Setting up a network using Microsoft Business Server

[ace11]

I work in an office which is about to get a new system in on our computers..
Its called Conveylink.
Before this though we've been told of how our computers need to be networked using 'Microsoft Business Server 2000 or 2003'
I have scoured all sorts of websites trying to obtain this and have failed to find anything.

Can anyone elaborate on this problem and explain to me exactly what 'Microsoft Business Server' actually is?

[michaewlewis]

also known as Windows Server 2003
What are all the software requirements?

[ace11]

1.   Check the Minimum Requirements for ConveyanceLink
Software
§   Microsoft Windows XP or above
§   Microsoft Office 2003 or above
§   Microsoft .NET Framework 2

Hardware
§   Pentium 3 650Mhz CPU
§   At least 1GB RAM recommended
§   At least 100MB free HDD space

Server
§   Microsoft Windows XP Professional, Microsoft Small Business Server 2000 or Microsoft Small Business Server  2003
§   Must have Internet Information Services (IIS) 5 or above installed
§   Due to compatibility issues, Windows Vista machines cannot be used as servers/host machines
TCP ports 80 and 1433 must be open inbound and outbound for CL8 to be able to synchronise with our server to keep the Progress website up-to-date and to send out texts and emails.

We have got all the requirments for software and hardware, it's just the server requirements....

[TheEmperor]

According to those requirements you can use a Windows XP Pro box as the server.

[ace11]

Windows XP Pro(fessional?) Box, what exactly is this?

[ace11]

By the Way, this pack is going to be on approx' 7 or 8 computers, which i haven't had networked yet (although i'm led to believe that this isn't the most difficult of jobs)

But it's just the server requirements i struggle to understand..

[michaewlewis]

Windows XP Pro(fessional?) Box, what exactly is this?

A computer running Windows XP Professional

By the Way, this pack is going to be on approx' 7 or 8 computers, which i haven't had networked yet (although i'm led to believe that this isn't the most difficult of jobs)

But it's just the server requirements i struggle to understand..

According to the requirements you posted, just about any computer running Windows XP Professional can be set up as the conveyancelink server.

[ace11]

Cheers, much appreciated.
I seem to have misunderstood it and interpreted it as 'Windows XP Pro' AND 'a small business server;'  not one or the other.

Now the only problem is to network the 8 or 9 PCs.
How difficult a job is this?
Is there anywhere(ie. a website) you could refer me to for step by step instructions on how to do this, or even explain in basic terms what i would need to do?

[michaewlewis]

How is your network set up now? Is it a workgroup or domain? Is there a requirement for the software?

[TheEmperor]

To be honest, I strongly recommend looking at hiring a professional to at least get the network setup and running for you at this point. You'll save a lot of time and effort in the long run by having things done right the first time.
You are clearly inexperienced (no offense to you, but you are.) and that means you WILL miss some things and it will take you 5 times as long to get the network setup as it would a pro. If that's not an option for you then be prepared to do a lot of reading and a lot of troubleshooting to get everything working.

[viking]

ace11, you'll only need a switch with more ports than computers. Try to find a high quality one.
I assumed you want to connect into network using wires, that means ethernet cables. I also assumed that those computers need cables shorter than 100 meters, they are not further than 100 meters from the switch/router.
To have internet connectivity on all those computers you need a cheap router if you don't need to have many simultaneous transfers. When I say cheap I don't mean a 20 dollars router, a "for home" router. A "pro" router and a good quality switch. Please see Cisco offer for example.

I agree with TheEmperor.