building. This 'access' road,
is
> it paved? If so, you may have to forget my bobcat idea Anyhow, if you
> an lay it down, I'd run conduit in the trench and and wire the offices
> directly.

Of course, you would also want to make sure that you are able to cope with
the likelihood that the two buildings are "earthed" at different potentials!

Many a hobbyist has fried a modem board by connecting to a computer at their
neighbours' house. I think I vaguely remember that ethernet boards may have
similar problems. Perhaps that's an argument for optical fibre - after all,
there's not usually a difference between "dark" :-)

Alun.
~~~~

On Wed, 16 Jun 2004 11:22:23 +0100, "TheScullster"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>My company is looking to take a lease on an adjacent offfice building and
>I'm interested in the group's opinion on communication options.
>Basically the company has outgrown the current premises, so some members of
>staff will be moving to the new location.
>The buildings are approx 15m apart with an estate access road and footpaths
>separating them.
>It makes sense to me to try to extend the network rather than install
>additional servers, software, backup hardware etc.
>What is the most reliable way of linking the buildings and approx cost?

Most relaible? Fiber, specifically Single Mode, and cost depends on a
whiole bunch of factors so you'll need to get a local quote.

>Also, the existing building apparently uses wireless networking.
>How reliable is this and is this a suitably stable alternative to the
>100Mbps cat5 cabled version in our current office?

Suitable in that it runs slower, is possibly les secure and may not
pass the distance required?

>Any links to wireless networking for newbies gratefully received!

Might look at Firetide's new mesh routers, we've been getting
estimates of about $800 per location and you're well within the
requirements. At firetide.com of course...

Jeff

"Jeff Cochran" wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
: On Wed, 16 Jun 2004 11:22:23 +0100, "TheScullster"
: <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
:
: >My company is looking to take a lease on an adjacent offfice building and
: >I'm interested in the group's opinion on communication options.
: >Basically the company has outgrown the current premises, so some members
of
: >staff will be moving to the new location.
: >The buildings are approx 15m apart with an estate access road and
footpaths
: >separating them.
: >It makes sense to me to try to extend the network rather than install
: >additional servers, software, backup hardware etc.

Not enough information to determine that.

: >What is the most reliable way of linking the buildings and approx cost?
:
: Most relaible? Fiber, specifically Single Mode, and cost depends on a
: whiole bunch of factors so you'll need to get a local quote.

He said 15 meters, not 15 miles, unless I'm reading that wrong. 62.5/125
micron dual mode fiber is what this calls for if fiber is used, however, I
see no reason not to consider using wireless.

: >Also, the existing building apparently uses wireless networking.
: >How reliable is this and is this a suitably stable alternative to the
: >100Mbps cat5 cabled version in our current office?
:
: Suitable in that it runs slower, is possibly les secure and may not
: pass the distance required?

CAT5 can be sniffed off air and without WEP how would it be more secure?

: >Any links to wireless networking for newbies gratefully received!
:
: Might look at Firetide's new mesh routers, we've been getting
: estimates of about $800 per location and you're well within the
: requirements. At firetide.com of course...


--
Roland Hall
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On Wed, 16 Jun 2004 13:11:12 -0500, "Roland Hall" <nobody@nowhere>
wrote:

>"Jeff Cochran" wrote in message
>news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>: On Wed, 16 Jun 2004 11:22:23 +0100, "TheScullster"
>: <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>:
>: >My company is looking to take a lease on an adjacent offfice building and
>: >I'm interested in the group's opinion on communication options.
>: >Basically the company has outgrown the current premises, so some members
>of
>: >staff will be moving to the new location.
>: >The buildings are approx 15m apart with an estate access road and
>footpaths
>: >separating them.
>: >It makes sense to me to try to extend the network rather than install
>: >additional servers, software, backup hardware etc.
>
>Not enough information to determine that.
>
>: >What is the most reliable way of linking the buildings and approx cost?
>:
>: Most relaible? Fiber, specifically Single Mode, and cost depends on a
>: whiole bunch of factors so you'll need to get a local quote.
>
>He said 15 meters, not 15 miles, unless I'm reading that wrong. 62.5/125
>micron dual mode fiber is what this calls for if fiber is used, however, I
>see no reason not to consider using wireless.

Crap Wish I had learned to read...

Make it multi-mode for the fiber.

Jeff

>: >Also, the existing building apparently uses wireless networking.
>: >How reliable is this and is this a suitably stable alternative to the
>: >100Mbps cat5 cabled version in our current office?
>:
>: Suitable in that it runs slower, is possibly les secure and may not
>: pass the distance required?
>
>CAT5 can be sniffed off air and without WEP how would it be more secure?
>
>: >Any links to wireless networking for newbies gratefully received!
>:
>: Might look at Firetide's new mesh routers, we've been getting
>: estimates of about $800 per location and you're well within the
>: requirements. At firetide.com of course...

"Jeff Cochran" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> >He said 15 meters, not 15 miles, unless I'm reading that wrong. 62.5/125
> >micron dual mode fiber is what this calls for if fiber is used, however,
I
> >see no reason not to consider using wireless.
>
> Crap Wish I had learned to read...
>
> Make it multi-mode for the fiber.

Don't worry about it. We have fiber in a similar stituation here and I
couldn't even remember what type it was and the wall-box is only 8 feet away
from me.

--

Phillip Windell [MCP, MVP, CCNA]
www.wandtv.com