The following is a basic worksheet to help you through the process of installing a network. However, it is impossible to cover all the different possible steps involved, so it is advisable to have an experienced technical person on hand to help with the details.

• Identify a person who will be in charge of the network. That person should not only be prepared to help install the network, but also administer it once it's in place. This person should be the primary person to work with a technical consultant if you hire one.

• Determine what type of cable you will be using, and subsequently if you will need a hub (10-Base T cabling requires a hub), and figure out what size hub you need (how many ports on the hub you need). A rule of thumb is to get a hub with 2-4 more ports than you have computers, so you have room for growth.

• Count the number of network cards you need to buy. Make sure that none of your computers don't already have network cards (the new computers sometimes come with them).

• Plan your cable runs and find out how much cable you will need- either from each computer to the next, or from each computer to the hub (depending on your setup). Make sure to add several extra feet to each measurement just in case. Determine if you will need to drill any holes in the walls, etc.

• Figure out if you have the technical knowledge in house to cut and crimp your own cables, or will you want to buy your cables pre-cut and pre-made. If you buy wholesale cable, you have a little more freedom in running the cables, but you will also need to buy more equipment to be able to crimp the cables. If you buy pre-cut and made cables, you need to be absolutely sure your cable measurements are correct. You will also need to drill wider holes through walls.

  NOTE: If you are planning on running cables in any air vent or raised ceiling, OSHA code requires that you buy a fireproof type of cable called Plenum cable. You can get either 10-Base T or Coaxial Plenum cable, so it won't affect your choice of cabling, but in either case Plenum does cost a little bit more per foot.

• Assess if you already have the software to network your computers, or if you need to purchase network software. Win95 and Macintosh systems already have it built in; there are also software packages like Windows NT, Novell, or Lantastic, etc.

• Once you have made all your purchases, double-check to make sure you have everything you need- cable, network cards, hub, crimping tools, etc. Check the cards and make sure they have the right connection type for the cable you are buying. Do a test run between two computers, either directly on a Coaxial cable, or through a hub on 10-Base T cable, to make sure everything works.

• Plan a day to do all the wiring, card installation, etc. If you have 5-20 computers, you can generally do it in a day- set aside weekend and get several people to come in and help out. It is generally easier to do all the computers in one batch than it is to do a couple each night after work. Before that day arrives, make sure you not only have all your network equipment, but also drills, cable ties, step-ladders, hammer, screwdriver, coffee and donuts.