Network Setup Advice

[StuartH]

Hi,

Firstly, please forgive me if this is the WRONG forum for this type of question - a swift kick in the *%£$!@ and a pointer as to where I SHOULD ask will send me on my way!!

I'm a web developer, but I'm currently attempting to help out a local charity here in the UK with some basic advice on network setup and costs - they are currently in the process of getting further funding, but obviously as a charity they need to keep those costs at a minimal! I have some experience with basic home networks but none with this type of setup. Here's what we spoke about:

   ------
   SERVER
   ------
    /  \
   /    \
---      ---
PC1      PC2
---      ---
   \    
    \  
 ---------
  General
 Office PC
 ---------
     |
     |
-----------
 Internet

• SERVER: this would run an Access 2003 database application containing stock records (the charity provides low-cost items to those in need) and personal customer/client details. The database would be updated directly on the server PC.
  
• PC1/PC2: these would have read-only access to the database - PC1 in the office admin area and PC2 in the shop. PC1 may also require internet access
  
• General Office PC: PC for general admin tasks, and for some basic graphics manipulation (adding images of current stock to the database)

Questions (all are cost-oriented! :

1. Is this an acceptable setup?
   
2. If so, what type of hardware/software setup should we go for in terms of the server? Are there any specific hardware requirements for a database server, or can we simply use a more-powerful-than-average/average PC (say, 2.4 GHz processor, 256MB of memory, 40 GB Hard Disk, 48 xCD/ CD Rewriter drives, Network card)? Would Win XP Pro be OK or must/should we go for Win2000?
   
3. As far as I can tell PC1 and PC2 above have no REAL need to be particularly powerful, as they are simply admin PCs - PC1 MAY, however, require internet access (through the General Office PC). Would I be correct in thinking that average PCs are necessary here (see above), or could we save a bit more money by buying lower-spec machines? If so, would Windows XP Home edition be OK here or does it have problems running with a server?
   
4. The General Office PC would require internet access AND (possibly) occasional write-access to the server (adding images). How (obviously in basic terms so that a complete network novice like me could understand should we best set this up? Obviously we'd need to set up a firewall between this PC and the internet, but what about between this PC and the database server - would we require another firewall there? I would guess so, but once again, I really don't know...
   
5. Regarding the firewalls (related to [4] above) - would software firewalls be OK (thinking in terms of Sygate/Zone Alarm/etc.) or would it be necessary to go for the hardware route? Again, remembering that pricing is an issue here...

Hopefully I haven't COMPLETELY pi***d off you folks with asking this sort of question - I realise that many of you probably get paid pretty well for this type of request. All we need is a few guidelines or pointers as to network/hardware/software solutions, just so that we don't waste money when buying the hardware/software packages!

Cheers! (and if anyone can answer some of these they certainly deserve a pint!)

Stuart

[DVNT1]

Without knowing the level of confidentiality of data kept on these computers it is hard to give a good recommendation. That said and makign some of my own assumptions...


1) Your diagram implies the General PC goes through the PC1 to access the server. I would directly connect the General PC to the LAN and therefore have direct access to the server.

2) Having an MS Access database file residing on the Server will not require powerful server hardware. It will be most affected by the hard disk subsystem and network card unless the computer is very old. Regarding XP or 2k, no a significant difference for this purpose so pick the one that is most comfortable to those who use/support it.

3) The PC1 and PC2 speeds will directly affect the performance they have running the database (their processors will actually be doing queries and relating calculations). XP Home should be acceptable for what has been described so far.

4) A 3rd party software firewall on the General PC could be adequate. Although I would also use XP's ICF or W2K's TCP/IP Filtering in addition to that. I would put software firewalls on all computers and configure them with minimal access to and from the network.

[StuartH]

Thanks for the speedy response DVNT1, much appreciated!

As you can see, CLEAR, UNDERSTANDABLE network diagramming is NOT my strong point!! Perhaps if I describe it:

- the server has a product/customer database application running on it. Regarding confidentiality, the customer info has to be as secure as possible...

- database maintenance (adding/editing/deleting records) is carried out directly on the server PC

- PC1 and PC2 in the diagram above only have READ access to the database

- PC1 also has internet access via General Office PC

- General Office PC has internet access, but it is ALSO the PC where someone processes the images that go with the products in the database (so it needs to connect to the server to store those images)

Quote:

Originally Posted by DVNT1

Having an MS Access database file residing on the Server will not require powerful server hardware.

Excellent! Should keep costs down!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by DVNT1

It [the server] will be most affected by the hard disk subsystem...