[ankitsuhail]

Hellow,
i have a small problem and need some information....
I am planning to connect my office with a small lan network to share files and so....
but my problem is that is a server compulsery for connecting via lan...if there is then is it compulsery that server remains on all the time..........

i will not be connecting to the internet and intranet only....
please help me out...i know you can

thanks in advance.

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you may have some terms confused...which might be adding to your questions..

a server is any device that offers a service to other computer....such as a file server or a print server (offering file storage and printing services respectively) so technically any computer can be a server depending on it's use...even in a workgroup environment....if a computer is sharing files...it's technically a server at that point in time and anyone requesting files is a client....in a full client server topology you have a system that is always a server and systems that are always clients...

to answer your questions fully....we'll need some more info...such as how many computers you have (or plan to have), what the actual purpose for your network will be

if there is then is it compulsery that server remains on all the time..........

to answer this question...whether you have a dedicated server or if you're using a workgroup and just sharing files that way....to access the resources the computer MUST be on...you cannot do anything with a computer that is off

[dsenette]

you may have some terms confused...which might be adding to your questions..

a server is any device that offers a service to other computer....such as a file server or a print server (offering file storage and printing services respectively) so technically any computer can be a server depending on it's use...even in a workgroup environment....if a computer is sharing files...it's technically a server at that point in time and anyone requesting files is a client....in a full client server topology you have a system that is always a server and systems that are always clients...

to answer your questions fully....we'll need some more info...such as how many computers you have (or plan to have), what the actual purpose for your network will be

if there is then is it compulsery that server remains on all the time..........

to answer this question...whether you have a dedicated server or if you're using a workgroup and just sharing files that way....to access the resources the computer MUST be on...you cannot do anything with a computer that is off

[thenotch]

For a small office solution (less than 20 computers) I would say a workgroup environment would be fine with a central file sharing server running Linux and Samba.
It is a very simple and cost effective solution.

There are systems out there preconfigured (ClarkConnect, Smoothwall, etc) that take the pain out if it for you and the software is free, or you can download a Linux distro, configure Samba and the users on your network will be able to securely share files and the like.

That is a very basic scenario. I have almost 100 users and I still have things running on a Linux/Samba network. It will be changing before much longer, but it is still quite useful and functional.

[ankitsuhail]

thankyou for answring my question....But still i am a bit confuced......
Mr. dsenette asked for some more details abot my problem....so hear it is...

I want to connect just 5 pc with lan connection.The problem is that i have some very important data on my pc which i don't want others to look or delete( franklly i do not trust by office staff...lol.....).But my boss want's me to connect all the pc's to a lan... If I do so he wants my pc to be the main server pc (I don't practically know what a server is but as you told that it offers service to other computers)...... And i do not want to keep my pc on for a long time....so i was wondring that is there a way that the pc which are switched on can share files from the other pc's (obiously which are switched on too). even if my pc remains off...... That way i can save my important data from my staff members.....

i don't know if i made myself clear or not.......if not then i am really sorry (actually i am not so good in english....)so please co-oprate with me and help me out..

And thanks again for replying me so early.....

and as for mr. Thenotch, I am using windows xp and not linux....but anyways thanks for replying

[peterm]

Hi ankitsuhail
No a server is not imporant for what you want to do.
Parts
You will need a network switch - at least an 8 port
Switch
You will need to check each computer has an onboard network card(ethernet port) or install a network card in to each computer.
Card
Onboard

You will nedd cables to run from each computer to the switch - no more then 100 meters.
Cable

Setup
Next is to set up each computer to have a static IP address.
This would be best done manually
Then you have to share the drives @ folders you want others to access.
You can turn computers on and off without affecting the other users.
Just the files on that computer won't be accessable

If you need help setting up the static ip address let me know
Cheers
Peterm

[customcomp]

thankyou for answring my question....But still i am a bit confuced......
Mr. dsenette asked for some more details abot my problem....so hear it is...

I want to connect just 5 pc with lan connection.The problem is that i have some very important data on my pc which i don't want others to look or delete( franklly i do not trust by office staff...lol.....).But my boss want's me to connect all the pc's to a lan... If I do so he wants my pc to be the main server pc (I don't practically know what a server is but as you told that it offers service to other computers)...... And i do not want to keep my pc on for a long time....so i was wondring that is there a way that the pc which are switched on can share files from the other pc's (obiously which are switched on too). even if my pc remains off...... That way i can save my important data from my staff members.....

i don't know if i made myself clear or not.......if not then i am really sorry (actually i am not so good in english....)so please co-oprate with me and help me out..

And thanks again for replying me so early.....

and as for mr. Thenotch, I am using windows xp and not linux....but anyways thanks for replying

Hmm

Please forgive me if i have the wrong end of the stick but if your boss wants your computer to be left on 24/7 for file sharing and you want to turn it off the best way around the problem would be to either buy another desktop computer, or a server and add the files on your computer to it.

If you choose to just use desktop computers in a work group with no "server" then when yours is turned off the files being shared on your computer are not accessible by any other machines on the network.

So yes if you want files to be shared 24/7 you would need a main server, but this could just be another computer in the network.

[computerspecialist101]

Ok, i just want to get this completely straight as to what is going on.

you have 5 computers that need to be connected to the internet.

you also need those computers to access information being shared on the network.


where is the information that needs to be shared? what computer is it on and is that computer connected to the internet?