Setting up small office network...with growth

I am just setting up a small office with 5 PCs. Currently they have 2 PC they use for Internet and Email on the dial-up modem. Want to install a permanent internet connection. Also want to host the email there as the office use fair amount of internal email. Each PC running W2K. What setup should I go with? My thoughts are with a Win2K server using Primary Domain Cont "“ by the way are these initially difficult to config and setup..as I suggest each PC "logon" to their acc on the server…Also on the hardware side any suggestions for good router and switch? I understand this may all be dependant on budget but the office will soon experience some staff growth and even upto 10 PCs may be used. Any suggestions greatly appreciated. Thanks. I have also heard to run a Linux box for the internet and use as a proxy server; with the Win2K server handling the DNS…just a thought.

 

I can suggest on part of this. Haven't been involved in setting up local email other than with Exchange Server for way too long and have no idea what is out there.

I can say the last time I messed with it I was using a Cobalt Cube and thought very highly of it. 8" cube preloaded with a Unix OS. No monitor, no keyboard, just a small panel on the back. All management is via browser. Did a superb job of email and quite a few other functions. Had to reboot it twice in the three years I was running it. Both times were when we needed to relocate the cube. We had around 400 users on a system smaller than the low end one at the link and it did fine.

Domain - really no advantage for a small network of 5 to 10 (or 20) PCs.

Router/switch for broadband and some LAN functions - Linksys, DLink, NetGear, and a few others make great devices for around $50-60 if you are in the US. They can easily deal with over 200 PCs in your local network so won't even break a sweat with 5-10. They do a nice job of DNS and also of DHCP if you want to have IP addresses on the LAN auto-assigned. If you get a 4 port device, you can simply plug one or more switches into it for completing your LAN.