win xp small biz dummy

I'm trying to set up a small biz network using 5 work stations and a dual processor server (proliant w/compaq hardware). the workstations a're generics. xp home on the lot of them. the server will have xp home also. I thought xp recognized the other computers automatically so i set up the cabling and hub first and then loaded the the workstations but it doesn't seem to have worked. none of them can see each other. I'm not an iliterate just in expereinced at networking. I mean, does the server cat 5 have to be a cross over? or straight thru? and how do i get them to see each other. my end goal is to use the server as a database for the workstations to grab client files and numbers from processing them thru external telephony boards called speedy dialers to improve the number of calls my reps put out each day. I'm intending to use the speedy dialer software "cheetah" in conjunction with act. but how the heck do i set up the network so they work with each other.

confused

If you have a hub, every computer should be connected to it using standard straight through cabling, not crossover. Once you've made sure of this, give every computer a static IP address on the same subnet (like 192.168.0.1, 192.68.0.2 etc) unless you've got a DHCP server on one of the computers (which you may have if you're using ICS). Then check if you can ping between the two computers. Open the command prompt and type "ping x.x.x.x" (without the quotes) and replace the x.x.x.x with the IP address of another computer. Check every computer can ping every other computer.

But one thing to be aware of. If you're using XP Home for a server, there is a limit to the number of clients it can accept at one time. This may be 5, but I'm not too sure. This is something you may need to bare in mind.

I've found that xp home is kinda crappy for buisness networking. All the machines will need to be on the same workgroup if you want to share files though my network places. You can change that through the computer network wizzard. Also don't bother attempting to use xp home as a server, you won't like it. Use xp pro as a min, 2k or 2k03 server would work better. Also, xp home won't support a dual processor board, you would be wasting it. Don't try to run 2k03 small biz server either. It will only run as a domain controller, and is a bit much for ya.