| Analysis : |
Your provider should perform a
thorough site walk-through to determine your specific communications
needs and to evaluate your current hardware and network topology. |
| Design : |
Your
provider's network design MUST comply with the EIA/TIA 568
standards and not the specifications or standards of a hardware
manufacturer. |
| Planning : |
Your provider should plan a correct
layout of the physical infrastructure that complies with all
industry standards for that type of network. The infrastructure
must plan for the necessary bandwidth for applications thus
avoiding reduced performance on the proposed network. |
| Future
Growth : |
Your provider
should be concerned with the potential for expansion and growth
of your network. The plan must protect the infrastructure
investment by being flexible and allow different hardware
and future technologies to be used on the existing infrastructure. |
| Installation : |
All installation work
must comply with current industry standards, be performed
by competent technicians, and be designed to make any moves,
adds, or changes as easy as possible. Nothing short of 100%
reliable connectivity on all nodes of the network should be
accepted. |
| Configuration : |
If your provider
is supplying network connectivity hardware such as hubs, routers,
bridges, or switches, that provider should be able to properly
configure the hardware for the best network performance results. |
| Testing : |
Thorough and proper
network testing must be completed to ensure network integrity
and category certification. Properly trained technicians using
the proper equipment, i.e.; Category-5 testing devices, fiber-optic
power meter or OTDR fiber testing device must perform testing.
Technicians must always adhere to the proper testing procedures
to ensure accurate test results. |
| Documentation : |
All
test results must be thoroughly documented and presented to
the customer in a printed, organized form. Cable Category-5
certification testing must be performed and signed by a qualified
technician to guarantee the testing certification. |
| Training : |
Your provider should
offer a degree of network infrastructure training. Training
could include network management software, wiring closet maintenance
and support, on-site cabling management, or simply demonstrating
for you how to configure your network hubs. |
| Warranty : |
Your
provider should offer as a minimum, the manufacturer's warranty
on both the network hardware and cabling components. This
warranty should be clearly presented and the time frames must
be easily understood. |
| Maintenance : |
A network provider should
be able to offer you on-going support to perform or assist
with any adds, moves, or changes to your structured wiring
system. A service contract on both the network hardware and
cabling components should be made available. Only the best
providers will also be able to offer you an experienced and
qualified technician to work on-site for your day to day network
management. |
| Support : |
Your
provider should have a well-trained office staff to offer
assistance with project management, accounting, billing, and
other business issues. It is important to identify that your
provider works from a permanent office facility. You should
avoid contractors who work out of their homes or garages. |
| Consulting : |
Your provider should
offer to demonstrate and show you the latest in the existing
and emerging network technologies and how to use your existing
hardware for future purposes. |
