An intranet represents a structure very similar to the internet characterized by a set of documents linked together by hypertext links. However, an intranet differs from the internet in that its contents can only be accessed from computers connected to a local LAN or via VPN using a username and password. In order to create an intranet, you need a LAN, a web server and content to be shared within your organization or company.
Steps
Step 1. Create a home or business local Ethernet (LAN) network, then home or office
To realize this point of the project it is necessary to have computers, printers, modems and all the necessary network devices available.
- To be able to create a LAN network, you must have at least 2 computers available.
- To make network connections, each computer must be equipped with an Ethernet network card. Network cards are peripherals that must be installed on the motherboard of the computer in order to have an RJ-45 port available through which to establish a wired connection to the LAN network.
- Plug a crossover (or crossover) network cable into the corresponding port on the network card. This special cable allows you to directly connect two computers (if you have chosen to use a router or a switch to manage the network, you can use normal Ethernet cables). Complete your LAN network by connecting modems, printers and all necessary devices.
Step 2. Choose a web server
- To choose which program to use as a web server, use cost, performance and reliability as parameters for making comparisons.
- Consider using a personal web server if you are building a home intranet. It is a software that can be downloaded from the web and installed on a normal computer in order to give life to your intranet.
Step 3. Install the web server
The intranet pages will be accessible only through an internet browser installed on one of the computers connected to the LAN
Step 4. Design the intranet structure
- Choose the look it will have and the feelings it will have to convey to the user and above all the content it will have to host. If you are creating a corporate intranet, you could hire a web designer or create an internal team that will design and build the intranet.
- Choose the type of content that will be posted on the intranet. Normally, the company organization chart, the personnel list, documents relating to the company mission and objectives, a calendar, company documents that must be shared or accessed more frequently and a company forum are inserted.
- Draw on paper the structure of your intranet made up of individual web pages. Include the homepage from which all other intranet pages can be accessed via a menu.
- Create a menu that will be the main feature of the intranet pages. The menu must be present on every single web page, in order to allow users to freely browse the available contents and to return to the main page at any time. Make sure that in the menu there are links to all the pages of the intranet.
Step 5. Decide how to manage network security
- Determines whether all individual parts of the intranet should be protected with an access password and whether staff can access the intranet via the internet while out of the office.
- If you are creating an intranet in your home, you choose which family members will be able to access it.
Step 6. Determine how often to back up your intranet to be protected in the event of a virus or server malfunction
Step 7. Protect your intranet from viruses, malware and data loss
Install anti-virus software on the network that can scan the system for threats. This type of software is updated regularly to protect the intranet from new viruses that are created
Step 8. Advertise the intranet to company personnel
Encourage the use of the intranet by automating certain business processes, for example by creating an electronic form to manage the dispatch of completed working hours to the personnel department, to request leave or holidays, and so on. As part of your marketing strategy, plan to train your staff to explain how to use all the resources included in the company intranet
Advice
- Within the intranet there may also be external links to pages that are published on the World Wide Web, giving users the possibility to have access to additional content.
- Make sure the content within the intranet is professional, easy for everyone to access, updated regularly, and error-free.
- To create the web pages of your intranet, you can choose to use a normal text editor or you can download a more complete free software from the web.
- Updates and fixes to resolve errors and problems that occur throughout a corporate intranet can be the catalyst for starting a new marketing campaign for users.
- You could choose Linux as the operating system for the web server. There are very few viruses produced for this type of system, so it represents the best possible choice as a base of operations for your servers.
