In addition to meeting short-term needs, all networks should be designed for future growth by being upgradeable to accommodate applications that will demand a higher bandwidth. If current trends continue, two common examples of such applications in educational settings are multimedia and desktop video. A high initial cost is the main factor deterring LAN installation in many colleges. In many cases, the expenses shown in Figure 2 may exceed the entire year's budget for information technology. In such situations, consider an incremental installation, with additional network segments being added as funds become available.
Cable drops Most networks start small and then grow rapidly as additional nodes are added.
Our school's network, for instance, was initially designed to connect a few offices and a lab, but in the span of just one year, expanded to include other labs, staff and faculty offices distributed between two buildings. Due to this unforeseen growth, new cable runs had to be made for each segment added. A majority of network problems occur as a result of incorrect choice of cable type or improper connector installation. Each type has advantages and disadvantages in terms of cost, speed, distance and susceptibility to interference. These factors should be fully explored during the planning stage.