My husband has a small business with him and one other person and all transactions for the past 25 years have been manual but has finally decided to go automated. I need to know how to set up a network between 4 computers located in 4 different states and 2 are laptops and 2 are standalones. I am setting up Quickbooks and would like for this to be shared on all computers. Currently the computers all operate independently and are set-up with either Linksys Wirless N broadband router or Cisco Systems Wirless G router. I am a novice at this so please suggest what is the best solution plus how to implement the solution. I would obvioulsy like to set this up as cheap as possible but want it very reliable and user friendly.

Thanks,

"network between 4 computers located in 4 different states"

Do all these locations have high speed internet or are they on dialup?

Imagine the power if you knew how to internet search

all 4 computers have high speed

Tracy...
We can explain this to you, setting up VPN's and other things...but it is quite technical for a novice...and I can almost guarentee you there will be troubleshooting...some thing may occur that we do nor forsee and there may be instances in which we cannot provide much assistance troubleshooting...

I would STRONGLY recommend you find a small networking firm in your city and get some professional help...

Good luck

What you need to do is set a server at your primary location running the network version of quickbooks - goes for $500.00 - for up to 4 users. You will need to consult a service provider about costs associated with purchasing the appropriate software and hardware. You won't be sharing quickbooks on the PC's located in 4 different states, as there is no security in sharing. Your books will be open to the public. Your server will have a domain and password restricted access-so much to keep out those who find your server on the internt cause they still can't log in. You probably want to have a router capable of provingin VPN (virtual private networking) between the router devices. This will mean you will need a compatable VPN routes at each separate location that must connect to the single server. The VPN will provide encryption to all the data traveling over the internet so that even if someone intercepts your data, it will just look like gobble-d-gook to them. This protects the data only from router location to router location. That would do it. As far as speed is concerned, you can use broadband cable, or a DSL modem, as both will work in any state. Warning, at some remote locations, you may find out that the speed (throughput) of the DSL drops dramatically. So, if using DSL is any one location, I am assuming that the location is located in proximity to a up-to-date telephone switch--again only an issue of concern if the location is way out of town. Finally, if the business requires you to send secure email, you will want to use public/private keys. You will need one for each PC, the good thing is that they don't cost much. The keys enable you to set email program, i.e. outlook to encrypt mail using the public key and send it out over the internet. Then when the email is received at the receiving end, the private key will un-encrypt it. Again, during transmission over the internet, normal email is completely readable. Using public/private keys provide a way to encrypt the email.

Thank you very much as it was extremely helpful.

Tracy you have to be careful to understand what information you are getting. Not all applies or is useful to you.

For example it is true you would need a server version of Quickbooks if you want to have multiple data entry points [remote locations]

You could do site to site vpns as suggested above but that would not be as cost effective as just putting in a vpn/router/firewall appliance at your location and using vpn client software at the remote locations to vpn into your network.

Finding a contractor willing to work on such a small project over 4 states will be a serious challenge though an excellent suggestion

Imagine the power if you knew how to internet search

wow thats not a little network. size wise. what you could do is conect via cat 5 run a line and put a repeater every 500 meteres in me thinks. nah serously im joking.
contract it out to get that puppy set up using vpn. this is a big task do you think the benifits will out way the cost and hastle?
im really interested in what you eventually end up doing please post what the outcome is.

all text needs typos. There there for the reader to find,to distract them from the total lack of content.
google it! wasnt the answer to the question i asked so dont be dense and give me that repl

Thank you all for your suggestions.

I spoke with Dell and they provided me with the following solution so I wanted to get your thoughts. They suggested the FVS 318 Prosafe VPN Firewall 8-port 10 100 switch & 2 WG102 prosafe 802.11 wireless access points for $319.99. Do you think this will work?

Sure it would likely work but here's two things to consider.

1) There are plenty of software VPN solutions available (like VNC) which would cost a lot less than a hardware solution.

2) Do you actually need all the crap they're trying to sell you?

You do know that a lot of $40.00 SOHO router's are VPN and wireless capable right?

Personally, you couldn't give me anything dell manufactures and this attempt to sell you a bunch of highpriced garbage you don't really need just confirms what I already knew about them. They're more concerned with their profits than they are their clients and supporting the equipment after it's been sold.