Need advice expanding current network

newbienet · 11-02-2009, 10:00 AM

hi guys,

I've currently got a business with a 3 pc setup (see red section in picture). These are connected to a BT 2Wire linksys four ethernet port router. The 4th port is connected to an oki network printer.

My question is that I want to add an additional 2 computers, and a 3rd computer which i want to act as a server (see green section in picture).. Is this possible and if so, what other hardware will i need? Also how difficult is it to setup a server to allow me to backup data from other computers on the network?

Please see the picture below:-

FYI, I am using vista business on all computers and simply want to be able to share the network, internet and also be able to take backup of a small amount of data...thats all.

I eagerly look forward to your replies.

**johnwill** · 11-02-2009, 11:38 AM

Not difficult at all, you'll probably need an Ethernet switch to expand the ports on the Linksys. I'd consider an 8 port gigabit switch to allow you faster access speeds across the local network. For the "server", if this is just for backup, consider a NAS like the D-Link DNS-323. Much less maintenance, lower power, lower cost. I use one of these and a DNS-321 (similar without a print server) on my network for backup, both are configured as RAID-1 with mirrored drives.

newbienet · 11-02-2009, 12:37 PM

thanks very much john,

since i've never setup or used a NAS:-

1.how quick and easy is it to add to an existing network? I want to try and have as minimum disruption as possible and yes all i need the server for is backup.

2. I currently have windows vista business installed on all the pcs, so will i need vista on the NAS server too?

3. What backup software (Free) do you recommend? - I simply want to backup a couple of folders from each computer every night onto the server.

4. How easy is it to setup a RAID system?

5. Why do you need a D-Link DNS 323 and 321?

**johnwill** · 11-02-2009, 06:10 PM

It's VERY easy to setup a NAS, certainly a lot easier than configuring and using a real server product.

The NAS is just a box that appears on the network and serves files in it's simplest form. You can add all sorts of whistles and bells, but in the end, it's a file server. The DNS-323 (or DNS-321) that I've mentioned would certainly be sufficient to backup a couple of folders from each computer. Mine have dual 1.5TB drives in the RAID-1 mirrored array, yielding 1.5TB of capacity with hardware redundancy.

To backup a couple of folders, you can use something simple like Cobian Backup, which has scheduled tasks that you can configure to backup as few or as many files as you like. There are many other products that will do a similar job, this one is free, so it's hard to go wrong.

For NAS units like the DNS-323, configuring the RAID is as simple as selecting the option and letting it format the disks.

I have the two NAS units for backup. While RAID-1 provides redundancy, RAID of any level is NOT backup, it's just hardware redundancy to minimize downtime in the case of a disk failure.

In my case, I have a lot of data that can't be recreated, so I have several backups.

11-02-2009, 10:00 AM	#1 (permalink)
newbienet Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 2 OS: vista business	Need advice expanding current network hi guys, I've currently got a business with a 3 pc setup (see red section in picture). These are connected to a BT 2Wire linksys four ethernet port router. The 4th port is connected to an oki network printer. My question is that I want to add an additional 2 computers, and a 3rd computer which i want to act as a server (see green section in picture).. Is this possible and if so, what other hardware will i need? Also how difficult is it to setup a server to allow me to backup data from other computers on the network? Please see the picture below:- FYI, I am using vista business on all computers and simply want to be able to share the network, internet and also be able to take backup of a small amount of data...thats all. I eagerly look forward to your replies. Last edited by newbienet; 11-02-2009 at 10:04 AM.

11-02-2009, 11:38 AM	#2 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,969 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Need advice expanding current network Not difficult at all, you'll probably need an Ethernet switch to expand the ports on the Linksys. I'd consider an 8 port gigabit switch to allow you faster access speeds across the local network. For the "server", if this is just for backup, consider a NAS like the D-Link DNS-323. Much less maintenance, lower power, lower cost. I use one of these and a DNS-321 (similar without a print server) on my network for backup, both are configured as RAID-1 with mirrored drives. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

11-02-2009, 12:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
newbienet Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 2 OS: vista business	Re: Need advice expanding current network thanks very much john, since i've never setup or used a NAS:- 1.how quick and easy is it to add to an existing network? I want to try and have as minimum disruption as possible and yes all i need the server for is backup. 2. I currently have windows vista business installed on all the pcs, so will i need vista on the NAS server too? 3. What backup software (Free) do you recommend? - I simply want to backup a couple of folders from each computer every night onto the server. 4. How easy is it to setup a RAID system? 5. Why do you need a D-Link DNS 323 and 321? Last edited by newbienet; 11-02-2009 at 12:38 PM.

11-02-2009, 06:10 PM	#4 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,969 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Need advice expanding current network It's VERY easy to setup a NAS, certainly a lot easier than configuring and using a real server product. The NAS is just a box that appears on the network and serves files in it's simplest form. You can add all sorts of whistles and bells, but in the end, it's a file server. The DNS-323 (or DNS-321) that I've mentioned would certainly be sufficient to backup a couple of folders from each computer. Mine have dual 1.5TB drives in the RAID-1 mirrored array, yielding 1.5TB of capacity with hardware redundancy. To backup a couple of folders, you can use something simple like Cobian Backup, which has scheduled tasks that you can configure to backup as few or as many files as you like. There are many other products that will do a similar job, this one is free, so it's hard to go wrong. For NAS units like the DNS-323, configuring the RAID is as simple as selecting the option and letting it format the disks. I have the two NAS units for backup. While RAID-1 provides redundancy, RAID of any level is NOT backup, it's just hardware redundancy to minimize downtime in the case of a disk failure. In my case, I have a lot of data that can't be recreated, so I have several backups. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience