I work in a small primary school in the West Country and we are in the middle of a new building project. To date I have been running a SuSe 6.4 server on a 10-pc (Windoze unfortunately) network suite (all based in my small, mobile hut, classroom, shared with 27 strapping Year 6's!). I have been asked to spec up our new network and need to run my ideas through this wise and experienced forum (I'm an NQT with five years experience in ICT industry/Information sector).

I'm planning to have a server connected to an 8 port switch (In a room to themselves). Each cable from the switch goes to a classroom where there is a hub. The cables then run from the hub to wall-mounted CAT-5 sockets. Cable runs from the CAT5 sockets to the PC. I'm confused about which of these links requirs standard cat5 UTP wiring and which require cross-over configured cable. I suspect that as the hubs have uplink buttons I only require cross-over cable for the final 2m run from wall-mounted socket to PC. Am I on the right lines or is there a far superior layout?

Another matter. RUnnning SAMBA I have everything configured apart from the fact that the shares do not show up in network neighbourhood on the workstations. I can mount the sahres using 'net use' etc. Ant ideas?