Hi Michael,
You can go in two directions. Either 10Base2, or 10BaseT (or 100BaseTX,
gigabit, but let's be realistic now).
10Base2: You use 50 ohm coax cables. It's a cheaper way of cableing, because
you don't need special switches/hubs for it. Just T jacks on all teh network
cards, and the cable goes into that, and 50ohm terminators to both end of the
segment. You can go up to 200 metres with this method, afterwards you need
repeater. It's slow.
10BaseT: This is a star topology. You need hub or switch, and as many ports on
the switch as many computers you will connect to it. Or more switches connected
to each other, but you get the idea. This is twisted pair. Sucks to make those
cables, that's for sure. But when you are done with it, it will work pretty
good, and easier to locate problems with it. Well, this is more expensive (you
buy switch or hub). It's fast. If you go to a 100BaseTX switch and network
cards, then you will be running 100Mbits/sec. Or you can just go into 10BaseT
direction, that's 10mbits/sec. I would say twisted pair is your choice, unless
you can't afford a switch/hub. Switches are better than hubs, and more pricy.
Of course there are better switches too, that handle collision better, know
fullduplex, etc. Oh, and there are two kind of twisted pair cable. One that you
put into the wall, and don't disturb it much. The other one is the
patchcable-style, that will be hanging between the wall and your computer.
That's a stronger type. Of course you have to purchase a few tools to make
these cables, crimper, something that you can measure the resistent with
(because the first cables won't work anyway, so you dont' look for the problem
in the software config when the problem is with the hardware), etc. That's the
networking part briefly. You can read more about it in Tannenbaum's Computer
Networks book, and in the howtos too.
Server: You need a domain name server at least. A linux is perfect for it. Also
dhcp/bootp server is nice to have since it's easier to configure the clients
with that. You need a router also, which will serve your internet connection.
Webservice, fileservice, whatever else. These all can be one linux box. If you
want it to be safe, you can make firewalls/ipmasquerade also. Cheap solution:
The same box as everything else. Expensive: Another machine, just as a
standalone firewall. Even more expensive: App proxy, dmz, bastion, packet
filter firewall -this would be a professional network connection. You can
read about these things in the linux howtos, and lots of other books (O'Reilly
comes to my mind now), or SMS: Max Linux Security.
I would highly recommend a linux solution.
Distro: That's a religious question:-). I swear besides debian, but I wouldn't
suggest it for a beginner, unless that's his/her only job. Maybe a redhat or a
suse or a madrake would be your choice. Ask the linux list about this question.
I'm happy with my debian, it seems like having fewer sec holes as other systems,
but it's developing slowly (it's pretty behind), and hard to use for the first
time. Forget Corel as a server.
Well, that's it quickly, if you have any more questions, feel free to ask, and
I will try to answer them according to my best knowledge, but I guess your
first problem is cableing now, so I wrote more about that.
Ferenc
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