How many users on a LAN?

[ComPCs]

Need to connect 20 laptops on a peer to peer LAN. LAN will be wi-fi
router 'based', and there is no requirement for sharing files, printers
etc.

However, there /is/ a requirement for a LAN instant messaging program so
that all the laptops can communicate with each other via this method.

Are there likely to be any restrictions to networking 20 laptops this
way?

There will be no security issues as all the laptops are new so there are
no personal files etc on them, there will be no external Internet
access. This is purely a 'closed' LAN environment.

 

[ComPCs]

Need to connect 20 laptops on a peer to peer LAN.

Typo, 22...

 

[Jim]

Need to connect 20 laptops on a peer to peer LAN. LAN will be wi-fi
router 'based', and there is no requirement for sharing files, printers
etc.

However, there /is/ a requirement for a LAN instant messaging program so
that all the laptops can communicate with each other via this method.

Are there likely to be any restrictions to networking 20 laptops this
way?

There will be no security issues as all the laptops are new so there are
no personal files etc on them, there will be no external Internet
access. This is purely a 'closed' LAN environment.

I have seen a thousand or so computers on a single segment of ethernet. The
network definitely had performance problems.

There is a practical limit of about 60% usage when an ethernet network
becomes congested with packets. Your computers surely could not reach that
level.
Jim

 

[Kurt]

I don't see 20 computers as any kind of problem, but there are ALWAYS
security issues with wireless. Make sure you secure your network.

....kurt

 

[CJT]

Typo, 22...

One must always add a caveat that "it depends on your patterns
of use" but for typical use, 22 machines should be a cake walk,
even using Windows.