Mixed XP networking

[google]

I need to set up a network of 10 PCs all sharing 1 internet connection.
The main functionality of these PCs is internet only.

As yet I heven't bought these PCs but currently realise that XP Pro is
more expensive than XP Home and was wondering on the most
cost-effective solution for this network.

From what I understand XP Pro can have up to 10 simultaneous

connections and Home only 5.

Could I, however, have an XP Pro PC with the internet connection on it
and the rest of the PCs with XP Home?

Also, if the network needs to go beyond 10 PCs could I use a W98 PC to
share the internet connection with XP Home on the others?

I guess I may even want to consider Linux if it's only internet access
but I would need a couple of Windows-based PCs - So does anyone know
about mixing Linux with Windows? Or maybe a Windows simulation on
Linux?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Paul

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

I need to set up a network of 10 PCs all sharing 1 internet connection.
The main functionality of these PCs is internet only.

As yet I heven't bought these PCs but currently realise that XP Pro is
more expensive than XP Home and was wondering on the most
cost-effective solution for this network.

connections and Home only 5.

Could I, however, have an XP Pro PC with the internet connection on it
and the rest of the PCs with XP Home?

Also, if the network needs to go beyond 10 PCs could I use a W98 PC to
share the internet connection with XP Home on the others?

I guess I may even want to consider Linux if it's only internet access
but I would need a couple of Windows-based PCs - So does anyone know
about mixing Linux with Windows? Or maybe a Windows simulation on
Linux?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Paul

I don't think that the 5 or 10 computer connection limit applies to a
shared Internet connection, so either Home or Pro should be fine.
That limit applies when accessing a computer's shared disks and
folders over the network:

Inbound Connections Limit in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314882

If possible, I recommend using an inexpensive broadband router as the
Internet sharing device instead of one of the computers. A router is
easier to set up and more reliable than XP's Internet Connection
Sharing. You can use a router with any broadband Internet service
that connects using Ethernet.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[Tony]

I need to set up a network of 10 PCs all sharing 1 internet connection.
The main functionality of these PCs is internet only.

As yet I heven't bought these PCs but currently realise that XP Pro is
more expensive than XP Home and was wondering on the most
cost-effective solution for this network.

connections and Home only 5.

Could I, however, have an XP Pro PC with the internet connection on it
and the rest of the PCs with XP Home?

Also, if the network needs to go beyond 10 PCs could I use a W98 PC to
share the internet connection with XP Home on the others?

I guess I may even want to consider Linux if it's only internet access
but I would need a couple of Windows-based PCs - So does anyone know
about mixing Linux with Windows? Or maybe a Windows simulation on
Linux?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Paul

If its only internet sharing you need then get a router. will be much
easier to set up and won't rely on connection to any one XP machine hence
you will not have the problem of the 10 connection limit. If you have the
internet connection to one XP machine, you will be hit with the 10
connection limit regardless. A PC can also make more than one connection to
it so chances are that not all 10 PC's will be able to connect if the other
PC's are using up more than one connection each.

If you want to go the Linux route, have a look at Smoothwall
(http://www.smoothwall.org/ ) . I use it myself and is a free hardware
firewall that will run on older PC's. Also has the advantage of a proxy
server that caches regularly looked at pages and speeds up internet access.
I just have a Alcatel Frog modem plugged into the Smoothwall box and then
plugged into an 8 port 10/100 switch which also has an 8 and a 4 port hub
plugged into it. Either a couple of 8 port switches or a 16 port should be
all you need (don't get a 10 port as you will need extra ports to plug the
router into and if you get two 8 ports, a port on each will be used for the
uplink).

You could also have a look at Clarkeconnect
(http://www.clarkconnect.com/downloads/) again free but is more intended as
a server for office needs such as file sharing, email etc.

Finally, Ubuntu is easy to set up as a server as well. I use it as a
web/ftp server. It is also good for workstations so if all you need on them
is web browsing, it would be a cheaper option than XP.