C
Cable Guy
Hi,
I'm looking for some enlightenment.
First off I'm NOT a computer guy, I run the Engineering Dept. of a large
facility that uses a computer controlled energy management system (HVAC,
lighting). We used the corporate XP server network to connect 2 XP computer
work stations (front-end to the control network) to each other. We hooked
the first computer (in the office, also accesses the internet, intranet) to
the control network and installed the software and database then going thru
the corporate network and server (router,switches, cat5 cable) allowed the
second computer (mechanical room) to access the database and thereby the
control network. Our network vendor insisted that the connection be made
thru the server domain so he could control privileges and security, the
problem is we are having numerous glitches between the network setup and the
control software setup and each vendor points his finger at the other guy
(and they both bill us). After talking to the control system vendor I
allowed him to come in and "disconnected" the second computer (mechanical
room) from the corporate network by creating a workgroup for it to access
the database and control network (still using the switches and cat5 cable)
on the office computer. My office computer remains on the corporate domain
and has access to the internet and corp. network. Everything works fine.
Now the problem starts, our network vendor came in today to update our
antivirus and finds the mechanical room computer off the domain and goes
berserk! He swears we have created a "hole" in the corporate network and
that the network can be hacked into and compromised (not sure if he meant
thru the internet or the machine). Control vendor says he's wrong, my boss
sides with the network vendor. We shut down and disconnected the machine
room computer till we get together on Monday.
Now I have to go into a meeting on Monday and decide who is right? If the
network guy is right we will have to buy a second office computer and run a
dedicated cable. BTW these two computers are on different levels of the
building so using existing cable was advantageous.
Thanks in advance if you care to comment.
I'm looking for some enlightenment.
First off I'm NOT a computer guy, I run the Engineering Dept. of a large
facility that uses a computer controlled energy management system (HVAC,
lighting). We used the corporate XP server network to connect 2 XP computer
work stations (front-end to the control network) to each other. We hooked
the first computer (in the office, also accesses the internet, intranet) to
the control network and installed the software and database then going thru
the corporate network and server (router,switches, cat5 cable) allowed the
second computer (mechanical room) to access the database and thereby the
control network. Our network vendor insisted that the connection be made
thru the server domain so he could control privileges and security, the
problem is we are having numerous glitches between the network setup and the
control software setup and each vendor points his finger at the other guy
(and they both bill us). After talking to the control system vendor I
allowed him to come in and "disconnected" the second computer (mechanical
room) from the corporate network by creating a workgroup for it to access
the database and control network (still using the switches and cat5 cable)
on the office computer. My office computer remains on the corporate domain
and has access to the internet and corp. network. Everything works fine.
Now the problem starts, our network vendor came in today to update our
antivirus and finds the mechanical room computer off the domain and goes
berserk! He swears we have created a "hole" in the corporate network and
that the network can be hacked into and compromised (not sure if he meant
thru the internet or the machine). Control vendor says he's wrong, my boss
sides with the network vendor. We shut down and disconnected the machine
room computer till we get together on Monday.
Now I have to go into a meeting on Monday and decide who is right? If the
network guy is right we will have to buy a second office computer and run a
dedicated cable. BTW these two computers are on different levels of the
building so using existing cable was advantageous.
Thanks in advance if you care to comment.