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One of the first steps in planning your network is making sure that you understand why you want the network in the first place. Here are some of the more common reasons for creating or upgrading a network, all of them quite valid:

 Everyone in the office needs access to the Internet. Probably the most common reason for setting up a small network is to share an Internet connection. And even in larger networks, shared Internet access is one of the primary benefits of the network.

 My co-worker and I exchange files using flash drives just about every day. With a network, it would be easier to trade files.

 I don’t want to buy everyone a color laser printer when I know the one we have now just sits there taking up space most of the day. So wouldn’t investing in a network be better than buying a color laser printer for every computer?

 Business is so good that one person typing in orders eight hours each day can’t keep up. If the sales and accounting data existed on a network server, I could hire another person to help, and I won’t have to pay overtime to either person.

 My sister-in-law just upgraded the network at her office, and I don’t want her to think that I’m behind the times.

 My existing network performs like it’s made of kite string and tin cans. I should have upgraded it five years ago to speed up access to shared files, provide better security, and easier management.

Make sure that you identify all the reasons why you think you need a network and then write them down. Don’t worry about winning the Pulitzer Prize for your stunning prose. Just make sure that you write down what you expect a network to do for you.

If you were making a 500-page networking proposal, you’d place the description of why a network is needed in a tabbed section labeled “Justification.” In your network binder, file the description under “Purpose.”

As you consider the reasons why you need a network, you may conclude that you don’t need a network after all. That’s okay. You can always use the binder for your stamp collection.