peer to peer network design

he first question is: What OS will you use?

If you are using Windows98/ME/2000 you can share a single Internet conection to all machines in your network.

You will only want a router if you plan to use a dedicated line (LPCD).

More details conect me

Hi

Linksys makes a router, DHCP server, firewall, 10/100 4-port switch. The model number is BEFSR41 and Staples sell them for about $150. For a small peer to peer network like you describe it works fine and only requires that you put network cards in your computers and add the cables. If you want more details information, just drop me an email.

You need some way of sharing your Internet connection. If you are getting a DSL or Cable connection, then a router would be good (make sure you get an ethernet modem). If you are sharing a dialup connection, I wouldn't bother with it. You can usethe stuff built into Windows 98SE and higher, or you can get either SyGate or WinGate to share the connection.

Hubs and routers are completely different. A hub takes all the network traffic that comes to it and sends it to every other connectionon the hub. This allows all of the computers on your network to talk to each other. A router looks at each network packet to determine where it needs to go. In your case, any packets that are going to the internet would be sent to your internet connection and any packets for your local network would be ignored (the hub has already dealt with them).

Some DSL/Cable routers have built-in 4-port switches (a switch is a slightly more complex version of a hub). If you get one of these, you don't need a hub unless you have more than four computers.

Hopefully this helps. If you have any other questions, let me know.

hello hoay fern ,

Peer to peer is pretty simple, few computer and a hub sounds the best way to go for soemthing in a home environment.Just make sure each computer has at least net-bui installed on the machines or it has its own matching TCPIP addresses... g' luck !

SETTING UP A PEER-TO-PEER NETWORK DOES NOT REQUIRE A SERVER AND A HUB EXCEPT IF YOU WANT TO SET-UP A CLIENT SERVER NETWORK. YOU DO NOT REALLY NEED A ROUTER FOR YOUR PEER-TO-PEER NETWORK IN ORDER TO ACCESS INTERNET. IF YOU ARE RUNNING WINDOWS 98 OR2000 YOU CAN CONFIGURE YOUR O/S FOR INTERNET ACCESS AND INTERNET SHARING ON ALL THE THREE SYSTEMS

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