What hardware do I need for this network?

  • Thread starter Thread starter David H
  • Start date Start date
D

David H

Hi,

First of all, if you think this post belongs in another group then please
let me know, I really need help with this!

We will have 10 XP Home PCs and a network printer at work. Currently, we
just have a 6 port switch where 5 PCs connect to one that acts as the gateway
for the internet and the printer. The broadband is BT Business ADSL.

What I want to do is have a wireless router so our 2 laptops can connect as
well. Am I right to assume that if I buy an ADSL Wireless 4 port Router, I
can connect 3 PCs directly to the router and the other port can be connected
to the 6 port switch?

I am a bit of a novice when it comes to switches and routers. If you can
recommend a plan then that would be fantastic. We want to keep costs down as
well which is why we are sticking with XP Home and not getting a server.

Thanks for your attention and any advice you can give me.

Kindest regards,

David
 
David H said:
Hi,

First of all, if you think this post belongs in another group then please
let me know, I really need help with this!

We will have 10 XP Home PCs and a network printer at work. Currently, we
just have a 6 port switch where 5 PCs connect to one that acts as the
gateway
for the internet and the printer. The broadband is BT Business ADSL.

What I want to do is have a wireless router so our 2 laptops can connect
as
well. Am I right to assume that if I buy an ADSL Wireless 4 port Router, I
can connect 3 PCs directly to the router and the other port can be
connected
to the 6 port switch?
Click to expand...

Yes you can do that I think but i`m no expert on this. You could try posting
in this group "microsoft.public.windowsxp.network_web"
 
David H said:
Hi,

First of all, if you think this post belongs in another group then please
let me know, I really need help with this!

We will have 10 XP Home PCs and a network printer at work. Currently, we
just have a 6 port switch where 5 PCs connect to one that acts as the
gateway
for the internet and the printer. The broadband is BT Business ADSL.

What I want to do is have a wireless router so our 2 laptops can connect
as
well. Am I right to assume that if I buy an ADSL Wireless 4 port Router, I
can connect 3 PCs directly to the router and the other port can be
connected
to the 6 port switch?
Click to expand...

Sounds like a plan. You just need to ensure that the 4th port on the router
is connected to the upstream port on the switch, but you probably know this
already.
 
David H said:
Hi,

First of all, if you think this post belongs in another group then please
let me know, I really need help with this!

We will have 10 XP Home PCs and a network printer at work. Currently, we
just have a 6 port switch where 5 PCs connect to one that acts as the gateway
for the internet and the printer. The broadband is BT Business ADSL.

What I want to do is have a wireless router so our 2 laptops can connect as
well. Am I right to assume that if I buy an ADSL Wireless 4 port Router, I
can connect 3 PCs directly to the router and the other port can be connected
to the 6 port switch?

I am a bit of a novice when it comes to switches and routers. If you can
recommend a plan then that would be fantastic. We want to keep costs down as
well which is why we are sticking with XP Home and not getting a server.

Thanks for your attention and any advice you can give me.

Kindest regards,

David
Click to expand...

You will need a total of 11 network connections - 10 PCs plus the
network printer so you will need to purchase a second switch to give
you the needed connections.

A second six port switch would give you 10 PCs (5 on each switch with
the sixth connection going to the router). You would also have a
spare connection on the router as you would need to use only 3 of the
4 available - two for the switches plus one for the network printer.
That would allow you to add another siwtch and further PCs in the
future should the need arise.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2008)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."
 
We will have 10 XP Home PCs and a network printer at work. Currently, we
just have a 6 port switch where 5 PCs connect to one that acts as the
gateway
for the internet and the printer. The broadband is BT Business ADSL.
Click to expand...
What I want to do is have a wireless router so our 2 laptops can connect
as
well. Am I right to assume that if I buy an ADSL Wireless 4 port Router, I
can connect 3 PCs directly to the router and the other port can be
connected
to the 6 port switch?
Click to expand...
We want to keep costs down as
well which is why we are sticking with XP Home and not getting a server.
Click to expand...

David -

Please re-think this.

Grow your network as you can afford it. First, don't even consider
"XP Home" PCs on a 10-pc network unless your time is worth
less than a nickel an hour.

If the only purpose of the 10 PCs is to access the internet, sharing
one ADSL access point tells me everyone on your network must
also be working for pennies an hour. Perhaps you meant something
other than ADSL - which in these parts means the bandwidth of
two phone lines - max download 106K, max upload 56K. More
expensive than DSL, but available in remote areas.

What's the purpose of the 10 PCs? (Application wise?)

My first instinct here, is to recommend hiring a network consultant
that can help develop an affordable plan including something better
than ADSL for less $$.

Now if you think the expert is expensive, wait 'til you see what an
amatuer's plan costs you !!

Ed
 
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