What hardware do I need for this netork?

[David H]

Hi,

We will have 10 XP Home PCs and a network printer at work. Currently, we
just have a 6 port switch where 5 PCs connect to one that acts as the gateway
for the internet and the printer. The broadband is BT Business ADSL.

What I want to do is have a wireless router so our 2 laptops can connect as
well. Am I right to assume that if I buy an ADSL Wireless 4 port Router, I
can connect 3 PCs directly to the router and the other port can be connected
to the 6 port switch?

I am a bit of a novice when it comes to switches and routers. If you can
recommend a plan then that would be fantastic. We want to keep costs down as
well which is why we are sticking with XP Home and not getting a server.

Thanks for your attention and any advice you can give me.

Kindest regards,

David

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

Hi,

We will have 10 XP Home PCs and a network printer at work. Currently,
we just have a 6 port switch where 5 PCs connect to one that acts as
the gateway for the internet and the printer. The broadband is BT
Business ADSL.

What I want to do is have a wireless router so our 2 laptops can
connect as well. Am I right to assume that if I buy an ADSL Wireless
4 port Router, I can connect 3 PCs directly to the router and the
other port can be connected to the 6 port switch?

Yes. Get a decent one with at least WPA security on it & a firewall. Daisy
chain one of the router's switch ports to your Ethernet switch (may need to
do this with a crossover cable if there's no uplink port or autosense
capability). Have all computers point to the router's LAN IP for their
default gateway, and turn off ICS on the former "gateway" computer.

I am a bit of a novice when it comes to switches and routers. If you
can recommend a plan then that would be fantastic.

The instructions that come with the device should be good, if you buy a
known name brand (I'd look first at Netgear, then Linksys, etc., in that
order)

We want to keep
costs down as well which is why we are sticking with XP Home and not
getting a server.

As long as you don't much care about sharing files or printers, sure, go
ahead. But note that XP Home has a 5-connection limit (XP Pro has 10) and it
isn't a simple "one computer=one connection" thing.

 

[Jack \(MVP-Networking\).]

Hi
I assume that your Connection is done through a Modem/Router combo.
All you need to do is to buy a Wi4reless Cable/DSL Router and plug it to one
of the switch ports while configuring the Router as an Access Point.
Here is how-to. Wireless Router as an AP -
http://www.ezlan.net/router_AP.html
Jack (MVP-Networking).