I need help building up my home office

[dizz]

Ok, so im not sure if this is where I am supposed to post this question, but I am looking to set up my office. I will have at least 3 to 4 desktops running two screens each (how do I do that as welll?), and will also have 3 laptops. How do I need to put them into a network where I can get information from one computer to the other without having to put it on a cd/dvd/flash drive, etc? Do we need to buy a home server to run that much information? Also, if anyone knows the estimated price of this.... We can either do this for weeks and weeks by ourselves and trial and error, or we can just ask some experts. If you have any ideas, please help.
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[dizz]

well i hope someone out there can tell us how to do this....we have a great space in our house just for this...so who is the one to help us solve this problem?

 

[Dope Face]

Ughn D-Link router????Setup network, configure file sharing for all the PCS??

 

[dizz]

ok funny we did not just ask how to wire it for the router.... I can do that myself... LOL... But I want to put up information on the network and wanted to know if I needed my own server to store the information that would be needed on every computer. I mean wiring it would be easier. Also, how do I make a computer run two or more (mainly two) screens? Also, I dont have a d-link router, I have an airlink 101 router, but I don't think it makes much of a difference anyways.. LOL... And do all the computer have to have the same operating system like just windows, or can we have a multiple operating systems, mac, ubuntu, windows? We want a more complicated system, not just plug and play, we already have that.

 

[mj10pop]

simple connect all of them with a router
next step just open the sharing option
when u rclick on folder there is properties and than sharing
click share this folder
type any name u like
and u have shared it in the network
easy

 

[dizz]

simple connect all of them with a router
next step just open the sharing option
when u rclick on folder there is properties and than sharing
click share this folder
type any name u like
and u have shared it in the network
easy

Maybe we are not asking this right.
This is what we want

1. Make four towers run two screens each with one keyboard and one mouse each for each tower. Don't know what the program to do this is.

2. Next, we know that we have to wire them into the router, or network cable splitter depending on how many wires we need because in addition to the 4 towers we will have 3 laptops. And one flat screen tv that will plug into one of the computers so when we all need to see something in the room on one screen, we can put it up on the big screen (LCD TV 32" or bigger) Don't know how to set that up. Do I need a special card??? Or do I need to buy a special tv or a special program?

3. Since we are a multi-use advertising and mass mailing company, Do we need our own home server to act as a data bank for all the rest of the computers, if we are going to store everything from videos, music, email databases, and several other programs that may need to be accessed by any computer at any given time?

4. We do understand how to plug in wires and we do understand that you have to ask the computers to network together. My question then is, do all our computers have to have the same type of operating system?

5. Finally, with that many computers what kind of cable internet speed would be recommended or would multiple cable lines be considered?

I hope that now I have made myself and my questions clearer. I probably missed something. I mean the responses before were about going into the computer and making everything into the network, but as you will see my requirements, it will not be that easy. I hope I can finally get the answers that I am looking for.

 

[mistamoonman]

Maybe we are not asking this right.
This is what we want

1. Make four towers run two screens each with one keyboard and one mouse each for each tower. Don't know what the program to do this is.

2. Next, we know that we have to wire them into the router, or network cable splitter depending on how many wires we need because in addition to the 4 towers we will have 3 laptops. And one flat screen tv that will plug into one of the computers so when we all need to see something in the room on one screen, we can put it up on the big screen (LCD TV 32" or bigger) Don't know how to set that up. Do I need a special card??? Or do I need to buy a special tv or a special program?

3. Since we are a multi-use advertising and mass mailing company, Do we need our own home server to act as a data bank for all the rest of the computers, if we are going to store everything from videos, music, email databases, and several other programs that may need to be accessed by any computer at any given time?

4. We do understand how to plug in wires and we do understand that you have to ask the computers to network together. My question then is, do all our computers have to have the same type of operating system?

5. Finally, with that many computers what kind of cable internet speed would be recommended or would multiple cable lines be considered?

I hope that now I have made myself and my questions clearer. I probably missed something. I mean the responses before were about going into the computer and making everything into the network, but as you will see my requirements, it will not be that easy. I hope I can finally get the answers that I am looking for.

Your question was clear from the start, I do not think most could understand what you are trying to do.

For dual monitors you will need to put in a new video card, tiger direct has tons as most newer video cards allow this

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/category/category_tlc.asp?CatId=28

You will come into a problem because these cards only have 1 vga and 1 dvi and sometimes 1 hdmi port.

But you can get a DVI to VGA converter for a few dollars.

To run a keyboard/mouse on multiple systems you can use some free software called Synergy

http://synergy2.sourceforge.net/


You should not need a local server as you can just use one of the computers to serve the files

Windows and more-so windows vista has some nice tools built in that will allow you to connect and share, all you need to do is plug everything into the router.

You can use 1 internet connection, but that would depend on how much of a load you are using, I would say start with one and test.

I know some offices that have 50 systems hooked up to one cable account using the largest connection available (usually labeled towards gamers)

 

[mistamoonman]

double post sorry

 

[mj10pop]

i think u should have a look at teamviewer
u can access u r computers from anywhere in the world.
so u need a cpu which is connected to network and with u r lcd thats all
u can access the cpus through teamviewer and will have full control
thats all
for speed it all depend on the demand

 

[dizz]

how secure is something like that? our info in our bread and butter

 

[Keedev]

I will have at least 3 to 4 desktops running two screens each (how do I do that as welll?)

KVM Switch.. I have one, but it doesn't transfer any audio.. IOGEAR GCS24U might be you're best bet.. Especially if you have a usb mouse/keyboard.. Though most come with the adapters needed for the other type of switches. The switch will run you around 50$. Trick is getting one that wont be DOA or fail on you within 3+ months..


As far as two screens "each" goes. You might try the software link listed above. My setup is two screens on my main computer. The computer I do all my hardcore work on and other daily tasks. Along with a third monitor, just for my other computers. I switch desktops on this monitor. I don't transfer data between computers, everything I do is on the fly.. After a discussion in a recent thread though, you should checkout a switch or a router with switching capabilities..

 

[scrupio]

teamviewer is okay. i prefer the logmein pro version . use it almost every day. its pretty secure i think. also their mini meeting is def a awesome add on

 

[dizz]

that's great info when i travel thanks its another piece of the puzzle

 

[_TwaT_]

You can also purchase a HUB. A hub is used to connect 2 or more pc, printers, scanners without the use of the internet. The hub can transmit the information between the pc's. If you wish to store the information, I would suggest investing in a server, or if your money's tight, sending all of your programs/files to your email accts. Each email acct can usually hold up to 2gb or more at 15mb an attachment.

 

[dizz]

You can also purchase a HUB. A hub is used to connect 2 or more pc, printers, scanners without the use of the internet. The hub can transmit the information between the pc's. If you wish to store the information, I would suggest investing in a server, or if your money's tight, sending all of your programs/files to your email accts. Each email acct can usually hold up to 2gb or more at 15mb an attachment.

thats how we store our over flow now thanks u r thinkin around the same lines as we r..

 

[matsta]

Ok so here's my idea.

First off you want a pretty solid network. If there's a group of you sending mass emails your gonna need some serious bandwidth. I would suggest looking for multiple cable providers and maybe even 3g on top if you want the extra bandwidth

You would want to have about 100mbps ofbandwidth to put out some serious emails however it depends on how much you send.

I'm guessing you have some nice proxies though? If you do, I would host the emailing apps externally. Pick up some atom servers from interserver.net and then use the proxies. You should know that cable usually has a static ip so your out of luck if you don't have proxies.

Now for you local network I highly recommend you get a 1gbps switch alongside CAT6 cable. This will definetly help LAN speed locally when transferring data from one computer to another.

Now you should have some sort of server which can be accessed via ethernet. I would look into a RAID box or otherwise build a cheap Linux box up with a raid card and put FreeNAS on if you know what your doing. Always go for enterprise drives, since your using this a business better to be safe then sorry.

For accessing all your computers, I would get either a KVM switch like Keedev said or go with Remote Desktop if you have a 1gbps LAN network.

Since your using laptops as well, it would be a good idea to invest in a Wireless N router. I would go for a Airport Extreme(It's PC friendly and still one of the best routers around atm) or you can go with a Linksys WRT610N.

So the 1gbps switch and the CAT6 cable would be anywhere from $150-$1000 depending on how much you want to spend.

The raid box would be around $1000 if you get a raidbox or a linux NAS with enterprise HD's.

The KVM switch would be around $200 for a decent one.

And the Airport is $179.

So you looking around $2500 - $4000 for the whole setup

 

[dizz]

gettin better by the post some of u guys have been very helpful and i thank u for it

 

[trystanys]

How handy do you guys find using two monitors? What do you use it for?

 

[dizz]

How handy do you guys find using two monitors? What do you use it for?

2 monitors are useful if u have many things u must monitor i do...i am considering the systems that run 4 screens...we have several things that have to b watched continuously its part of our services....ur tower must b fast to handle that much work..did that answer ur questions?

 

[insider]

If you code it's really useful to have 2 monitors, in one you have your IDE and in the other one your browser for example.