Small Business Computer Network with Apple Mac Mini Server

In this article:

• Small business computer network requirements
• Choosing the wireless router
• Choosing the server
• Diagram

Building a Small Office Home Office (SOHO) or small business computer network is not that hard even though you don’t have experience with networking skills. You’re not a not completely newbie about computer geek, are you?

There are three areas you need to concern in building a small business computer network or SOHO network:

• How to provide reliability and availability network resources
• How to provide communication system with the rest of the world including internet, email and probably voice
• How to secure network infrastructure and your valuable information assets against any internet threats

The following figure shows a conceptual small business computer network diagram which includes the router / firewall as the first line of defense against any internet threats, the private network which may include server(s), switches, wireless access point(s) to provide wireless access to your mobile devices so you can keep productive even though you are away form your desk, networking printer, storage and more. If wireless network is required, you should choose a wireless router.

To simplify the networking management, it is a good idea to install a mini home server such as Apple Mini Mac Server or Asus mini home server to help you manage the file management and other account management.

Choosing the Wireless Router

For SOHO or small business offices you don’t need high end business class networking appliances. You can combine the functions of router / firewall, a four-port switch and a wireless access point into a single home wireless router such as Buffalo Wzr-Hp-Ag300h N600 high power router or Apple Airport Extreme base station (but this one includes only 3 ports). But if you really require remote site-to-site with branch offices you may consider business class router such as NSA 240 Sonicwall network security appliance.

Apple Airport Extreme Base Station

Main features:

• Wireless N600 simultaneous dual band router – works in both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands concurrently, ideal for providing high performance wireless connectivity for your mobile devices including laptops, iPads, Touchpad and other Android gadgets
• Gigabit Ethernet ports: 3xports LAN and 1xport WAN. You can connect to your Gigabit NIC of your server for maximum data transfer rate
• USB port for either share storage or printer. With this single port you can add a USB hub so you can host both storage and printer together for sharing
• Guest network for separate network segment – a security boundary for your guests

Apple Airport Extreme is very popular with its popularity in providing high performance wireless network up to 63 concurrent wireless clients. This great small box is ideal router for providing wireless connection your small business computer network.

Choosing Mini Home Server

Small business computer network, maybe it’s too large for SOHO, Ok just small office network, choosing the mini server for file and account management is appropriate. One of most popular mini home server is Apple Mac mini server is a good choice.

Apple Mac mini server with Snow Leopard Server is designed specifically for server, ideal for SOHO or any small offices.

Main features:

• Powered by Intel core 2 duo 2.66GHz processor with memory up to 8GB DDR3
• Includes two 500GB hard disks – plenty of storage for your small business / small office share storage
• High resolution NVIDIA GeForce 320M Graphics
• Includes one Gigabit Ethernet port, ideal in connecting to gigabit Ethernet port of your router – Apple Extreme supports 3xGigabit LAN port you can use for server connection
• Apple Mac mini server integrates Wi-Fi adapter with 802.11a/b/g compatible – you might not use this for server function, but Gigabit wired connection must be used
• Mac OS – can work both Mac and PC users
• It’s a small (mini) server with dimensions: 7.7 x 7.7 x 1.4 inches (WxDxH) and weight: 2.8 pounds

Apple Mac Mini server is small but it is powerful to support your small business computer network. Together with Apple airport extreme as the center of the wireless network, the mobile devices can easily and securely connect to the network to keep you productive anywhere within your home.

Asus Mini Home Server

Another mini home server you can consider is Asus Home Server, small server which is ideal for your small office home office.

Main features and specs:

• CPU: Intel Atom Processor N280 1.66GHz
• Memory: 1GB/2GB DDR-2 800
• hard disk: 500GB/1T/2T, 7200RPM
• Maximum HDD Capacity (internal) 2×3.5″ SATA I/II HDD Bays
• Networking 1xGigabit – fast lane for connecting to your gigabit wireless router
• Inteface: 6x USB 2.0, 2 x eSATA, 1x K-Lock
• Dimensions: 245mm(H) x 96mm(W) x 204mm(D) / 9.6″ (H) x 3.8″ (W) x 8″ (D)
• weight: 3.9Kg
• OS: Microsoft Windows Home server

You can see that Apple Mac Mini Vs Asus home server have some differences in the processor used, the OS and the memory.

By selecting Apple Extreme base station (as the wireless router) and Apple Mac Mini server or Asus home mini server, you can build your small business computer network easily and powerful for supporting your businesses.

The figure 2 shows networking diagram of small business computer network with Airport extreme base station and Apple Mac Mini server with network printer.

By Ki Grinsing

See also:

1. Asus Eee Pad Slider SL101 Vs Samsung Galaxy Tab 10
2. Apple Mac Mini Server Vs Dell Power Edge T110 Server
3. Top 10 best seller touchpad tablet computers
4. Computer networking hardware
5. Networking security software