🚀 go-pugleaf

"Sam" <sam_man@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:4363ff37$1@dnews.tpgi.com.au...
> I am interested in getting views on a proposed office network. I have
taken
> some advice from a boffin but have no way of checking whether that advice
is
> good or bad. I am hoping that the collective brains trust in these groups
> might shed some light on the subject. Please bear in mind that I am not
far
> advanced from computer illiterate. If these questions are incomprehensible
> then that might be the explanation.
>
> We have 4 staff, each with their own stand alone computers. I am going to
> acquire four new computers. Those in my office tell me that I need to
change
> the current arrangement to an office network.
>
> The use will be e-mail, web searching and small accounting system.
>
> The questions I would like to answer for the new office network are
>
> 1. is a server as well as the 4 desk tops a good idea. ie what would a
> server add? Is it just the ability to view/access others files? What are
the
> relative advantages and disadvantages of adding a server eg accessibility
> and cost effectiveness?
>
> 2. Is Celeron or AMD preferable vis-a-vis pentium 4.
>
> 3. Are there any issues bout these being accessible and cost effective?

You haven't said what  business you are running and what applications you
would be using.

At a glance of what you posted , the ideal way is to set up a Star Network
topology using a central network switch with all the computers and the
server coming off it.

The server will act as a primary domain controller and you will be able to
centralise all the office data files / data base /accounting system .....
etc

The workstations can either logon to  the server domain or they can logon
without joining the server domain.

As with the older computers , if they are not very old , like a 1 Ghz or
above , you can redeploy some
of them for print servers as well one as a firewall /proxy server to the
internet for all your emails and web browsing and you can even use one of
them to be a backup the server data.

Backups can be also be done by using a 200 Gb Maxtor One Touch USB external
HDD that can be placed anywhere away from the server.


As with the type of computers , the server should be a P4 server , you can
get the budget ones for about $4,000 and for the workstations , the Celerons
would be alright.



-- 
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True Multitasking is having three computers and a chair with wheels.


Sandgroper
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