The intranet should be implemented in phased. If a network is already in place, the steps essentially revolve around selecting services and software, the operating system and special tools for content creation. The existing databases and software applications may be integrated into the intranet. This calls for a proper plan to be prepared. The important step to implementation follows.

Planning: This step includes scope of services and facilities; mail, Web sites, home pages department-wise, personnel, administration of the site, layout of pages, connecting with the internet.

Subnets: If the number of services and clients is large, there may be many subnets. IP addressing plan should be worked out in detail.

Services and software: Server hardware platforms and the software that will be used on them for hosting mail and Web services need to be finalized. For intranet users, browsers and mail clients have to be standardized. A server platform, may host both mail and Web services. As the intranet load grows, this could be split into multiple-servers. Web server, mail server, print server, Domain Name Server (DNS), workflow applications etc could be implemented on different hardware systems.

Operating system: An operating system may be chosen from the following popular server operating systems: UNIX, Linux, Windows NT, NetWare, Mac OS, OS/2, and AS/400. The choice of operating system will determine the software requirements of the Web server, mail server etc. While UNIX was the operating system on RISC systems, non-Unix platforms are equally aggressive solutions now. The OS should be installed on the server, complete with the TCP/IP suite of protocols. Web services should preferably be implemented from the very beginning. IP addresses and subnet masks should be allocated. It is better to use TCP/IP addresses duly registered with InterNIC so that connection to the Internet at a future date avoids address conflicts.

Proxy Servers: If the intranet requirements include the users connected on it to share a single Internet dial-up connection on the network, a proxy server is essential. It is the proxy server that dials into the Internet connection and all the nodes access the Internet through it.

Content Creation Software: HTML editors, Web-enabled office productivity tools are essential on client machines which are equipped with browsers and email software.

Training: The users on mail and Web applications may require training for discussion group, mailing list server, converting existing documents and reports for the intranet, and making them available to all. Skills to create new contents using the office-suites, productivity tools, HTML editors etc are also required.

Existing Databases: Set up a group of programmers to study the existing databases, and to Web-enable them for intranet.

Web Publishing: The Web is like a magazine, and content creation is like Web publishing. The magazine is on the Web server, and is used by the employees of an organization who are on the intranet. The contents should be catchy, easy to access, and up-to-date. Web design and maintenance are the major issues on an intranet.