Network Choice !!!

[0tter]

Ok...im in the process of getting ready to build my dream machine and now with two systems in the house want to network the two computers. Looking around some ive found there are several ways to go about this task. Any suggestions on which way to go. what are the pros and cons involved?

[DrZaius]

Hi 0tter,

If you plan on only having those two computers in the network, then just get a network card (NIC) for each and connect them directly using a CAT5 crossover cable. If you plan on adding more computers later on, get a small 5-port hub and connect each computer using a regular CAT5 cable. Hope that helps.

[Floppyman]

If you plan on gaming too on your LAN a 5 port switch maybe a better option than a hub. It also allows your network cards to run full duplex. HTH

[mairving]

I would probably recommend using a hub or a switch. Usually it speeds things up a bit. Hubs/Switches are fairly cheap nowadays also. If you plan on getting both computers on the Internet via cable or DSL, then a Cable/DSL router would be your best option.

[0tter]

ok....easy enuff.....i am on fiber optic cable, btw. At what point do you recommend setting up one computer as a server?...or are there advantages or disadvantages in doing so?

[archie]

At what point do you recommend setting up one computer as a server?

... with only two computers, setting up a server would tie one down as a server so it wouldn't be practicle with only two ... probably in a network with a dozen computers or so. There may also be some specific reasons for a client/server setup such as backup, security, etc. Another reason for setting up a server is if one is planning on getting certified and just wants to learn the software.
Your setup is likely to be a peer to peer network.
If planning to share the internet connection, the router with a built in 4 port switch is a good way to go. The other option for sharing the Internet conneciton is to setup the 'main' computer with proxy software. Note that this would still be a peer to peer network. What a peer to peer network will allow is to share files, printer[s], and Internet.