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The Role of the Workgroup
5-9
Network Design
Selecting Workgroup Technologies
The selection of a network technology at the workgroup level is a very important 
decision, and one that should be made only after careful consideration and 
evaluation. Before deciding on a network technology to be used by the 
workgroups, make sure you are familiar with the operation of each type of 
technology, the strengths and shortcomings of those technologies, and the special 
design considerations that each technology imposes on the network. Chapter 2 is 
a good place to go for initial information, but the text deliberately avoids 
examining the technologies in great detail. For more detailed treatments of the 
technologies, refer to the Cabletron Networking Guide - MMAC-FNB Solutions or 
any of the Cabletron Systems Technology Overviews. There are also several texts on 
network technologies available through academic and technical booksellers.
The selection of a workgroup technology is an analysis of functionality. It is the 
job of the Network Manager or persons designing the network to determine 
which factors of the network design are the foremost requirements. 
The most common determining factors in selecting a network technology are 
performance (speed of operation), reliability, ease of configuration, 
troubleshooting, and cost. Cost is a separate issue from price, as cost is based on 
the inherent expenses of the technology, whereas price is highly dependent upon 
the vendor supplying the products and the quality of the products and service 
associated with them.
This information is not intended to be the only guide for deciding upon a 
networking technology. The selection of a technology determines the capabilities 
and characteristics of the entire network, and is one of the most important and 
long-term decisions that you make when designing a network. 
For this reason, once you feel that you have selected a suitable technology, do 
further research on that technology if you have any questions about its operation 
or the means by which a network is created using that technology. Contact your 
Cabletron Systems Sales Representative for information, or read any of the 
technical books available on the subject matter.