Newbie to Client-Server, how set up?

[George]

Wondered if could collect some insights into installing a server vs. just
networking a few WinXP PC's via a firewall router/switch, like the popular
Linksys ones. I'd just like a clean setup, fast, hub concept, easy to
expand, not a bunch of things cobled together.

-Is it that servers have more hard drive space and are cheaper?

-Is the idea just to store documents on the server and handle the router and
print servers for everyone? Is the server more like a central traffic cop
and storage system than a functional device?

-Are the applications like MS-Office generally put on the individual PC's?

-With a server, is it easy to add things (printers, PCs, scanners, etc.) to
the network

-What are the costs for a small office setup like... Dell Server ($____),
software (what kind? $____), anything else?

-Is this something an average technically inclined person can set up, is
there a big learning curve, or are we talking lots of gotcha's, lots of
crashes, lots of op system upgrades, constant maintenance, need installation
support and a support contract?


Thanks,
George

 

[Richard G. Harper]

This is the key question:

Is this something an average technically inclined person can set up, is
there a big learning curve, or are we talking lots of gotcha's, lots of
crashes, lots of op system upgrades, constant maintenance, need
installation support and a support contract?

If you're this far behind on the learning curve you need either a lot more
education or some expert advice in setting up a network.

There are a lot more questions that would need to be asked before anyone
could offer any kind of sensible advice as to whether a server/client or
peer/peer network would serve your needs.