Hardware for small network

[Jatos]

I am currently looking into to setup a small windows based network, not for hosting anyway I need recommendations on which hardware to use. The network will be RJ45 based.

[Slaine]

What are you going to use the network for and where will be be?

If its just a home network then you could try wifi instead of rj45.

DLink do some good hubs/switches and wifi access points.

[Jatos]

Its a basic network for file sharing and similar, also its unlikely its going to wireless because it isn't a home a network and there is unlikely to be any laptops on it. Also I am setting this network up for an a-level assigment and I need to show "research". Which is the main reason why I am asking this here.

[Slaine]

Just go for a cheap and cheerful hub then either dlink,3com or black box.

How many pc's are you going to have on your network and are they going to run different operating systems?

[Jatos]

If I had my way I would put linux on the lot of them but as it happens they will just be running win 98.