-=PCTechTalk=- Re: Home network
- From: "Don" <dsw32952@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: <pctechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 3 Apr 2005 15:11:46 -0400
I will insert responses into your original message...
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bashful Bob" <Bashfulbob@xxxxxxx>
To: <pctechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, April 02, 2005 11:57 PM
Subject: -=PCTechTalk=- Re: Home network
> Hi
> I am a little confused on how you want to have your topology set up, etc.
> and if this is for home and/or a home business use situation.
***
Home use.
L466c: Win98SE
email server (if practical)
A940 all in one printer and maybe a second printer.
Digital camera (that I cannot get drivers to work under XP)
connected to router
KVM connected to 8300, if possible, else to 2350 (Monitor
compatiblity is determining factor)
8300 Connected to router
KVM connected to L466c
WinXP Home
WinXP Pro
2350 Connected to router
If necessary, KVM to L466c
WinXP Home
Router Connected to cable modem
> For instance:
> Are you going to have all three puters hooked up to the KVM switch or are
> you going to have 2 puters hooked up to the switch and the third puter
> hooked up to the Linksys router? You didn't state how many puters you can
> hook up to the KVM switch.
The KVM is a 2 port switch. The goal is to have all three computers
independently able to access the internet and the other two computers, have
all shared peripherals attached to a single computer and avoid buying a
third monitor/keyboard/mouse so I don't need another desk to set up the
L466. I would prefer the KVM on the 8300 since that is MY computer, but the
2350 will work fine also. I'll probably have to try it and see if it works
OK with the digital monitor as described in my first message.
>
> Are you planning on hooking up the printer to the router or to one of the
> puters. If hooked up to the puter, and that puter is hooked up to the KVM
> switch, you need to keep in mind that the KVM switch, I think, allows for
> one puter to be working at a time. Therefore, I am thinking, only two
> people
> can be on the machines (and possible utilizing the printer) at any given
> time through the KVM switch, but you stated that you had one user for each
> machine, therefore you have 3 users, correct?
***
Printer will be hooked to the L466c. I have used the KVM switch in the
past and you are correct... one computer at a time. The user with the
shared keyboard will be able to use only one computer at a time... switching
back and forth as required.
To clarify... three computers, two users.
> It also seems that you are planning on having additional users (How many
> over what period of time) in the near future but will NOT be increasing
> the
> number of machines, is this correct?
***
Actually the idea was for additional *virtual* users, not physical users.
Different virtual user for specific use of the computer to optimize the
computer for the specific task(s) at hand. Examples: a user specifically
for downloading and trying different shareware/freeware, another user for
tasks that require Internet Explorer instead of Firefox. The idea is to
minimize the risk of really and totally screwing up the computer when I do
something stupid.... just screw up a virtual user instead.
>
> Also, are you considering setting up a peer to peer workgroup network with
> file and/or printer sharing situation or a group network configuration ?
> Would I be correct in assuming that the printer is NOT a network printer
> (no
> NIC card in the printer)?
***
There is no NIC in the printer. If I understand the terminolgy correctly, a
p2p workgroup will accomplish my goal.
>
> Which putter will be (at least) sharing the KVM switch with the L466?
***
Preferably the 8300, but it doesn't really matter except for minor
convenience purposes.
>
> I am also concerned about the amount of RAM you have, that the largest
> amount maybe a tad on the small size to have it function in a server
> capacity depending on the volume it will be handling.
***
Volume should be low on the L466c. At most I would think it would be
printing or downloading pics from the camera. If I can make it an email
server without a lot of expense and trouble it would also do that. The main
reason it will need internet access is to download updates for Win98 and
other software. RAM is cheap so that shouldn't be a problem.
>In my opinion, XP home is a light weight OS to be utilizing it as a server
>OS. XP PRO would be much better OS plus it will give you better features
>than Home, especially in the security area.
I expect the server load to be **very** light... simply to make it easy to
use the same printer/scanner etc and minimize the desk space required. The
L466c will do FAR less as a server than it ever did as a desktop computer.
And I hope it can do it with Win98SE. Though I suppose I could put XP Pro
on it instead. Having both Home and Pro on the 8300 is not a requirement.
I originally got the Pro to have the Remote Assistance available to help my
Mom on her computer without having to make the hour long drive to her house.
But, I haven't needed it yet and that has been two years.
> You stated that you have XP PRO and Home on one machine, I am assuming
> that
> it is a dual booted machine. If you use the XP PRO OS as the dedicated
> server OS, then are you sure you want the other HD with the HOME OS on it
> in
> the server machine.
Before my hard drive crashed, I had Win XP on one SATA drive and Home on the
other. Home came with the computer and I had from a former computer that
died a horrible death. I could F12 to the boot menu and have it boot to
either hard drive. I never really used that capability until the Home drive
crashed. I can install the XP Pro to the L466c, though Microsoft may
require a phone call to activate it.
> You also state that you will be acquiring new software, but didn't state
> what. Some software will not maintain more than one user at a time, others
> will. Will the software be installed in a users computer or are you
> planning
> to set up an application server where more than one person can access the
> application on the server from their machines? Have you considered the
> situation where more than one person accesses the application at the same
> time and both make changes, meaning that one will not know about the
> others
> changes till the application is saved and the possible duplication of
> efforts and what repercussions this situation could present?
***
This won't be a concern. Each computer will have its own software. I do
not need an application server. I think that will be opening a can of worms
that I'd rather leave closed. :-)) It is very doubtful that both of us
would make changes to the same file at the same time. File sharing will be
used mostly to make it easy to move stuff from one computer to the other.
Who knows what new software I might get... depends on what I see in the
store or somebody talks about online.
>
> I suggest you sit down and write out a plan and what it will cost on who
> will be doing what, when, where and how. That may give you a better
> picture
> on what you need and how to proceed. This is just my opinion.
I think I am close to doing that with this response. Just need to format it
as a plan instead of a response. I will be doing all the work in my spare
time. Except for the additional RAM I *think* I have everything I need
(router, cat5 cables, kvm, computers, etc) unless there is some software I
need. I think the actual configuring is the bulk of what I need help with.
> What about firewalls (how many and what type), backups for the system,
> etc.
> this should be addressed in your plan even if you say you don't need it.
> What firewall does your router have? How many ports and is the back end a
> switch or a hub?
I have already downloaded Zone Alarm, Avast, AVG, Ad-Aware, WinPatrol and
lots more. I am still looking for a good backup utility. Each computer
will have its own copy of each. Data and configuration backups will be
written to CD or DVD. The router has a switch and four ports plus the
uplink and WAN ports. I thought a router/switch was simply a hardware
firewall. Does it have a software or configurable firewall in it too?
(Gads, I feel ignorant now.)
>
> As I stated, I am a little confused about your intentions, so all this may
> be some what off base and I may be getting a tad bit overboard here.
> There are people that do this stuff for a living in here and I am sure
> they
> can and will be of more help to you.
You might be a tad overboard but that is good. It is all useful
information, good questions and suggestions. Plus I learned from it all.
I'm looking forward to hearing from anyone that can help me through this.
Thanks for taking the time to reply.
Don
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