🚀 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?

Store email, store company documents so they are available
to all, center point of document storage and for sales information , 
records(database) etc
that can be more easily backed up than four or more seperate computers.

A decent network switch with spare ports in case you need to add more pcs.

A good hardware firewall for your net connection.
Software firewalls on all machines.
Anti-virus on all machines.
Anti-spyware on all machines.

Update all antivirus, antispyware at least once a week.

> 2. Is Celeron or AMD preferable vis-a-vis pentium 4.

Unless you are using it as a processing server
makes really no difference what processor for
office use. Cost and reliability are more important.

Probably worth your while to go with Sun , Dell , IBM or HP
with a three year service contract.
Any problems you just ring them,rather than having to fix it yourself.

Depends on your location , if regional go with the company
 that can give local support (including local computer shops).

> 3. Are there any issues bout these being accessible and cost effective?
>
> Thank you.
>
> Sam

I would also suggest , getting a ups (uninterruptible power supply),
and tape back up drive.

Back up the pcs once a month, the server twice a week.