There's a bit of a terminaology issue here, in that you already have A network, which 
apparently is different in some respects from what you hope to have.  It's not entirely 
clear to me what additional functionality you have in mind, but some of your comments 
and questions suggest some possibilities.

  Network services are implemented in "layers".  At layer 1 (physical) you have two 
variations, wired and wireless, and at layer 2 (data link) you have two corresponding 
varieties, WiFi and Ethernet (each of which has additional variants that we don't need to 
go into.  Layer 3 (network) is being provided currently by your router, and there's no 
obvious immediate need to change that.
  Layer 4 (transport) is being provided by each of your computers; layers 3 and 4 are the 
heart of the TCP/IP network protocol and they ensure that all of your devices can, at 
least potentially, talk to each other.  It's getting above this point that things start to get, 
uh, interesting....

  The 16-bit Windows for Workgroups 3.1 (3.11 became the classic version) defined a 
group of services ("NetBIOS") by which Windows machines on a network could find 
each other and share drives/folders with each other.  Versions of these services were 
used throughout the 32-bit Windows line, but have gradually been depricated as 
security and performance issues have appeared and some could not be fixed.
  Meanwhile additional services appeared on the 16-bit LAN Manager and the server 
versions of NT, 2000, and so on.  Perhaps the most important of these was the Domain 
(rather than Workgroup) concept.  In a workgroup, each machine keeps its own local 
set of user accounts and privileges; in a domain, this information is managed via one or 
more central servers.  (Microsoft also introduced the MCSE certification for staff trained 
to manage a domain-based network...)  When you ask what Windows OS to build your 
network on, it sounds like you might be thinking of something like this...
  I believe it was 2000 that introduced a new set of sharing services which these days 
are much more recommended and supported than the NetBIOS ones.  Which can 
make sharing drives/folders between 9x and XP machines a bit more complicated than 
otherwise.  (Hopefully this is amongst the issues that Network Magic addresses.)

  The domain system was heavily modified in going from NT to 2000 (where it was 
renamed "Active Directory"), and has been tweaked from time to time since.  If you 
want to set up that kind of managed snetwork service, you really should get one of the 
Server OS series; I believe Windows 2008 Server is probably the latest.

  Perhaps it will be easier to give useful advice if you can identify things that your current 
network doesn't do that you want it to.

David Gillett
CCNP



Date sent:      	Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:04:44 -0400
Send reply to:  	Personal Computer Hardware discussion List
             	<[log in to unmask]>
From:           	Bob Lendrim <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:        	[PCBUILD] How To Build a Home Network with 3 OS's
To:             	[log in to unmask]

> I'd like to make a network at my home. I tried several years ago with W98 or 95, found it difficult, and quit. 
> I imagine it's easier now. I have a cable modem running into a wireless/g router with 5 computers.
> I will buy any required/suggested hardware. 
> My computers are:
> 
> 1 P4 Laptop running up to date Vista wireless
> 1 P4 Laptop running up to date XP Pro wired
> 1 P4 Desktop running XP Pro SP1 wireless
> 1 P3 Desktop running W98 wireless
> 1 P2 Desktop running W98 wired
> 
> All are Intel chipsets
> I can run a temporary cable to any 4 of the 5 machines to build the network.
> Can/should all 3 OSs be on the same network, or is that a problem?
> Which machine/OS should I use to build the network?
> Should I do it with the Windows OS or use a 3rd party utility ?
> Any suggestions to make it easier would be appreciated.
> 
> Thanks for any and all suggestions/input, Bob Lendrim
> 
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