Creating a Functional Network for a Radio Station?

E-bot & Ro-bert asks: "I volunteer for my campus radio station and, as the only techy there, I've been asked to help design their new network. We're on a very fixed budget and we're working with win98 PCs. The network needs to provide the ability to simultaneously stream and transfer large files (uncompressed WAV data) w/o interruptions to the stream. I know their current idea of using a simple hub and connecting all the computers won't work, but I'm drawing a blank on what to suggest. The specifics: Two of 6 Win98 PCs need to have the ability to broadcast audio data from any source on the network. The other 4 of 6 computers must be able to transfer files on the network w/o taking too much bandwidth away from the streams. I'm thinking of QoS, but how should it be implemented? What does the slashdot community look for, and suggest, in making a high-bandwidth network?"

Comments

An Inexpensive and Flexible upgrade path

[bluethundr]

Two of 6 Win98 PCs need to have the ability to broadcast audio data from any source on the network. The other 4 of 6 computers must be able to transfer files on the network w/o taking too much bandwidth away from the streams. I'm thinking of QoS, but how should it be implemented? What does the slashdot community look for, and suggest, in making a high-bandwidth network?"

I have a suggestion...Upgrade the entire network to Macintosh 512's and PhoneNet and VOILA! Problem solved!

Re:Start with the network

[Glonoinha]

do they still sell hubs?

Nope.
Then again, they don't sell Windows 98 machines anymore either.

Re:pls think. thx.

[Profane MuthaFucka]

Hey everybody, make sure to mod this guy down. He's actually making sense, plus he appears to have spent a little effort thinking about the problem. His answer is most likely the correct one, and is inexpensive to implement. Alas, useful information is not allowed on Slashdot. Plus, telling ignorant people that they are ignorant is something that must never be done.

He must be punished.