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Getting Hooked Up: Considerations for the New Office Network 办公室规划新网络应注意事项

课文朗读

课文讲解

繁體中文譯本

These days, only the smallest offices can survive without a computer network. When the number of employees increases an office’s requirements for connectivity, data sharing, or advanced software applications, it’s usually time to move from stand-alone computers to a network.

如今大约只有最小的办公室能够没有网络还依然运作了。一般当员工人数增加，使得一间办公室对链接性、数据分享、或进阶应用程序的需求也提高，就是该考虑从单机环境升级到网络环境的适当时机。

As with any project, it’s prudent to start by defining the objectives and requirements of a network. Employees may require access to remote data, dial-in capabilities, or simple Internet connection. In this case, a peer-to-peer (p2p) network may suffice. However, some resource-intensive applications require more processing power, and a client/server networks should be considered. Knowing what an office needs helps to determine whether its current computer hardware will support a network, or if it’s time to upgrade.

正如同做任何计划以小心为上一般，最好先检讨网络的需求与目的究竟为何。员工需要的或许是能够存取远程数据、拨接上网、或者是要简单的因特网连结。如此情况下，只要架设点对点的网络环境就够用了。不过，有些需要使用较多资源的应用软件一定要有较大的运算能力，如此就要考虑架设客户端以及服务器类型的网络环境。了解办公室的需求有助于决定是否现有的硬件还能供上网使用，或是必须予以升级。

Offices that are part of larger organizations should take into consideration existing hardware, software, and security standards. Standardization not only reduces support costs in the long run, but may also reduce overall equipment acquisition costs. This is good news for managers whose network ambitions are limited by the reality of budgetary constraints.

倘若现有办公室是大机构中的一环，还必须考虑现有的整个软硬件和网络安全标准。以长远的来看，标准化不但降低维护费用的支出，也降低整体设备的采买支出。对于想扩充办公室网络环境，但却囿于现实预算不足的经理人员来说，这是一项福音。

When planning a new network, future considerations, such as office growth and planned hiring, should be kept in mind. While an office’s driving force is today’s demands, the underlying consideration should always be tomorrow’s need.

当规划一项新的网络计划时，脑海里要考虑办公室未来的扩充性和可能雇用的人力。虽然当下的需求是公司前进的动力，但明日的需求永远才是最基本的考虑。

Vocabulary

单词发音

hook up〔电器〕连接﹐接通

stand-alone [ˋstændəˋlon] adj.【计算机】独立的

prudent [ˋprudnt] adj. 明智而谨慎的; 慎重的﹐审慎的

peer [pɪr] n.（地位，能力等）同等的人

suffice [səˋfaɪs] v. 足够

standardization [͵stændɚdəˋzeʃən] n. 标准化，规格化，统一

acquisition [͵ækwəˋzɪʃən] n. 获得，取得

budgetary [ˋbʌdʒɪt͵ɛrɪ] adj. 预算的

underlying [͵ʌndɚˋlaɪɪŋ] adj. 基本的，根本的

Sentence of the Day

Without a network, computers operate in a vacuum.

如果没有网络，计算机便无用武之处。

in a vacuum: 与其他的人(或事等)脱离(或隔绝) without any connection to other people or events

课文讲解

Jeff, manager of a government office, and Christie, head of its IT department, are meeting to discuss their network problems:  杰夫是某政府单位主管，而克丽丝蒂是这个单位的信息部主任，两人聚在一起讨论有关他们工作单位的网络问题：

J: As you know, our office deals with the public on a regular basis. But lately, we’ve received complaints.The turn-around time for serving people is too long, so we end up with huge lineups.

妳晓得，我们办公室每天都得处理公务。但是我们最近收到不少抱怨，因为每件案子处理的时间都太久，结果造成民众大排长龙。

C: Where’s the bottleneck? Are the workstations too slow?

瓶颈在哪儿？是不是工作站的机器太慢了？

J: Well, our vintage hardware is part of the problem. But most of all, our computers are all stand-alone, so we have to call other departments to get info. Meanwhile, the customer is waiting and getting frustrated.

我们的硬设备老旧确实是问题的一部份。但是最重要的是，我们的计算机都是单机作业，因此我们得打电话向别的部门索取数据。同时，顾客们等候太久，会感觉很不耐烦。

C: And the data you need is sitting in our central database. Hmm …. sounds like it’s time to set up a local network in this office and connect it to our government WAN. That way your staff can access the info themselves.

而你要的数据是存放在中央数据库里面。嗯…看来是该在办公室里架设局域网络，并把它和公家机构的广域网【注】联机起来的时候了。如此一来，你的员工就能自己取得所要的资料。

J: Great. When can we get cracking?

真好。我们什么时候开始？

C: Slow down. First, we need to make sure your current equipment is up to the task, otherwise you’ll need to purchase new workstations. Of course, I’ll also need to install network cards in every computer.

且慢。首先，我们得弄清楚你现在的设备是否还派得上用场，否则，你需要采购新的工作站。当然，我也必须在每台计算机里装上网络卡。

J: I hope this is all within our budget.

我希望这一切都在预算内。

C: Hey, I can only give you technical info. Better schedule your next meeting with the finance department!

嘿，我只能给你专业信息。你下一步最好和财务部门筹划一下开会的时间！

－by David Wand

【注】：WAN是广域网「wide-area network」的缩写，这种网络指计算机通常设在不同位置的大楼中，不在同一栋房舍内。

Vocabulary

单词发音

turn-around time 【尤美】收到某物﹑处理并送回所需的时间 Computing the total time taken between the submission of a program for execution and the return of the complete output to the customer

lineup [ˋlaɪn͵ʌp] n. 人（或物）之列队

bottleneck [ˋbɑt!͵nɛk] n. 瓶颈

vintage [ˋvɪntɪdʒ] adj. 古老的

get cracking 【口】开始; (尤指)大干起来 to begin to work; get started.

up to 胜任 able to do or deal with

Sentence of the Day

The time is ripe for the computers in Jeff’s office to be upgraded.

杰夫办公室计算机升级的时机到了。