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**mairving** · 11-30-2000, 07:27 AM

I think that you are confusing what a server is. You can have a file server where all your files are centrally located. A print server for printing. You can have one machine be both a client and a server.

-In your case, you W2K machine is a server in the aspect that it is serving up it's Internet connection to the other machines. Your network is strictly peer to peer. You really don't need W2K server.
-I would put the printer on the system that you use the most or has the most horsepower. Some people don't realize that it takes system resources to use.
-With ICS, you can use only one IP address. You can also consider the addition of a Linksys or other Cable/DSL router. This will be your DHCP server (assigns an IP to your other machines).
-You will still need a firewall. If you look here and in the peripherals/internet sections, you can find out more. The router I mentioned above would be a firewall (hardware based). There are a bunch of firewall programs (software based) out there like BlackIce, Norton Internet security, and the free ZoneAlarm. At the minimum, install the software version.
-I don't know of any one site that has all the answers. Cisco has some pretty good info. PCMech has some answers. I also like the Linksys site.

Hope this helps.

11-30-2000, 07:27 AM	#5
mairving Staff Premium Member Join Date: Jul 1999 Location: Arlington, TN Posts: 5,538	I think that you are confusing what a server is. You can have a file server where all your files are centrally located. A print server for printing. You can have one machine be both a client and a server. -In your case, you W2K machine is a server in the aspect that it is serving up it's Internet connection to the other machines. Your network is strictly peer to peer. You really don't need W2K server. -I would put the printer on the system that you use the most or has the most horsepower. Some people don't realize that it takes system resources to use. -With ICS, you can use only one IP address. You can also consider the addition of a Linksys or other Cable/DSL router. This will be your DHCP server (assigns an IP to your other machines). -You will still need a firewall. If you look here and in the peripherals/internet sections, you can find out more. The router I mentioned above would be a firewall (hardware based). There are a bunch of firewall programs (software based) out there like BlackIce, Norton Internet security, and the free ZoneAlarm. At the minimum, install the software version. -I don't know of any one site that has all the answers. Cisco has some pretty good info. PCMech has some answers. I also like the Linksys site. Hope this helps.