05-22-2007, 07:37 PM
05-22-2007, 07:56 PM
What kind of server? E-mail, File, Domain? It really depends on what you are trying to do. If you want to set up a file server, you just need to set up a directory on your server's hard drive as a share drive (after you have connected it to the LAN). You do this by right clicking on the directory and selecting the "sharing" option. Once you do this, the other PC's on your network will be able to see the directory. On the other PC's (the non-server ones), select the shared directory on your server and map the drive as one of your own (i.e., L: drive).If you want to set up a domain, you need to install an OS with a domain server. This gets much more difficult and is not for the novice user. In other words, you can create a lot of problems if you're not sure what you are doing -and- still have no benefit went you are done. If you want a domain server to control access to the internet, it needs to connect to your DSL/Cable Modem and then your router connects to the server......you need two ethernet ports on your server to do this (your server is now a gateway and all internet traffic must go through it).Same with an e-mail server, you need the software and then you can specifically set up that server. This can be complicated for a novice since you need to know what your incoming and outgoing mail servers are and where forwarding servers are located at.The File Server is the easiest to set up and doesn't require a lot of in depth knowledge. I recommend that as a starting point.Good luck!