setting up a network

[lorne]

Hi all,
I am trying to plan my home network. i have 3 computers (all XP Pro)
connect thru linksys router. everything works perfectly! <knock on wood>
I just aquired a new computer and want to use it as server type computer
that stores all data (school work, banking software etc). Someone suggested
that I install a network switch but could not tell me why. Do I need a
switch or will connecting everything thru the linksys router be acceptable?
Could I have all the computers contain their own data files and set XP to
back up all those files automatically to the "server" computer? Or would I
have to map each computer to the server with each person having their own
files on the server?
Also, each computer has a printer and there is one main printer. All
computers share all printers.

Thanks for all suggestions/comments.

 

[Linda Yang]

You don't need another switch, your router can act as a switch. Make
sure you turned on the file/printer sharing on your computers. Share a
folder on the PC you want to be the file server with full access, and
hook up the printer to that PC as well and share the printer. Use the
Backup utility under Control Panel -> Performance and Maintenance to
schedule a periodic backup task to your server folder. You should be
able see the server shared folder and printer by typing \\yourservername
on the address bar.

Linda