Hi there!
I work for the Web department of the Stuyvesant Spectator, which you can find [here!](stuyspectator.com)
We are currently cleaning out our office and I have decided to take this opportunity to redo our current setup and make some improvements.
Reddit, can you help me out?
I have several objectives:
A networked hard drive. A networked printer. An access point for our staff. A interoffice communication system. Like Bonjour, except for a Windoze/OS X environment.
The reason why I want to go this route is due to [and not limited to]:
A very slow connection. Our current setup involves running all our traffic through two wall jacks which are run by the Department of Education. Everyone knows that they literally traffic shape ALL THE THINGS. We use Huddle as a means of collaboration, but I really want to have a line running to our office which is not restricted, and run some LAMP/MAMP/WAMP server to host our files for collaboration. That way, when the staff is inside the office, we have local access to the files and do not have to wait for files to download. But we can't pay for our own line, so that is out of the question.
Instead, I have decided to network a drive and download all the files from our Huddle so that there is a local copy of it in our office. At the end of a days work, I just reupload everything. This would reduce external network usage which is already taxed by the sheer number of other students, teachers, and staff in the school. It would also mean faster access to files.
PROBLEM 1: We need to set up a router to route all traffic internally, and when asked to access outside via the DOE's network, to use a proxy [filtr.nycboe.org:8002].
PROBLEM 2: Networking our printer and hard drive. Should I serve them from a computer, or have networked ones to serve directly and setup every single computer to access them?
PROBLEM 3: Our network is Windoze/OS X based. Our current total is: 1 old iMac, 2 old Mac Minis, 2 old Mac Pros, 1 Mac Pro Server, and 3 new iMacs [with Leopard]. For Windows, 1 DOE infected one, and 2 with Windows. We will have a donation of several more computers, and from what I understand from the business editor, they are Windows-based. Networking our printer and drive needs to be compatible with both. I don't really care for Linux, as it is powerful and most likely will be able to use them.
How should everything be set up? AD or something like that?
**TL;DR: I am redoing our office network. Current max is 12 machines, with more machines to come in next week. I need to have a router, networked drive, networked printer, AND have the router go through a proxy. I have some money for the router and scanner, and I already have a printer with networking capability. Tell me how to set it up for easy maintenance and ease of operability.
Sorry for the shameless plugging, but if anyone has equipment or software lying around [esp. ID and PS], the whole paper would be ever so grateful! My editor in chief is also begging for money. Please PM me!
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