V / 03VANTRIX / NETWORKING & POWER
CONNECTED.
PROTECTED.
ALWAYS PREPARED.
From enterprise switching and routing to wireless connectivity, network security and backup power, VANTRIX helps businesses source and deploy the infrastructure that keeps operations connected.
01THE CONNECTED ENTERPRISE
THE TECHNOLOGY
BEHIND EVERY CONNECTION.
Six building blocks, from the switch port to the battery behind it. Explore what each one does and what to plan for.
01 / 06THE FOUNDATION EVERY DEVICE PLUGS INTO.
Enterprise Switches
Switches connect the devices inside your network: workstations, phones, access points, servers and printers. They decide where traffic goes within the site, and their design shapes speed, segmentation and resilience for everything else.
01Access & aggregation switching
Access switches connect user devices. Aggregation and core switches link access switches together and to servers and the internet edge. Size each layer for its role.
02Managed switching
Managed switches can be configured, monitored and secured, with VLANs, quality-of-service and remote management that unmanaged switches lack.
03Power over Ethernet (PoE)
PoE delivers power and data over one cable to access points, phones and cameras. Check the PoE standard each device needs and the switch's total power budget.
04VLAN segmentation
VLANs separate staff, guests, voice, cameras and servers on shared hardware, improving security and keeping traffic organised.
05Port speeds & uplinks
Match port speeds to devices, and size uplinks (often fibre or multi-gigabit) for the combined traffic flowing towards the core.
06Scalability & redundancy
Stacking, spare ports, redundant power and dual uplinks allow growth and keep users connected if a component fails.
02 / 06CONNECTING SITES, CLOUD AND INTERNET.
Routers & WAN Infrastructure
Routers direct traffic between networks, connecting your locations to each other, to cloud services and to the internet. They sit at the boundary between your network and the service providers that carry traffic beyond it.
01Enterprise routing
Routers forward traffic between networks using routing tables and policies. In many offices, routing is combined with the firewall or core switch.
02Internet & WAN connectivity
Fibre, leased-line and broadband services differ in speed, contention and service terms. The edge device must support the provider's handoff.
03Branch connectivity
Sites can connect through secure VPN tunnels or SD-WAN services, giving branch teams access to central systems.
04Traffic management
Quality-of-service and application policies prioritise voice, video and business applications over less urgent traffic.
05Routing & availability
Size for throughput with all required features enabled, the number of sites and users, and how routing behaves when a link fails.
06Redundant links
A second provider or connection type with automatic failover helps keep the business reachable when one circuit fails.
03 / 06POLICY AT THE EDGE OF YOUR NETWORK.
Hardware Firewalls & Network Security
Hardware firewalls enforce security policy between your network, the internet and other sites. A well-chosen, well-managed firewall reduces risk significantly; no single device can make a network completely secure.
01Firewall appliances
Appliances are sized by throughput with security services enabled, concurrent connections and VPN capacity, not by headline speed alone.
02Network segmentation
Separate zones for users, servers, guests and management limit how far a problem can spread.
03VPN connectivity
Site-to-site VPNs link offices, and remote-access VPNs let staff connect securely from outside the building.
04Traffic inspection
Depending on model and subscriptions, firewalls can inspect traffic for threats, filter web content and identify applications.
05Security policy management
Clear, documented rules, regular reviews, firmware updates and logging keep a firewall effective over time.
06High-availability options
Two firewalls in a high-availability pair can maintain service if one unit fails.
04 / 06WI-FI THAT IS DESIGNED, NOT JUST INSTALLED.
Enterprise Wireless
Business-grade Wi-Fi depends on planning. Building materials, layout, user numbers and interference all affect performance, so access points are placed and configured for coverage and capacity.
01Wireless access points
Enterprise access points are ceiling or wall mounted, powered by PoE and centrally managed, unlike all-in-one consumer routers.
02Wi-Fi coverage planning
A site survey or predictive design places access points where they are needed and avoids gaps and interference.
03User density
Meeting rooms and open-plan floors can hold many devices per person. Plan for capacity, not only coverage.
04Roaming
Correctly configured networks let devices move between access points without dropping calls or sessions.
05Guest networking
Guest Wi-Fi should be isolated from business systems, with its own access rules and bandwidth limits.
06Wireless security
Use current standards such as WPA3 where supported, enterprise authentication for staff, and keep firmware up to date.
05 / 06THE PHYSICAL FOUNDATION OF THE NETWORK.
Structured Cabling & Fibre
Structured cabling connects every outlet, access point and rack. Organised, labelled and tested properly, it supports several generations of equipment and makes faults faster to find.
01Ethernet cabling
Copper cable categories support different speeds; a standard Ethernet channel is limited to 100 metres.
02Fibre-optic infrastructure
Fibre carries higher bandwidth over longer distances and is typically used between floors, between buildings and for switch uplinks.
03Patch panels
Permanent cable runs terminate on patch panels, so connections can be changed with short patch leads instead of new cabling.
04Cable management
Horizontal and vertical managers keep cables tidy, protect airflow and make faults easier to trace.
05Rack organisation
A planned rack layout with labelled equipment and space for growth simplifies maintenance.
06Testing & documentation
Certification testing confirms each link meets its standard, and as-built records and labelling support future changes.
PROTECTING THE INFRASTRUCTURE BEHIND THE NETWORK.
UPS & Backup Power
An uninterruptible power supply keeps critical network and server equipment running through short interruptions and gives time for safe shutdown. Runtime depends on the connected load, battery capacity and configuration.
01Uninterruptible Power Supplies
Standby, line-interactive and online (double-conversion) designs offer increasing levels of protection and power conditioning.
02Battery backup
Batteries supply the UPS inverter during an outage. On supported models, external battery packs extend runtime.
03Power conditioning
A UPS helps protect equipment from surges, sags and other disturbances; online designs provide the most consistent output.
04Rack-mounted UPS systems
Rack UPS units fit standard 19-inch cabinets beside network and server equipment. Check depth, weight and outlet types.
05Runtime & load planning
Size the UPS for the total connected load with headroom, then confirm runtime at that load. Runtime falls as load rises and batteries age.
06Safe shutdown
Network management cards or software can shut servers down in an orderly way before the batteries are exhausted.
02THE LIVING NETWORK
SEE HOW
EVERYTHING CONNECTS.
Select any device to light up its connections and follow the data as it moves through a typical business network.
Workstations
Desktops, docked laptops, phones and printers connect by cable to the nearest access switch, normally through structured cabling and a patch panel.
03NETWORK DESIGN & DEPLOYMENT
BUILT FOR PERFORMANCE.
PLANNED FOR GROWTH.
ASSESS → DESIGN → SOURCE → INSTALL → CONFIGURE → TEST. A network is only as good as the planning behind it.
Understand the network you have.
A site survey of current equipment, cabling condition, users and devices, applications and internet services: the baseline every design starts from.
- Network assessment
- Capacity & growth planning
Design for performance and growth.
Switching and routing architecture, VLANs, security zones, wireless coverage and redundancy, sized to the business with headroom for growth.
- Switching & routing design
- Wireless coverage planning
Select compatible hardware.
Switches, routers, firewalls, access points, cabling and power equipment selected to fit the design, budget and lifecycle, with licensing and support options confirmed.
- Hardware & licensing
- Compatibility checks
Install it properly.
Structured cabling, rack build, labelling and equipment installation, organised so the network stays serviceable for years.
- Structured cabling
- Hardware installation
Configure to the design.
Switching, routing, firewall policies, VPNs and wireless settings configured to the agreed design and security requirements.
- Configuration
- Security policies
Test, document and hand over.
Cable certification, connectivity and failover checks, wireless validation and clear documentation, so the network is understood and supportable after go-live.
- Testing & validation
- Documentation & handover
04POWER & BUSINESS CONTINUITY
WHEN POWER FALTERS,
PREPARATION MATTERS.
UPS and battery systems help protect the network and servers through power disturbances, and give time for an orderly shutdown when an outage lasts longer.
Normal power
Mains power supplies the equipment through the UPS, which conditions the supply and keeps its batteries charged.
RUNTIMEDepends on the connected load, battery capacity, configuration and battery age.
- Rack-mounted UPS
Fits 19-inch cabinets beside network and server equipment.
- Tower UPS
Freestanding units for comms cupboards and small server rooms.
- Battery backup
Battery capacity and external packs determine available runtime.
- Load assessment
Measure what will be connected before sizing capacity and runtime.
- Power distribution
Rack PDUs, circuits and A/B feeds deliver protected power to each device.
- Monitoring & maintenance
Alerts, self-tests and planned battery replacement keep a UPS dependable.
- Safe shutdown planning
Software can shut servers down in order before batteries run out.
- Redundancy where required
Dual feeds or redundant UPS designs for the most critical systems.
05CHOOSE WITH CLARITY
THE RIGHT NETWORK STARTS
WITH THE RIGHT REQUIREMENTS.
Pick a comparison to see where each option fits.
| Consideration | Unmanaged switch | Managed switch |
|---|---|---|
| Typical use | Connects a handful of devices with no configuration. | Business networks of any size. |
| Configuration & control | None: ports work out of the box and settings cannot be changed. | Configured through a web interface, command line or cloud controller. |
| Segmentation (VLANs) | Not supported; every device shares one network. | VLANs separate staff, guests, voice, cameras and servers. |
| Visibility & monitoring | No port statistics, logging or alerts. | Port status, traffic statistics, logging and alerts. |
| Security features | No port-level controls. | Port security, access control and secure management, depending on model. |
| Best fit | Very small or temporary setups where simplicity matters most. | Networks that need segmentation, PoE control, visibility and room to grow. |
06PROCUREMENT & SUPPORT
FROM CONNECTION
TO CONTINUITY.
Understand the requirement.
Map users, sites, applications, existing equipment and connectivity, and agree what the network and power infrastructure must achieve.
SCROLL TO FOLLOW THE LIFECYCLE
07TECHNOLOGY ECOSYSTEM
TRUSTED NETWORK PLATFORMS.
SELECTED FOR THE REQUIREMENT.
EVERY CONNECTION. EVERY OUTLET. EVERY MINUTE OF UPTIME YOU PLAN FOR.08YOUR NEXT NETWORK
BUILD A NETWORK
YOUR BUSINESS CAN DEPEND ON.
Planning an infrastructure upgrade, office network, wireless deployment or backup power solution? Share your requirements with VANTRIX.