Minimum reqs for home network server

[Fred]

I've currently got three computers at home running Windows XP each with a
wireless network USB card. Currently one computer has an ISDN card and the
other computers access the internet on this connection over the LAN.

I would prefer to use a separate computer solely for the purpose of
connecting to the internet.

I've an ancient computer with a 333MHz Cyrix processor and 128Mb ram. Whilst
this wouldn't try to do anything productive with such a PC, would it be
likely to cope with being a network gateway computer running
*Windows XP Pro
*USB WiFi adapter to connect to 2 computers
*LAN PCI card and Crossover CAT5 cable to connect to 1 computer
*Network bridge, ICS etc
*(Possibly laser printer)

[Sooner Al]

Look at this page for ideas along this line of thought...

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/columns/honeycutt/02june24.=
asp

--=20
Al

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the mutual
benefit of all of us...Unsolicited personal emails are *NOT* answered.

"Fred" > wrote in message =
...
> I've currently got three computers at home running Windows XP each =
with a
> wireless network USB card. Currently one computer has an ISDN card and =
the
> other computers access the internet on this connection over the LAN.
>=20
> I would prefer to use a separate computer solely for the purpose of
> connecting to the internet.
>=20
> I've an ancient computer with a 333MHz Cyrix processor and 128Mb ram. =
Whilst
> this wouldn't try to do anything productive with such a PC, would it =
be
> likely to cope with being a network gateway computer running
> *Windows XP Pro
> *USB WiFi adapter to connect to 2 computers
> *LAN PCI card and Crossover CAT5 cable to connect to 1 computer
> *Network bridge, ICS etc
> *(Possibly laser printer)
>=20


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[Fred]

"Sooner Al" > wrote in message
...
Look at this page for ideas along this line of thought...

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/columns/honeycutt/02june24.asp

--
Al

Hmm. Some interesting articles but his idea of recycling an old computer of
that calibre is to throw all but a couple of PCI cards and the monitor in
the bin and buy the rest from new. That's a bit like upgrading a broom by
replacing the handle and the brush.
I'm really looking to do this on the cheap which is why I was wondering if
anyone knows if such a knackered old processor can handle it.

[Glenn Boonen]

If it's a home network without special requirements you might be better off
with something like this:
http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?grid=34&scid=29&prid=433
It would be cheaper then buying new parts for that old PC I think...

[Sooner Al]

He has an ISDN link. The Linksys device you pointed to does not support =
ISDN unfortunately...

--=20
Al

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the mutual
benefit of all of us...Unsolicited personal emails are *NOT* answered.

"Glenn Boonen" > wrote in message =
...
> If it's a home network without special requirements you might be =
better off
> with something like this:
> =
http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?grid=3D34&scid=3D29&prid=3D43=
3
> It would be cheaper then buying new parts for that old PC I think...
>


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[Fred]

"Glenn Boonen" > wrote in message
...
> If it's a home network without special requirements you might be better
off
> with something like this:
> http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?grid=34&scid=29&prid=433
> It would be cheaper then buying new parts for that old PC I think...
>
I would need a wireless ISDN router. Running cables around the house is out
of the question and <broadband rant> as British Telecom only lets very
densely populated areas have ADSL so that they can carp on about 60% of the
country being enabled whilst completely disregarding the fact that a small
commuter town or village has a more technologically savvy population with
greater disposable income and more professional people likely to be working
from home than the entire country's broadband enabled inner city council
estates </broadband rant> it has to be IDSN. Unfortunately I've only ever
seen one wireless ISDN router and that was very expensive.

Upgrading the old PC isn't an option. It would all have to be replaced to
change one component. I'm only asking if it's likely to work to save the
anticipated and accepted driver and configuration hell if it isn't going to
be worth the effort.