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Q: What more can/need I do?

I've installed a network on my works PC's today. By that I mean installed all the cards, cables and crap and setup a standard "you see me, I see you" network and printer sharing and so forth.

The whole idea is to centralise our works files all on one PC (mine) and use only one printer (copier/printer/fax/scanner machine) that is in my office.

This basicly cuts out backups of four PC's to only one and stuff like that. But is there anything more I can do to make things run smoother and easier.

Recommendations, suggestions are more than welcome. I'm still a rather newbie when it comes to "advanced" networking.

Two PC's running 98SE and the other two XP Pro.

Network is 100base connected via an 8 port switch.

If it's doing what you want and you aren't concerned about security, then it should be OK.

Share a broadband internet connection?

No security isn't that much of an issue right now because it is only internally and the only internet connection we have in the office is a 56k (no broadband here) that I might share only between the pc that has the modem and mine to download e-mail when needed (internet connection would be 10 minutes max).

If I was more concerned about security what should I be looking at? Just so that I'd know.

Thanks

Put up a Linux server instead of dragging your own box down. An old P11 350 would work just fine with 512k of ram.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Arial" size="3">Originally posted by Cuda68-2:
Put up a Linux server instead of dragging your own box down. An old P11 350 would work just fine with 512k of ram.</font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

yeah, i second the p11 with 512k of ram

Not even the P 1 ran @ 350.

I think by "P11" they mean a Pentium II or Pentium 2.

Yea I did

Ok help me out on this one then too please.

Linux!
I've only heard about it and seen a lot of people mention it in posts and so forth. So what is the big diffs, how does it work and were can I get it. I've read somewere something about it being "open source"? So is it available somewhere for free or what?

I've been doing some digging myself now and it seems that Mandrake Linux 9.2 is what I should be looking at or am I totally in the dark here with no flashlight at the edge of a cliff?



EDIT: Ok I'll be the one to link myself Duh!
ubb/Forum8/HTML/006466.html

thanks

512m of ram might be a little more useful then 512k or ram as well

Smoothwall is a pre-setup linux router application. All you have to do is burn the ISO to CD, toss it in the system, boot from CD, and follow the setup instructions. When you're done, you can configure it through a web-based interface like most popular routers (Linksys, etc). I use it and it's great. =) Easy to use and install. It has support for PPP (dialup).

I prefer Mandrake, but make no mistake, a little research will be requried before implementing it.

First does Linux support your hardware. If you are considering Mandrake go here http://www.mandrakelinux.com/en/hardware.php3

The second is the file share. That is done with a program that will be loaded called Samba. Since security is not a concern it will be fairly easy to implement. But you should do a little backround reading here http://samba.org

If you choose Mandrake there are also forums to assist you here http://www.mandrakeclub.com/modules.php ... latt_Forum You do not need to join to ask questions, but search the forums first for your question to see if it has been ansered already.

You can also email me directly and I will be glad to help another MS user go in the right direction

Linux rules the beast and the beast has no clue!

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Arial" size="3">Originally posted by STRESSTEST:
512m of ram might be a little more useful then 512k or ram as well </font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Crap, they used to have 512k a long time ago, but 512m is what I meant. Guess my age is showing

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Arial" size="3">Originally posted by Verran:
<b> Smoothwall is a pre-setup linux router application. All you have to do is burn the ISO to CD, toss it in the system, boot from CD, and follow the setup instructions. When you're done, you can configure it through a web-based interface like most popular routers (Linksys, etc). I use it and it's great. =) Easy to use and install. It has support for PPP (dialup).

</b></font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Wow, that sounds like one handy tool!

Being the single access point for files on the network will turn your machine into a dog unless you have VERY fast drives and a VERY fast CPU and LOTS of RAM. Typically, network activity will cost you in the region of up to 25% CPU ("up to" clearly including lesser numbers!) and if the file-drive is also your OS drive, then expect to have your OS performance suffer also.

Surely, it's better to have even a cheap PC loaded with big-fast Hard Drives, than drag down your own box?

Thanks for all the info. Yea today was the first day that everyone ran on the network after I sorted out all the files and crap. And yes I did notice a hit in my PC performance as well but not anything that will send me through the roof at this moment.

Seeing that the files we're sharing at the moment is only office documents and all and my PC has a 1.2gHz Celeron CPU with 128mb RAM it will just have to do.

I am looking at getting a PC for this purpose alone but my budget did not allow it at this time.

So while I'm still waiting for the boss to adjust my bugdet I'm gonna try and get myself up to date with Linux and setting up a server and so forth.