Designing a small business network/server

Dr. Pipper · 01-15-2008, 10:19 AM

I recently started working for the family business and am looking to slowly bring our network into the 21st century. We have 6 PCs on a wireless network using a D-Link DI-524 wireless router. We don't have a server, all the machines are configured in a peer-to-peer network and are running Windows XP Home. We don't share much data between the computers, just 5MB CAD files and spreadsheets. I was a Computer Science major in college and a software developer for a few years so I can handle wiring and pretty basic setup, but I'm not very experienced on network design.

I want to redesign our network setup to facilitate faster transfers between computers, possibly to host our email in-house, and to allow multiple computers to use the accounting software/data at the same time.

Do I need a server to accomplish this? If so, how much horsepower will I need? I've browsed the HP and Dell sites but have no idea if I need an entry-level server or something more powerful. I also don't know if I need a basic unmanaged switch or something more powerful. I don't want to spend the money only to wish I had something faster, but I don't want to blow tens of thousands of dollars if I don't have to.

Do you know of any sites to help small businesses develop a server/network setup? Or will I need to hire a consultant to come in here and design everything? I would think our situation is pretty basic and generic.

Thanks for the help!

BlitzMX · 01-15-2008, 11:07 AM

Here is an ideia.

Connect yout ISP modem to a server (with USB if possible) (an entry level should be enought) and make sure the server has access to internet.

After that, you connect your server to the router wireless with ethernet.
Configure your server to be a computer to connect other computers to access the internet.

As soon as the other computers have access to internet your done.

After that you must install Apach and others on the server. Google for "free eMail server software", os something like that.

You´ll have to learn a bit how to work with all that.
Its not very hard.

Good Luck

01-15-2008, 10:19 AM	#1 (permalink)
Dr. Pipper Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1 OS: Windows XP Home SP2	Designing a small business network/server I recently started working for the family business and am looking to slowly bring our network into the 21st century. We have 6 PCs on a wireless network using a D-Link DI-524 wireless router. We don't have a server, all the machines are configured in a peer-to-peer network and are running Windows XP Home. We don't share much data between the computers, just 5MB CAD files and spreadsheets. I was a Computer Science major in college and a software developer for a few years so I can handle wiring and pretty basic setup, but I'm not very experienced on network design. I want to redesign our network setup to facilitate faster transfers between computers, possibly to host our email in-house, and to allow multiple computers to use the accounting software/data at the same time. Do I need a server to accomplish this? If so, how much horsepower will I need? I've browsed the HP and Dell sites but have no idea if I need an entry-level server or something more powerful. I also don't know if I need a basic unmanaged switch or something more powerful. I don't want to spend the money only to wish I had something faster, but I don't want to blow tens of thousands of dollars if I don't have to. Do you know of any sites to help small businesses develop a server/network setup? Or will I need to hire a consultant to come in here and design everything? I would think our situation is pretty basic and generic. Thanks for the help!

01-15-2008, 11:07 AM	#2 (permalink)
BlitzMX Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: IT Posts: 17 OS: Win XP	Re: Designing a small business network/server Here is an ideia. Connect yout ISP modem to a server (with USB if possible) (an entry level should be enought) and make sure the server has access to internet. After that, you connect your server to the router wireless with ethernet. Configure your server to be a computer to connect other computers to access the internet. As soon as the other computers have access to internet your done. After that you must install Apach and others on the server. Google for "free eMail server software", os something like that. You´ll have to learn a bit how to work with all that. Its not very hard. Good Luck Last edited by BlitzMX; 01-15-2008 at 11:10 AM.