Suggestions on Network for home???

[knowley]

Hi people

I am currently studing MCSE (networking) and would like some adivce.

I thought to enchance my studies I could set up a little network at home, which I can then break and fix to my hearts content! (saves the work network!)

I have two Pcs and was wondering the best way to do it?

I was thinking of having my old PC (AMD k6/2, 128MB) to be the server runing windows 2000 server edition.
And my PC (athlon 700m, 128MB) to be the workstation running Win98SE.

Is this a reasonable setup?

Also what Hware is nessaccary? is it just PCI network cards and a cable? I was thinking 100MB/s cards?

Wjhat do you think?

Thanks!!!!!

 

[kamaboko]

What do you want to learn? If you have two machines you can sort of scratch the surface. I would suggest looking for two or three cheap boxes you can use as servers. For instance, you could get a 486 w/16 megs of ram and use that as a proxy server. Get another similar box and use it as an ftp server. You should be able to find these for less than $100. Since they just sit on their ass, and they'll only be accessed by one user, they don't have to be powerful.

For hardware, make sure to look at the Microsoft Hardware Compatibility List (HCL). It will tell you what works with NT/2000 Server. Will you buy a hub? If not, make sure you buy a cross-over cat5 cable to connect your computers.

 

[knowley]

Well I am doing the MCSE windows 2000 networking.

I don't actually need my own network to do the course so I don't really need to do a Proxy server and an FTP server, but I thought as I have so many spare PC components lying around I could build a spare PC and use it to mess around with W2K server edition whilst having my normal PC connected to the server.

So what would be the minimum I need to set this up : Win2K and 2x cards and a cable, or is a hub needed as well?

Cheers

 

[kamaboko]

You're good to go already. If you want to go cheap just get a cross-over cat5 cable. Make sure the NIC for your 2K box can work w/2K though.

 

[Vegito]

send me email before you set this up, i have some info.

 

[knowley]

So whats a Cross ocver Cat 5 cable?

You wrote "Make sure the NIC for your 2K box can work w/2K though. " - sorry I am very new to networking what do you mean by this?

Thanks

 

[kamaboko]

A standard cat5 cable is used if one is connecting to a hub or switch. A cross-over cable is used if connecting one computer directly to another via NIC's. Don't get confused over nothing here, alright? The cables look exactly the same (i.e., standard and cross-over). The difference is in the way the pins are wired. Just ask for a cat5 cross-over cable where ever you do your computer shopping.

 

[certifyexpress]

If you can't understand basic network essentials don't do MCSE first. Try Network+ anyway it will also credit towards MCSE and you got another cert in your pocket.

 

[knowley]

Its not that I can't understand it! Its that I have never had the chance to get experiance with it!

The course I am doing which finishes with the MCSE assumes you have not used a PC, which is a bit of a pain considering I have built 4 of my own in the last 8 years, ranging from 486 DX33 to Athlon 700 and have owned an Amstrad 8086!!! not a HD in sight just 2 51/4 floppy drives and CGA display!!!! Not that the specs make any difference. So give us a break.

 

[kamaboko]

Knowley,

Stick with it. I have yet to meet an IT person that knows everything. And . . . if they claim that they do . . . run away.

 

[knowley]

Thanks!
At least some people here are encouraging others!!!!!