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Relic
12-31-2002, 03:28 PM
I'm setting up a small business network for my friend and I'm not sure how to do it. We have 3 computer networked (cable/dsl router) right now, but he will be expanding to have about 6 computers by July or so. He would like two of the three new computers to have internet access and file sharing and the sixth computer to have file sharing, but not internet access. We were wondering about possible ideas/solutions to the network problems we will be encountering in the future. He wants to find the best way to keep cost down, any help would be GREAT! Thanks in advance.
vothweirdon
12-31-2002, 07:00 PM
According to what DSL router you use. With the Linksys befs41 you can block access via the IP address (Which means you have to staticly assign your IP address to each machine) Most routers have this capabilities I believe. (Another easy way to block it would be to remove the DNS settings after you staticly assign it an address, only way they could surf is if they knew the IP address of the sites they wanted to go to)
Not sure how many ports are on your router (if it is a 4 port or smaller) you will need to add a hub/switch to the arraingment.
File sharing isn't a bad idea, but if this is a business you really should have a server (can be a pc class machine) but it needs some sort of backup hardware on it. Reason I am saying this is you can shut a business down really fast if you lose a drive. Then you would share the directory on your "sever" and everyone would map to that. You can secure it down by user also.
Voth
Relic
12-31-2002, 07:03 PM
So your opinion is that we should get a somewhat cheap server and 6 computers?
Yes, we do have a 4 port router that we use to share our cable connection. Also, thanks a lot for those tips, we both really appreciate it.
vothweirdon
12-31-2002, 07:16 PM
Really up to what you want to do. Servers can be expensive. What you need to do if this is going to be a business is get some form of backup hardware and software (at least use windows backup)
According to how it is going to be maintained (is there going to be 6 workers working the 6 machines at all times? is there going to be onsite support?)
You can mail me directly if you have specific questions you don't want asked on the net and we can bounce around ways of doing it.
Voth
Relic
01-01-2003, 03:21 PM
I couldn't find your email address so I just pmed you vothweirdon.