SBS 2003 - Hardware setup

I am thinking of installing a server with 3 XP PC's connected to it to share
Internet, files, printers and potentially central e-mail services. In
addition, I want to be able to bring in a couple of laptops via wireless
connection into the network as well.

I am trying to figure out what kind of hardware I need besides the server
itself to connect all PC's in a network but have not been able to find any
diagrams that include enough details. All diagrams I see have the PC's
connected to the server, but how?

I currently have a network running XP Home with a desktop acting as a server
(ICS) and one PC in the network running XP Pro with RDC for someone from the
outside to run a business application. The network runs on HPNA using the
telephone wires I already have. I also have an Acces Point for connecting
the laptops.

I am thinking to upgrade to Windows Server to run a "true" server
environment instead of the wimpy network setup I have. I will run CAT5 to
connect the 3 PC's to the server, but where should the 3 Ethernet cables
connect to?

I have seen some Firewall boxes advertised. Is that sufficient? I guess I
still need the Access Point connected to the server, or firewall box?

Eduardo

In news:9ECA5AD9-6EF0-46BC-8BED-(E-Mail Removed),
Eduardo Pietri <(E-Mail Removed)> typed:
> I am thinking of installing a server with 3 XP PC's connected to it
> to share Internet, files, printers and potentially central e-mail
> services. In addition, I want to be able to bring in a couple of
> laptops via wireless connection into the network as well.
>
> I am trying to figure out what kind of hardware I need besides the
> server itself to connect all PC's in a network but have not been able
> to find any diagrams that include enough details. All diagrams I see
> have the PC's connected to the server, but how?

A hub (or, better, a switch).
>
> I currently have a network running XP Home with a desktop acting as a
> server (ICS) and one PC in the network running XP Pro with RDC for
> someone from the outside to run a business application. The network
> runs on HPNA using the telephone wires I already have. I also have
> an Acces Point for connecting the laptops.
>
> I am thinking to upgrade to Windows Server

Note, you probably don't really mean to use the word upgrade, but I'll
mention anyway that you can't upgrade a desktop OS to a server OS - it's a
clean install.

> to run a "true" server
> environment instead of the wimpy network setup I have. I will run
> CAT5 to connect the 3 PC's to the server, but where should the 3
> Ethernet cables connect to?
>
> I have seen some Firewall boxes advertised. Is that sufficient? I
> guess I still need the Access Point connected to the server, or
> firewall box?

Many consumer firewall appliances have integrated Ethernet switches (where
you plug in your wired computers) as well as wireless networking. I suggest
you go for something like that. Netgear, Dlink, Linksys all offer something
like this. I'd make sure it includes stateful packet inspection as well as
NAT (no firewall is going to stop the truly dedicated, but you might as well
make it difficult) and that it supports WPA on the wireless (your wireless
cards will need to as well).
Or, if you are set on keeping your existing access point, just get a
firewall appliance with a switch (or a separate switch) and connect the
access point's ethernet cable to the switch as well).

One note with SBS: Run all the wizards. Even if you think you know better.
Even if you *do* know better. It will save you a lot of headache.
>
> Eduardo