Networking Your Shop
by Roberto Michel, AutoInc. Editor Personal computers (PCs) can increase the productivity and profitability of a business, a task they perform well in many automotive repair shops. But when service writers, estimators or technicians have to wait to access software on a single-user PC, then it’s time to consider a network in order to gain the full benefits of computerization.
There are two basic categories of local area networks (LANs): a peer-to-peer network, in which one PC pulls double duty as the server and a workstation, or a client/server network in which one PC, typically a powerful one, is the dedicated server.
Shop owners who have networked their PCs say networking eliminates front-office bottlenecks. Frank Brizek, owner of Solar Tune-Up Center in Burbank, Ill., said his shop went to a multi-user network in 1990 to avoid delays in using the shop’s management software.
"It was a situation with our growth where we needed access to the shop management system for three people, and often at the same time. When we reached this point, the obvious solution was to network," said Brizek, an Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) and member of the Automotive Service Association (ASA).
Brizek’s shop does about 21 vehicles per day, so there is a high demand for the use of the shop’s PACE management system. The peer-to-peer LAN, which networks three PCs, also gives access to the Mitchell Parts and Labor data base and the Quick Quote data base. Additionally, Brizek has the ALLDATA (http://www.alldata.tsb.com) repair information data base on CD-ROM on a stand-alone computer, but finds the primary applications needed for file sharing are the management and estimating programs.
The main benefit of networking an automotive service facility is the ability to share key software applications such as shop management and estimating programs, says Tony Novak, director of marketing for management systems for Mitchell International’s Collision Division. Networking also allows the sharing of peripherals such as printers.
"Any time you start to get beyond three or four PCs in a shop, the benefits of networking come into play. It also depends on how many service writers or estimators want to use an application," said Novak.
For automotive repair shops, the key "vertical" applications are shop management, estimating, parts, or repair information programs. In addition, networking allows the users to share "horizontal" applications such as word processing, spreadsheet and accounting programs. In most cases, software companies require the user to purchase a multi-user license or software package for a LAN.
How To Network
The vendors who sold a shop its existing shop management or estimating software are the best resources for information about if and how a shop should network. Also, most companies providing software solutions to the industry have company representatives or independent resellers who can put a shop owner in touch with qualified network consultants.If a shop has an employee or owner who is knowledgeable about LANs, it is possible that no outside consultant would be needed, but this is the exception, not the norm. Especially in the collision industry, where the major estimating companies recommend networks with dedicated servers and Novell network software, an outside consultant is likely needed. Novell’s network software is called NetWare, and it’s not cheap. NetWare’s price varies by the number of terminals involved, with a five-user version starting at about $1,095. With Novell products, consultants who are Certified NetWare Engineers (CNEs) install the systems.
Peer-to-peer networks are fairly common among mechanical repair shops. Peer-to-peer software is relatively inexpensive, running about $99 to $150 per user. Leading programs include Artisoft’s LANtastic, Microsoft’s Windows for Workgroups and Novell’s Personal NetWare. Additionally, the Windows ‘95 operating system has peer-to-peer capability built into it. However, be careful here. Some software vendors may support their programs’ functionality on a Novell network or a peer-to-peer LAN, but not in a Windows ’95 peer-to-peer setup.
In addition to a network consultant, it may be necessary to involve a building contractor if a lot of drilling through walls and running of cable is involved in setting up the network cabling.
Hardware
LANs need network software, hardware and sufficient computing power to operate.Even client PCs on a server-based network need adequate power. For instance, for shops that run Mitchell’s ARS collision shop management product on a network, Mitchell recommends workstations with at least a 486/66 central processing unit (CPU) and 16 megabytes (MGs) of random access memory (RAM).
Servers need considerable speed and power, and plenty of hard-drive space, which is measured in gigabytes (GBs). The specifications workstations or the server on a LAN should meet vary by the type of network and the software running on it, so it’s best to check with software suppliers to see what’s required.
When judging how big of a hard drive is needed for a server, consider not only the main vertical applications that will be used, but also off-the-shelf software programs that might be shared, the network software (about 30 to 40 MGs for Novell), and an allowance for the growth of data files or additional software programs, said Novak.
When PCs are networked under Novell software, it is still necessary for each terminal to have a hard-drive and CPU. However, with the Unix operating system, one server can network "dumb" terminals consisting of a monitor and keyboard. According to Alan Cath, president of GenesisFour Corporation, a shop management software company, Unix is ideal for multi-user systems, since it’s fast, good for multi-tasking and minimizes hardware costs.
"If you have nothing in place, you might want to consider a Unix-based system," said Cath.
In addition to dumb terminals, a PC can act as one of the terminals on a Unix-based network through the use of terminal emulation software, says Cath. Such software allows a PC to access applications on the Unix server, though the Unix server or terminals cannot access applications from the PC/terminal.
The popularity of CD-based estimating, parts and labor, and repair information data bases means that it might be necessary to add a CD-changer or CD tower to a shop’s network.
The physical connection in a network is accomplished through the use of adapter cards, cabling, connectors, terminating resistors and possibly hubs. Peer-to-peer networks require adapter cards and coaxial cable (similar to television cable). With server-based LANs, there are three types of Ethernet cabling standards, as well as the Token Ring standard. All of these require adapter cards that plug into a "slot" inside each PC. Both Token Ring and Twisted-Pair Ethernet have the server connected to a central hardware hub from which twisted pair cabling (similar to phone wire, but with eight strands) radiate to each terminal. Thin Ethernet, also known as 10Base2, uses coaxial cable routed to each computer on the network in turn. Thick Ethernet, also known as 10Base5, uses one thick main cable with drop cables leading to each computer, and 15-pin connectors that look like serial port connectors for a printer.
Thin Ethernet and Twisted-Pair Ethernet are the most commonly used Ethernet standards for small businesses. Thick Ethernet and Token Ring networks are rarely used by small businesses.
WANs And Trends
For shops with multiple locations, it may be desirable to link a LAN at one shop with a computer or a LAN at another. Whenever two or more LANs are connected, they are referred to as a wide area network (WAN).High speed telecommunication lines are improving the capabilities of WANs, but these lines can be costly. Also, a WAN’s speed is limited by the speed of the phone line connection, and is not nearly as fast as the 10 MegaBits Per Second (Mbps) speed that Ethernet LANs clip along at. One variation on a WAN is remote control type software that allows a computer at another location to take control of a PC at another location.
David Parker, president of Progressive Automotive Systems, a shop management software company, says that remote control software such as PC Anywhere and Carbon Copy are used by some of Progressive’s clients for accessing information from a shop’s management systems to a home office. These programs work in conjunction with regular phone lines and a modem.
"We have some shop owners whose wives do some of the marketing or bookkeeping by using remote control software. It allows you to pull up marketing or accounting information from the management system to a home computer," said Parker.
The Internet’s World Wide Web, which can be thought of as huge, global and loosely organized WAN, holds potential for business networking. Customers can access a shop’s menu of services on-line today, says Parker, and one day, customers could conceivably check on their vehicle’s repair status by tapping into a shop’s management system through the Web, said Parker.
In the collision industry, it’s possible the Web, or perhaps a hybrid of the Web and a more proprietary network, could one day be used to upload and download claims assignments and estimates between insurance companies and shops.
But before a shop jumps on the LAN bandwagon, the shop owner needs to closely assess how much benefit the shop will gain from a LAN, and weigh this against the cost. Lucas Erasmus, president of Bottomline Business Systems, a shop management software company, says that having some functions separate from the shop management software, such as full accounting, can minimize bottlenecks in the use of the shop management software. If only a couple of front office people are using the management or estimating systems, perhaps they can better coordinate their use of a stand-alone system, said Erasmus.
"A single-user system is the best way to start off for most small shops. The average shop can actually do quite a lot before they need to network," said Erasmus.
ASA Main Page || AutoInc. Main Page
TechTips || Stat Corner || News Briefs || Directions
News Briefs Extra || Taking The Hill || More Info About AutoInc.
Networking Your Shop || Chairman's Message || Tech To Tech
Guest Editorial || Selling Diagnostic Labor Profitably || ASA Addresses Insurance Issues
AutoInc. Magazine ®, Vol. XLIV No. 7, July 1996