Sharing resources across routers

Hi there
We've got a school network linked to the internet by cable modem.
Behind the modem a switch connects four routers (each with its own IP
address) to different parts of the network.

- router 1 (IP 123.456.78.001) - network dept 1
internet - switch - router 2 (IP 123.456.78.002) - network dept 2
- router 3 (IP 123.456.78.002) - network dept 3
- router 4 (IP 123.456.78.002) - network dept 4

Is it possible to share resources across these routers (eg. computer in
dept. 3 printing on printer in dept 1)? If so how? Some machines use
WinXP others WinME.

Thanks in advance

andrew.klemm

On Wed 16 Aug 2006 02:01:25a, "andrew.klemm" <(E-Mail Removed)>
took the time to tell us all in
news:(E-Mail Removed) oups.com:

> Hi there
> We've got a school network linked to the internet by cable modem.
> Behind the modem a switch connects four routers (each with its own IP
> address) to different parts of the network.
>
> - router 1 (IP 123.456.78.001) - network dept 1
> internet - switch - router 2 (IP 123.456.78.002) - network dept 2
> - router 3 (IP 123.456.78.002) - network dept 3
> - router 4 (IP 123.456.78.002) - network dept 4
>
> Is it possible to share resources across these routers (eg. computer in
> dept. 3 printing on printer in dept 1)? If so how? Some machines use
> WinXP others WinME.
>
> Thanks in advance
>
> andrew.klemm
>
>

Using NETBIOS comes to mind, and should be disregarded as a bad idea.
Insstead of the swwitch, a router could provide what you need, bearing in
mind a good firewall needs to be implemented at that level, so nobody past
your gateway can share the resources of those public IP's. I recommend you
get a network pro on this, as the job would be cheap and done right. In
fat, there is probably one sympathetic enough in your area to do it at cost
or free.

--
"Time will bring to light whatever is hidden;
it will cover up and conceal what is now shining in splendor."
Horace (65 - 8 BC); Roman poet.

Mike