Need help in setting up a wireless network for my home-office

[niladrisde]

Hi,

Need help in setting up a wireless network in my home-office. I have the following.

1. BSNL DataOne BroadBand Wireless Access Point
2. A Laptop with Wireless (802.11g)
3. A new assembled Desktop with Wireless (PCI 54mbps 802.11g)
4. A Very Old Desktop P2, which I need to upgrade (need advice there too), and also add a wireless card there.

Later on, I need to add a printer/scanner to the wireless network (would I need it attached to one of the machines).

I would need to add a firewall around the network at some point.

I need advice on what to buy (hardware/software), and what would be estimated street prices in Kolkata?

I am a new member, and don't know all the rules and way around here, please help me out...

[shantanu]

the things you need to do will consume a lot of time and energy..

so you can setup your BSNL Broadband in the new PC you have,, make it server..

Keep your laptop as a portable data holder for you..

The old desktop can work as node (please specify the full config..)

Printer/Scanner.. it would be better if you get a wireless enabled (blutooth) device as printer.scanner , so that your complete setup works as a perfect wireless setup.

Firewall (1st) should be with Broadband,
2nd should be in your wireless Router..

About the prices the : contact the kolkata members.. search for All kolkatans in digit thread in chit-chat section.. and give them link to this thread..

The upgrade can only be suggested when you give detailed configs

[niladrisde]

Firstly, thanks a lot, Shantanu. Just had a few questions...

Originally Posted by shantanu

so you can setup your BSNL Broadband in the new PC you have,, make it server..

Do you mean to say I have to have Windows Server software installed into the new PC?

Originally Posted by shantanu

Keep your laptop as a portable data holder for you..

My laptop is a pentium 4, and doesn't have much space, only 60GB HDD. However, I believe I have to buy a new system, and add that to the network, which will work as a file server. Can I actually connect the printer/scanner to this machine, and share this as a shared resource across the network?

Originally Posted by shantanu

The old desktop can work as node (please specify the full config..)

The old desktop is P2 based, at least 5 years old, has only 40 GB of HDD. Probably I have to keep it aside for casual use. If I put a PCI card into it, can I bring that into the wireless network?

Originally Posted by shantanu

Printer/Scanner.. it would be better if you get a wireless enabled (blutooth) device as printer.scanner , so that your complete setup works as a perfect wireless setup.

I guess wireless built-in scanner/printers sell at a premium, though I am not sure. Is it worth the money to buy them, or instead buy a printer/scanner combo, and add that locally to a PC in the network?

Originally Posted by shantanu

Firewall (1st) should be with Broadband,
2nd should be in your wireless Router..

The wireless access point I have, is a cheap chinese one, supplied by BSNL, and I don't think it supports any firewall.

Now I guess I have to buy a wireless router, for setting up the network...right? In that case, what should I buy, a router, a bub, or a switch? What are the differences? Can you point me to a location, where I can read up? Also, for setting up the network, I believe, do I have to set up a domain controller, a DNS, and a gateway?

As you can very well see , I don't know even the basic knowledge of networking . Can you please help, where I can read all these?

[shantanu]

http://www.google.co.in/search?hl=en...+network&meta=

try this.... lots of reading material..

well 1st you dont need windows server for networking.. windows xp will do ...
2nd i think you are right .. its useless to out this p2 in network.. until you use thinclient... (well that you wont) and yeah bluetooth technology is very expensive .. so it will be better if you go with the normal bundle pack and attach them in a network node..

fell free to ask anything ...

[niladrisde]

Thanks a lot, Shantanu. And my reading will start now...