What would i need to setup a LAN for small office

[Meax]

Hi everyone,

i am new to here and to networking too.

Currently we are using a peer-to-peer network, there is no dedicated server.

My boss decided to move to a server environment.

can anyone tell me what are the thing we need to buy?

Currently we have 50 staffs.

Obviously we have to buy a server. i think with 2GB RAM, 3GHz processor and storage capacity of 800 GB would be ok.

Server OS : windows 2003 server.

clients will be using "fat clients".

does it matter which topology we use? what i have in mind is star.

and as for cables, it would be Cat 5.

i suppose i have to buy switches to connect all the computers to the server.

what else do i need to buy? would this server be enough?

we will be using this network to share our files, to print and to access internet.

hope someone would help me.

[YeOldeStonecat]

We'd want to think about what's important to the company...what features will you want, what software is being run, how many different applications, departments you may have, etc.

So..listing all the important software....anything LOB software that runs on a database engine?
Is e-mail important, being used?
Remote access important?
Single shift environment...approx 50 total users on at the same time? Or 50 users spread out across shifts?

Yes...long overdue for a server environment..usually try to get to that once you're past 10x PCs.

Cat5e minimum for cable runs...CAT5 is old stuff now.

[Meax]

thanks you, YeOldeStonecat, for replying.

we will be using following softwares:
1) office 07
2) Adobe Photoshop CS3
3) Adobe Dreamweaver CS3
4) Adobe Flash CS3
5) Visual Studio 07

Visual Studio 07 will be used by a single staff.

Dreamweaver, Flash and Photoshop will be used by 2 or 3 staff.

Rest of the staff would be using MS Office 07 to do their work.

yes, email is important. currently we are using outlook 07 to read our mails.

we work in a Single shift environment, for 8 hours.

[YeOldeStonecat]

My first hunch is Small Business Server...which includes Exchange Server, Sharepoint, Remote Web Workplace, shared fax.

However...important note that you're at 50x staff now...SBS is designed for up to 75...so you're close to nearing the limit if you have growth which may put you over 75 staff in the next 3 years. But SBS is a great package...excellent value.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/sbs/default.mspx

Seing as file storage is important...and you have a lot of users..I'd have a separate NAS box for your file storage needs.

With servers having gigabit NICs over the past few years, and file storage being important..I'd also look at gigabit switches....if not a full gigabit switch...a switch with a pair of gigabit uplinks for the servers. Which means CAT5e or CAT6 cables.

Also to consider...a business antivirus package to cover your servers and workstations. Centrally run and managed from 1x server on the network..that covers all workstations, updates across the LAN to them, etc.

[Meax]

do i need to buy a router for providing internet access to everyone.

we would be using a leased line.

and what about network topology?

[YeOldeStonecat]

Yes you'd want a router/firewall. If you say leased line..do you mean some sort of "T"..if so, ISP often provides that.
Topology? 100base-t or 1000base-t.