How do you use a Server on a home network

[polar_bear]

I have tried googling but still confused.
Can a spare computer be used as a server ?
Is there an advantage as a server
I have blueyonder USB broadband modem.
A linksys broadband router
3 computers in different rooms. A spare computer.

[Llamatron]

What do you want your server to do?

[fo3nix]

Any spare computer can be used as a server, as long as it has the right connections to connect with the other computers.

But as the above says, what do you want it for?

[polar_bear]

At present all computers connect individually to the router and then the modem. If all compters could connect to a spare PC that could have the anti virus, firewall,spyware checker instead of the individual computers and run the printer as long as it was switched on all the time. Is that correct or have I got the concept wrong ?

[vehelpfulguy]

Even with a server as you suggest it is still a good idea to have AV, firewall etc on each PC.

In fact one of the best things anyone can do to protect their PC is to put it behind a router. which is what you have done.

This is because the router "hides" your PC from the internet.

But a router is no substitute for AV and Firewall on each PC as well.

[Catso]

p-bear, perhaps what you are thinking of is a proxy server. This acts like a bridgehead, and all your inet stuff goes through it. You could indeed concentrate your firewall software on it, but it would be rather reckless to rely on the sole AV software on that machine.

To be honest, with 3 PCs, it's not really worth the hassle of setting it up.

[polar_bear]

Thanks . I will leave it as it is !