Need help setting up small office LAN

[SpaceHulk]

I am the "computer savvy" guy in our office, but I really have no idea what I'm doing when asked to set-up the office LAN.

What I have done to this point is set up a simple peer to peer with a 5 port router going to a DSL modem so we can all get our E-mail and browse. I also shared a couple printers. Pretty simle so far.

1. Now they want wireless and a couple of them bought 802.11g capable laptops.
Do I need a wireless router? or just an access point? What is this SSID stuff and how do I set up that for security.

2. I'd like to get a print server, do they work with all printers or do they only support some? Is there one you reccomend?

3. How do make so people can take their laptops home and send E-mail? Basically when they are here I have set up the outgoing server as outgoing.verizon.net (our ISP) but when they use the laptop at home, or on the road, they can't send E-mail using outlook unless they change the outgoing mail server, which is a pain. There HAS to be an easy solution that I don't know about.

Thanks for your time.

 

[dBTelos]

1) Yes, you need a wireless router to broadcast the signal for the wireless devices. Make sure to get one that is compatible with 802.11g.
2) Get one of the same brand as your router, as this makes things much easier.
3) Maybe you would like them to use verizon's webmail? http://netmail.verizon.net/webmail/serv...NimletDriver?nimlet=LoginNimlet&site=C

 

[SpaceHulk]

I've thought web mail and it is a viable option, but we'd use the godaddy webmail since they provide our e-mail service. The useres really need to use the user@ourdomain.com as their email address.

Is there a way to do what I want from outlook?

 

[BadThad]

2. I'd like to get a print server, do they work with all printers or do they only support some? Is there one you reccomend?

DLink makes some great routers with print servers built-in, the cheapest way to go IMO.

 

[BadThad]

3. How do make so people can take their laptops home and send E-mail? Basically when they are here I have set up the outgoing server as outgoing.verizon.net (our ISP) but when they use the laptop at home, or on the road, they can't send E-mail using outlook unless they change the outgoing mail server, which is a pain. There HAS to be an easy solution that I don't know about.

They should be able to use the SMTP server anyway....as long as the user name/pw for the Verizon account is entered/saved in their Outlook SMTP configuration.

 

[SpaceHulk]

Thanks for your help.