Setup guide

US 2002/0073181 A1
LAN CONFIGURATOR
[0001] This application claims the bene?t of US. Provi
sional Application No. 60/169,291, ?led Dec. 7, 1999.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Existing methods for networking small businesses
are time consuming and costly. Aneed exists for an ideal and
cost effective method and apparatus for networking small
businesses.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The invention includes a Virtual PC & NetWork
Consultant Web site. Amain feature of this invention is a tool
called The LAN Con?gurator. This tool alloWs any level
users, Whether novices or experts in the ?eld of computers,
to be able to con?gure the ideal Local Area NetWork to meet
their speci?c needs. This Will include the Server HardWare,
NetWork Operating System, Disaster Recovery Plan,
Whether to include an e-mail Server, Fax Server or Modem
Sharing, and any hardWare to include accommodating such
services.
[0004] The LAN Con?gurator also determines the proper
HUB and netWork cards to include, and What kind of cabling
the client should have pre-installed by their local electrician
or Wiring contractor. Wireless LANs Will be used as the
technology evolves and becomes an affordable, reliable
alternative.
[0005] After the LAN Con?gurator has determined the
best “Server” solution based on their needs, the clients may
then add as many Workstations as they Would like to their
LAN. They Will be able to:
[0006] 1. Choose the exact speci?cations of each Work
station, i.e. Processor Type/Speed, RAM Amount, Hard
Drive SiZe, Operating System to include, etc.
[0007] 2. Specify What softWare should be pre-installed
on each system.
[0008] 3. Assign a user name to the system and indicate
the level of security this user should have on the LAN.
[0009] Each Workstation Will then be fully con?gured and
tested prior to delivery. Of course, the user Will also have the
ability to choose printers, monitors, and other various
peripherals to be attached to each Workstation or server.
[0010] Once their LAN has been fully con?gured, the
client may then choose to save their con?guration by either
placing their LAN-IN-A-BOX order on-line via a credit
card, or by using our ?nancial services arranged through
Intel®, or other ?nancial institute available at the time of
purchase, or they may vieW the order later, print it, etc. The
cost of their LAN-IN-A-BOX order Will be based on the
value of the hardWare and softWare chosen, plus the costs for
pre-con?guring and fully testing the Server, and an addi
tional fee per Workstation to be pre-con?gured and fully
tested. Based on the average NetWork Consultant’s hourly
rate, it is very clear hoW LAN-IN-A-BOX & The LAN
Con?gurator signi?cantly reduce the total cost of oWner
ships of installing a Local Area NetWork.
[0011] The average amount of time spent at a client site
installing, con?guring and testing a neW LAN based on just
six (6) Workstations, is about sixteen (16) hours. That’s tWo
Jun. 13, 2002
days of having someone in an office, taking up valuable
time, and costing extravagant consulting fees! Our cost
through our LAN-IN-A-BOX Web site and With the help of
the LAN Con?gurator for a neW server and six (6) Work
stations to be completely con?gured prior to shipment With
a step-by-step setup guide and thirty (30) days of free
support is much less costly. And, this is a ?at-fee, never to
go up! A netWork consultant cannot guarantee their time,
especially since, When on-site, various employees like to
stop and ask questions, taking up valuable time. If the
consultant is not on-site, i.e. our Virtual Consultant, there is
no one around to distract them!
[0012] If they place their order, the Clients Will also be
given the option of signing up for a “Yearly” support
contract that alloWs the provider to remotely control and
support the user’s LAN via Modem and remote control
softWare. The cost of this contract is based on 20% of the
total order. The support contract Would include, but is not
limited to, the folloWing services:
[0013] 1. NetWork administrative duties, such as adding
neW users, deleting old users, setting up directories and
user rights, etc.
[0014] 2. Applying noW patches made available through
the NetWork Operating System vendor or HardWare
Vendors.
[0015] 3. AnsWering basic support questions on using
their softWare, i.e. performing mail merges, printing
various styles, creating faxes, etc.
[0016] 4. Routine Preventative Maintenance on server
and Workstations
[0017] 5. Ensuring backup is Working and performing
?le restores upon request
[0018] Any advanced questions, such as Writing macros,
creating a database, installing neW softWare, etc, are billed
to the client at a pre-determined hourly rate.
[0019] In lieu of a support contract, the client may choose
to use a “pay-as-you-go” service. The cost of this service is
based on ?ve (5) minute increments, Whether via a telephone
or a remote dial-in.
[0020] Alternatively, a client may choose the “e-mail
support” option, Which alloWs them to post a question on the
LAN-IN-A-BOX Web site via e-mail. One of LAN-IN-A
BOX’s highly quali?ed Virtual Consultants responds Within
one business day. Aclient may also choose to send an e-mail
or call 1-888-LAN-N-BOX to request a price quote for
performing a service, such as Writing a macro, setting up a
database, creating a Web-page site, etc.
[0021] Each order receives thirty (30) days of free support
on setup, installation and basic usability questions.
[0022] Once the order is placed, a client is able to track the
progress of their order by logging back into our LAN-IN
A-BOX Website, entering their User ID and PassWord, and
searching on their order number. The various stages of the
order are:
[0023] mo/dy/year: Order has been placed; ETA to
ProNet
[0024] mo/dy/year: Shipment has been received at
ProNet