Setting Up Small Office Wireless Network

Question

I am attempting to setup a small (5 PC) wireless network in my office. We have three Dimension 2400 PC's already and I am looking to purchase a server and an additional PC. Is there a diagram or simple setup guidelines for creating this wireless network available anywhere? I have asked the Dell sales person for one and they never got back to me. If I have to read a legnthy manual my head will explode!   Currently all PC are independant and do not share data. Too many spreadsheets and documents flying around that can be simplified if we were sharing the data and spreadsheets.   I suspect it is fairly easy but I am not exactly sure how the process will work. I suspect what the server will do is provide the ability to share a drive (s) where the data can be stored and then accessed.   I have hooked up 4 PC's to my wireless router at home for internet access and that was simple!   When I asked the Dell sales person for assistance and 'what do I need' they sent me a quote for a server only. I know I need a router and....? Do I need a special version of MS Office?   Hence my request for a diagram or listing of required products and steps.   Any help is greatly appreciated!   Thank you!

helmecj01 · Answer

hi http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/default.mspx

_Paladin · Answer

BriceB1,   For such a small network, you may be able to get by using peer-to-peer (Workgroup) networking rather than setting up a server (Domain) based network.  The network you set up at home is a peer-to-peer network.  Unless there is some specific reason why you would need a server, such as specialized software the requires one, my opinion is you don't need one.   Yes, you need a router to connect all the PCs in the network.  I suggest you give strong thought to a wired network.  It's much faster than wireless and infinitely more secure.    You will still be able to designate a single PC as the 'primary' computer on the network.  That's where you can store everyone's data, rather than spread around the various 'My Documents' folders.  It's not a server in the strict sense, but will act the same way, storing data centrally.   Although you can get MS Office for networking, I suspect you currently have stand alone versions installed on the existing PCs.  Buying one or two more stand alone copies is probably cheaper than buying the network version.  Any client on the network can open a Word or Excel file resident on the primary system, but only one for update.   A few things to consider in this scenario: Since all the data is on the one primary system, backup is very important.  Consider investing in an external USB hard drive and automatic backup software.  The software would run on the primary system and ensure critical data is backed up regularly.   Second, the primary system should be Windows XP Pro.  That's because XP Home has a peer-to-peer networking restriction of a maximum of 5 systems concurrently attached to a single PC.  XP Pro boosts this restriction to 10.  You are right at the cusp of 5, so investing in XP Pro now will save future headaches.  The other client systems can use whatever OS you want.  However, if think a domain based network is in the future, all systems should run XP Pro.  XP Home cannot join in a domain based network, at least not easily.

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

Setting Up Small Office Wireless Network

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