Ethernet LAN Suggestion for an ethernet setup?

> At the moment, I've got 2 workgroups consisting of 5 computers connected via
> CAT5 cable to a hub which is connected to another hub and the other group
> via 10m of coax. The other group consists of 4 computers on a single coax.
> Within this group, 2 computers connect to the internet via a USB connection
> to an external ISDN modem with two ports, another computer connects to the
> internet via a 56K modem. At the moment they are backing up data by a
> portable PATA HD which means each machine has to be turned off and on . It
> all seems a bit messy to me.
>
> Roughly, how would you upgrade this setup and are there specific hubs,
> routers that you would recommend?
>
> Thanks for your expertise.
> Fellow
>
>

> fellow wrote:

>> At the moment, I've got 2 workgroups consisting of 5 computers connected
>> via
>> CAT5 cable to a hub which is connected to another hub and the other group
>> via 10m of coax. The other group consists of 4 computers on a single
>> coax.
>> Within this group, 2 computers connect to the internet via a USB
>> connection
>> to an external ISDN modem with two ports, another computer connects to
>> the
>> internet via a 56K modem. At the moment they are backing up data by a
>> portable PATA HD which means each machine has to be turned off and on .
>> It
>> all seems a bit messy to me.
>>
>> Roughly, how would you upgrade this setup and are there specific hubs,
>> routers that you would recommend?
>>
>> Thanks for your expertise.
>> Fellow
>>
>>

>
> get rid of the hubs, and get rid of the coax.
> Replace any/all coax only ethernet cards in the computers with 100basetT
> or 1000baset ethernet cards.
> replace the hubs with a switch. if all the computers can be placed with
> 100 meters of the switch, just run 1 cat 5 cable from each computer to the
> hub - coonect them all directly to the same hub.
>
> If that cannot be done because some of the cables will be more than 100
> meteres, then buy 2 hubs that support fiber - connect them together via
> fiber and then plug the computers into the hubs.
>
> get rid of the ISDN and dial up internet service. Get a DSL or cable modem
> service and a good NAT firwall that does statefull packet inspection.
>
> Get computer with a BIG hartd drive (or better yet, a raid array) and back
> up all the computers to it via the ethernet. Or better yet, get a real
> server (like HP ml530 with a sdlt tape drive in it perhaps) and back up to
> that. You likely want some sort of automated backup software. Arcserv(aka
> brightstor)by computer associates is an industry standard and works well.
>
> brand recommendations-
> for network cards, I am partial to intel. Fast and inexpensive.
> For switches, you don't need anything fancy or high end (no layer 3
> switching, etc) but I do reccomend managed switches - i'd say get 1 or 2
> Netgear FSM726s swicthes. Unless you want all 1000baseT - then get netgear
> GSM712 swicthes.
> for a firewall/nat box, i'd recommend a sonicwall tz170.