Zeuspaul,
A home network is the only way to go these days. Here's what I'd recommend, based on six units (work stations), a printer and abilty to expand. Work stations being what ever you want.
Set up one of the units as a Server and run NT work station (NT work station will work as a server for up to 10 units, however they all have to be PC's - NT Server has no limits and will allow the cross platform of PC's, Mac's, or whatever on the same network) Connect each via a network card (3 Coms 10 base T works fine and are only about $30.00 each), run your cable (category 5, 4 pair) from each unit to a HUB (HUB's cost around $60-$70.00). Would suggest you measure and buy the cable pre-fixed with RJ 45 Connectors. You can do your own, but then I'd add a cable connector tester for about another $125.00, not worth it for a one time deal. You connect your server unit to the HUB as the main system, this gives you control over all the units you. So you could give yours kids access to one or two units and they wouldn't be able to get into your work files. NT has a great security system built in, Win 95 does not !!!!
You connect your Router to the server/hub and then configure the systems. The hardest part is configuring your software / programming each work station and the server. You have to assign each work station, the server, and the router a separate IP address. You can make them up for the internal application or get some from your ISP for about $15.00 each IP address. If you don't have experience setting up IP addressing and gateways you may need some assistance or get a good a book. Buck Graham has a decent one called TCP/IP Addressing, its available from AP Professional, you can order it online from Border Books, I believe.
You can also order all your networking hardware from Data Comm Warehouse at www.warehouse.com, they are a part of MicroWarehouse / MacWarehouse.
That's about the best I can tell you till you get some hard questions, and I'm sure you'll have them once you start. I would keep one unit online and configure the network first, you may need the resources available electronically. Once you have the network up, go ahead and add the other unit and connect to the Net. It sounds easier then it is. My first network took me a week to figure out and I was down the whole time. Not a pleasant position when the stocks were moving, thank goodness for the phones <g>.....
Get a good book on NT Work Station and configuring it for networking. That'll probable be your best resource for the project. If you have a buddy who knows networks and can help, even better.
Once your set up, all you have to do is connect your router to a phone line, configure the router to dial your ISP with username and password and then you can connect to the net from any of the stations, either simutaneously or singly. Understand that your connection speed will be determined by your telephone line or ISDN speed and how many units are on at once. i.e. if you have a 56 kbs modem and a dedicated line, with two people connected at once you'll only draw 28.8 to 33.6 speeds, not 56 each. So the faster / better connection you have the better.
The biggest advantage is that you can be online and access any unit on your network at the same time. So if you were on unit one and on the net, you could down load files to unit 3 or 4 without having to disconnect from 1 and reconnect from 3.
Good luck |
