The big boys servers

[madfish]

Question (s)
I run my file/ftp server though a smc router --> adsl modem and our boxes go though the router also
Now on the big fellows toys, that have the server directly hooked to the net how do they set it up?
Like this? --> workstations --> hub/switch/router --> server --> Net. OR this way with the server with a nic for each incomming workstaton?
I ask because at the comminuty tech center where I voulinteer two new IBM servers came in today with IBM techs to install/set them up. and I was watching them work will I backed up a training server. I was asked by the director if I knew how the center was set up to get online. he wanted to know if I knew, as he knows about my mini lan at home and how I am set up. I told him to be honest I had no bloody idear, except they have a orc line, he laughed his butt off.
Now I'm courious as how they do connect up.
there's floor based servers and rack mounts, theres cables all over overgoing to wall panels, everything is laid out neatly btw. this place suports three other learning centers around the state and this one is the main one. everything the other centers want/ask for comes from these servers.
Thanks

[Mntsnow]

In a business setup it's usually something like this.

Yellow is the T-1, DS3, OC12 ect ect coming in

Red is the "gigabit" connections or 100/1000 connections

Blue is the standard 10/100 connections

The first big box is the "core" router then you have the "dept" routers then it breaks down into the "workgroup" switches/hubs

Hope this helped

[madfish]

so that is what that cabnet must be that has about 50 blue cat cables going into it is, a big butt router. interesting.
the racks and floor servers are mostly IBMs, there is one Dell floor unit.
Thanks. I'll ask and snoop around tomorrow

[a Bill]

Definitely ask, they'll talk to you. People like it when others show interest in their work. Just don't ask for access to the routers or anything like that :) They should have schematics like what Mntsnow posted that you might be allowed to look at. Oddly enough, your mini network at home is layed out much the same way only where you work at they use bigger boxes :)

[madfish]

I plan to, I spend most of my time there in the server room anyhow lol. I do have axecess to some of the servers, even from here at home, I'm a back up operator and have those rights and privliges. guess I'm a trusted person :D as there's only one other person that backs them up and he's the IT head. kinda makes a person feel good about themselfs knowing this.