Wireless Network Proposal

I wanted to take this opportunity to share with other NPO's a proposal for a wireless network overhaul for our 2000 sq. ft. office and get some help interpreting/analyzing it it.
They suggested from Tech Soup:
[ulist]Cisco ASA 5505 Security Appliance- Firewall Edition
G-2943 Cisco 802.11g Wireless Access Point
G-2944 Cisco 802.11a/b/g Wireless PCI Adapter (8)[/ulist]

They also estimated 10 hours of labor to set this up.
We're currently running Verizon DSL through a regular old Linksys router, which is somewhat inconsistent, as any home network is. We have 8 people in the office now, but will bring in summer interns. And one person spends most of her time on the opposite coast, but checks in every month or two for a week.

So why do we need all this equipment?
Does every computer need a PCI adapter card? It looks like the PCI card is hardly sleek, do we need to carry it around the office with our computers?

And, finally, can I install this with the help of Cisco, per a post in another topic praising their tech support? Can I get it set up and pay them to do two hours of tweaking, vs. 10?

If you have any questions about what we stipulated as our needs to those who suggested this set up, let me know.

I can see the ASA-5505 can be use as a VPN concentrator, so the user on the east coast can connect to.
The access point for the guest and laptop users seem right.
But putting all 8 existing system on the wireless network is crazy. If they're desktop, run a wire to it.
Remember that wireless run on CSMA/CA, which mean slowness because it cant send and receive at the same time.

PCI wireless adapters are for *desktop* computers. Laptops on the other hand take PCMCIA (external slot) or mini pci (internal). Perhaps you know that -- but "do we need to carry it around the office with our computers" sounds like it might have an external antenna - or you are confusing laptops and desktops.

In my opinion -- wireless is a poor solution for pertinent devices. I would never setup a printer over wireless. Desktop computers are borderline -- its usually easier to just wire the office and be done with them (also opens you up for future needs such as VOIP phones).

I only use wireless for laptops that need non-critical access. Our 10,000 SQFT office is serviced by two $50 routers from Newegg. We use WPA2 encryption, and all company laptops have the key. Its not as secure as Cisco's encryption, but what is the difference between 99.98% and 99.99% secure?

Like Quynh said, the ASA-5505 is used for external users. I would suggest just setting up a desktop in the office with something like GotoMyPC for them (if cost is a concern). Later on -- perhaps setup a Windows Server VPN. If you get REALLY big look at a SSL VPN applicance.

Cisco is by all means SUPER nice stuff. We buy it all the time from Techsoup -- but its enterprise grade. An office of 8 is going to pay more for installation/support to a consulting company than its going to benefit them. Just get an off the shelf consumer access point if you want "the wireless" and set an encryption key.

As a former consultant -- It is a no brainer to say "Order $5000 of equipment for $50". On the other side of the ball now, that $5000 equipment needs the expertise of a $100/hr consultant to setup and run. I can do it, so I love the ability to order Cisco cheap. Can you? If not -- buy something you CAN manage.

Tweaking Cisco is more of an art than playing with checkboxes. I would highly suggest against it.

I'll agree with stanbrinkerhoff and ask why are you converting an already wired office to wireless? We have wireless setup for laptop users mostly. We use the PCI wireless cards in one of our locations where the placement of the PCs made it inconvenient to connect them to the wired network. I also once setup a wireless network when, in a similar situation, I had to network 1 computer in each of 6 classrooms in an old building. (Actually parts of 3 buildings.) Just before we started setup the networking a security company came in and installed a couple of closed circuit cameras. They "wasted" most of a day putting a small diameter hole between 2 of the building sections. We had wire going through that wall already to one of the classrooms. We added a couple of access points and solved the problem without wires.

When possible run wires. When necessary use wireless. That's my opinion.