Yellowstone’s engineers have been designing and installing network systems for over thirty years! We specialise in systems ranging in size from 2-100 users, though we can cater for larger installations too.

The aim of creating a network is to share information and other resources such as printers and Internet connections.

The design of a network is critical to the success of the project. Networks are normally designed to operate at very high speeds (1Gbits per second transfer rate is now the standard). The design and the installation of the required cabling can make all the difference between the system operating at these speeds or something considerably less. Reliability of data transfer is also compromised by design and installation.

Yellowstone’s range of Network services include:

• Full design, installation, setup and implementation
• Network design consultancy
• Project management
• Installation of additional network ports
• Diagnostics and troubleshooting of existing networks
• Network upgrades
• Re-cabling
• Server upgrades / replacements / Operating System changes
• Copper (CAT5e) and Fibre Optic cabling supplied and installed

The simplest network design uses Windows-based PC’s to create a peer-to-peer network (involving no actual fileserver).

This is suitable for networks of up to 10 PC’s or so. This type of system does not provide many advanced features, such as security of access. It does allow several machines to be connected together and allows access to printers, hard drives etc. on the network to be shared together.

The system can still be configured with Internet access from any or all of the machines.

E-mail systems can be configured also.

The system is reasonably cost-effective in the smaller business market due to there being no fileserver. This sort of system can be used with the operating systems Windows 10 and 11.

Larger installations are usually based around a fileserver. This is a particular type of computer, which is a machine like any other on the network. The difference is that it’s purpose is to run an operating system dedicated to the task of serving the other computers. You do not normally use this machine for everyday tasks.

We currently support Windows Server 2012, 2016, 2019, 2022 and Linux servers.

Cabling

We provide cabling solutions either direct from ourselves or via a recommended third party.

This depends on the complexity of the design, the type of building to be networked and the number of ports to be fitted.

Currently cabling uses Category 5e, 6 or 6a data cable, as a structured cable solution (ports used for data or telephone systems) through to fibre-optic solutions.

Fibre-optic cabling, though difficult to install, is now much cheaper than it used to be. It provides the ultimate in security and reliability of data transfer, and allows longer cable runs than are allowed with traditional copper cabling. It also allows separate buildings to be cabled together safely. This has the advantage of complying with government building regulations.

Yellowstone is now able to install fibre optic cabling using our own trained personnel, and can also effect repairs and upgrades to existing fibre installations.

Yellowstone also supplies and fits the following network devices:

• Routers
• Bridges
• Switching Hubs
• Firewalls
• Fast Network Cards
• Patch Panels
• Fibre Patch Panels
• Fibre Backbones
• Fibre-optic Hubs
• Wireless Point-to-point links
• Remote Access facilities
• Off-site Backup Solutions