Options for a small business without a server

You have a small business with maybe only 3 to 6 PCs and you would like to share files, pick up e-mail and access the internet from all PCs. Here are your options:

Linking your PC's together

Firstly, your PCs have to be linked together in some way. The cheapest way to do this is to adding a network card (around £10) to each PC - if it doesn't already have one - and then connect the machines together by running some cable. Network cable is also fairly cheap (around £30 per 300 metres) and so the only complexity is actually laying the cable.

The same cable used to connect a computer network can also be used to connect telephones. We strongly advise giving some thought to both the current and possible future telephone and computing requirements when laying new cables. As most of the cost is in the time it takes to run cables, it is always worth adding as many additional sockets as possible to make the most of the work.

If cabling would be difficult, then a wireless network could be considered. Wireless networking has the major advantage of eliminating the need for cables and so saving the time and disruption required to install them. However, wireless networking is slower than a wired network, the network cards are more expensive (around £40-50) and can not be used for telephones.

Do you need a server?

There are two basic methods of setting up your network. You could use a server - that is have a dedicated computer that is used to store all data files, control access the Internet, run the e-mail etc - or you could use peer-to-peer.

In a peer-to-peer network there is no dedicated computer to act as a central data store, but one or more of your PCs are configured to share the data held on them. A common solution is to have a single PC that is actually the central data store - so acting like a server - but can still be used as a normal PC if required.

The advantage of a dedicated server is that it can use all of its time and power to provide resources to the users on the network. If you also use this computer as a desktop PC, it is likely to affect the speed at which the computer would operate (as its trying to be both a server and your computer - so something will take a lower priority) and could be less stable (as it is more liable to 'crash' if used for the usual daily tasks of a desktop PC).

However, the Peer-to-Peer option has one major advantage for the small business and that is you don't have to buy another PC. Using an existing PC may not be the technically best solution, but would save you money.

Considering the low entry cost of our own Small Business Server, we would recommend using a dedicated server in most cases, and in all cases for networks of 6 or more PC's.

So you don't want a server?

So you've considered it. There's only a few of you and you want to stick with what you know. Fine, here's what you do...

• Make sure your PC's are connected in some way (see above)
• Decide what data you want to share and on which PC to store it. Its a good idea to give one of your better PCs to the person who least uses a PC, so that it has some spare capacity to act as the server.
• Share folders on the server and, if required, set up Internet connection sharing - that's where we come in.
• If you want internal e-mail, we recommend running Merak Mail on a PC connected to the Internet. This will collect your e-mail either by dial-up or broadband connection and distribute it internally. It also runs as your in-house mail server and offers 'webmail' for remote access to your mail.
• If you are going to connect any PC to the Internet then it is essential that you install a firewall. A firewall is a device, or piece of software, that acts as a protective barrier between your internal network and the Internet. Don't use the Internet without one!
• You should also ensure that you have an effective anti-virus running on all your PCs. Click here for more information on Antivirus options.

If you also want to share your Outlook calendars, you can. Call us for details of Merak Mail's 'Groupware' add-on software, designed to do just that.