Installing Network Infrastructure !!
Alex’s Story
If you manage a building or are starting a business you will know the importance and difficulty of implementing a complex network infrastructure, especially if you need more than one network.We were contacted by one of our clients YMCA Black Country Group (YMCABC). Who work to support young people with housing, finding work, childcare and overcoming addictions.
As one of their buildings had recently been refurbished and was therefore left with no existing network infrastructure in place, YMCABC wanted a staff and a residents’ network installing. The residents’ network was purely for WiFi which also had a content filter installed. The staff network had one WiFi access point (WAP) and also required network points to be installed into the two main staff areas. The staff network is also connected back to the head office buildings in Wolverhampton and West Bromwich via virtual private networks (VPN) so the users can access their files. It was important to isolate the staff network from the residents’ network in order to increase security.
In order to carry out the job we first had to plan our cable run and decide where was best for the network cables to go throughout the building. We then installed the 1st and 2nd floor cables as well as WiFi access points at both ends of the floor for maximum coverage for the residents. The ground floor cables were also installed and a WiFi access point for the staff. The cables all run back to the communications room which is where they are terminated and tested. Once both ends are terminated we then began to work on installing equipment into the communication cabinet . The items which needed to be installed where 2 patch panels, 4 power over Ethernet switches (transmit data and power WiFi access points), 2 Broadband routers (1 staff & 1 residents) and 1 power distribution unit.
Over all the job went really well and was successful. Throughout the duration of our time on site we had to work with other contractors to carry out the work. This required us to coordinate effectively with them as some of our work was dependant on the work they were carrying out.
To read more about my apprenticeship at Smarter Technologies click here to view more of my blogs .
