| Building a LAN for computer gaming isn't as | | | | dangerous fire hazard, but knocking one strip out |
| complicated as many gurus make it out to be: | | | | knocks out everything behind it). Instead of |
| LANs for small networks are generally composed | | | | hacking a power solution together, create a |
| of the same equipment, and wiring has become | | | | power wiring plan along with your LAN wiring plan. |
| less complicated than in the past. You really must | | | | This way, you'll not only know how much juice is |
| only be aware of a few guiding tips in order to | | | | pumping out of each outlet, but you'll also avoid |
| create a great LAN environment for computer | | | | dead by daisy-chain. |
| gaming. | | | | Go gigabit - gigabit Ethernet technology has finally |
| Avoid bottlenecks - when you're creating a LAN, | | | | come down in price enough to be a readily |
| especially for computer gaming, you need to be | | | | accessible high-bandwidth option for all of your |
| very careful of bottlenecking your connections. | | | | machines; but, if you're a bit strapped for cash, |
| Obviously, if you've only got one switch running | | | | then you don't need to have every piece of LAN |
| your network, you don't need to worry about | | | | equipment gigabit capable. For a more modest |
| bottlenecks; however, if you're going to be | | | | budget, remember that almost every computer is |
| running a bigger network, you'll need to pay | | | | equipped to handle 10/100 megabit Ethernet, and |
| special attention to bottlenecks. Specifically, you'll | | | | most games won't even push that. Save the |
| need to pay attention to where your game | | | | gigabit Ethernet for your game servers and |
| servers are located and how much bandwidth you | | | | switches so you can avoid dropped-packet |
| have between them and your client machines. | | | | bottlenecking. |
| Supply ample power - people generally don't | | | | Building a computer gaming LAN isn't difficult, it |
| consider power for the LAN equipment until the | | | | just takes patience and know-how. Applying these |
| last second, and then they end up creating a | | | | tips to your LAN building plans will help you avoid |
| daisy-chain of power strips (which is not only a | | | | the three major pitfalls of all gaming LANs. |