Solved: Networking Questions

I have been searching the internet for the last couple hours, and as with most issues, when it proves too difficult I turn to the good people of the Tech Support Guy forums.

I am looking to set up a network in an office with 4 rooms. there is 1 computer in office room 1, 1 computer in office room 2, 1 computer in office room 3 containing the database the others need to connect to and two computers in the large office room 4.
The rooms are all approximately 4-5m wide and long and there is a central room connecting the 4.
I have summised that to network these computers I will need to place a switch in the cental room. Then ensure the computers have network cards with necessary software, I then simply connect all these computers to the switch. (there is no issue with security) Any suggestions on how to improve this would be greatly appreciated. I was originally planning on placing 'bridges' in these rooms but then deemed this unecessary due to there only being 5 computers.

I then also need to design a wireless solution to this problem to present so that the best option can be decided. If anyone could help me with this particular aspect I would greatly appreciate it. I am currently undeer the impression I need to add WNIC's to all the computers and some sort of central transmitter. I am completely clueless with wireless. WiFi?

Assume that all the computers are running peer to peer and OS XP.
If I wish to connect these computers to the internet can I simply add a firewall to the switch and then run a router connected to the internet? I wish to prevent access from all persons. Perhaps run a computer connected to the internet and hosting a password protected site?

Any links to informative sites would be appreciated, I am only a beginner.

I realise this is a bit to ask but any small contributions would be appreciated.

 

I would think that a router with 5 wired ethernet ports would fill all of these scenarios pretty well, unless you have more stringent demands for security etc. Many routers come with built-in firewalls and wireless capability. Just make sure you look closely at the product description. The router will connect to the Internet, and then you can connect your desktop PCs via Ethernet, and then have wireless available if you want it.

 

thanks for all the help. I was wondering how exactly I set up a wireless network. Can I simply buy a wireless switch of sorts?

 

You can use a wireless router, disable the DHCP fucntion and it will act as an access point and will be considerably cheaper.