New Setup?

[jaloc]

Need Help!!! Have a new Dell 600SC Server with (2) 18 GB SCSI HD's and a powervault internal tape backup. I also purchased 4 Optiplex GX 260 desktops along with a 2016 Hub/switch.
The plan is to share a third party software program to be installed later. There will be numerous users on one of the desktops and also need to hookup adsl which we currently have a Westell 566 near the server. I'm starting with limited experience and really scared of screwing up. Any ideas..

 

[CharlieJax]

1) Buy a DSL/Cable router
It will do the DHCP for you

2) Build the server as Windows 2000 Server

3) Promote your server to be a Domain Controler
- Do not setup DHCP on the server, you can allow the box to setup DNS, as your machines won't use it, they will use brodcast traffic to find each other localy and the DNS from the cable router to get to the internet

This will also allow you to use login scripts.

4) Put Windows 98 on the desktops
- It's fast and easy, but if you like stability go for Windows 2000, it is a tad harder to put together, but works well in a W2K Domain

5) Your done.

There are (of course) details that I left out between steps but those are the major steps that I would take for setting up a small office setup. I suggest Win 98 because it is cheaper and sooo much easier to setup when you don't have much experence.

Windows 98 also works better than W2K for multiple users. Yes, I know you can have multiple users on W2K but everyone has to login and out... yada yada yada. With Win 98 you can set it up so that everyone uses the same desktop and even the same login if your not worried about keeping some documents secure... yep, you can do the same in Win 2000, but I still say Win 98 is easier, unless you have the experence with W2K.
CJ
- If chickens could fly would they egg ugly people?

 

[jaloc]

Thanks for the quick answer. I do have win 2000 pro for the desktops. The reason is where I have these desktops I need total control over what the employees are accessing. Will the Westell 566 not work as a router? And do I need a 2nd Nic card on the server for it to hook to or will it hook to the hub/switch?