Two methods of improving the performance of a LAN?

Answer

This question if VERY broad and has many answers. Lets just cover a bit until i get bored of tryping ay ;)

Well Improving LAN performance depends on alot of things. First of all we need to know what your using, These days most LAN's would be using your cat5 100BaseTx which is that blue network cable... This is usually UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair). Now as this is unshielded you may be getting electromagnetic radiation causing excess collision in your network so upgrading to Shielding the cables may make a differance but this is uncommon.
If you are using a standard Hub it may be time to upgrade to a Router, The differance is a Router remembers where a client computer is and once located sends data to that specific computer where as a hub sends all data over the network to all computers on the network all the time... Routers are also more secure for this reason.
Identify your topology and ensure its the best for you. Now a token ring network is best for high trafic networks but would slow down a low traffic network, as a star network is great for low traffic but under high traffic suffers collisions, etc.
So i've just assumed that your using 100baseTx, Maybe your not and maybe is time to upgrade, Hey maybe you are and It still may be time to upgrade. the fastest networks avaliable are probably fiber optics which comes in multi or single mode. Depending on the quality you need and how much your willing to pay is all where this comes into play... Multi mode would be best for a LAN where single mode for a WAN.

Well I hope this was of some help but really it all depends on your own network and at what point its being slowed down. Enjoy

First answer by A. Last edit by A. Contributor trust: 31 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 11 [recommend question]