Describe how you would go about setting up a "star" networkof 5 machines and discuss what would be better and why having one machine as a file server or no file server.

eihab, hi, seting up a stand-alone star network topology is easy. For a 5-node computer network, and for ease of expanding the network later should you want to, an 8-port hub connected with UTP ETHERNET CAT 5 cables is suficient. All hub nowadays should have an up-link port, which will allow you to connect to another hub or switch later on. And no, in this type of network, you don't need a file server computer , although having one would increase the network's "intelligence". A file server is best deployed when you have at least 2 networks, and thus, 2 collision domains, in order to justify buying special RAID equipments, devices and network softwares.

However, if you are talking about optimizing a star network so that it will sit on a backbone cable using RG-11 coaxial cable and other devices such as repeaters, switches, routers, and so forth, then you are talking about another type of network design that is a lot more sophisticated altogether, depending on your environment or company's needs. For example, you would have to take into consideration of the following at the start of your design in order to be cost-effective and network-efficient:

(1) Failure redundancy and partitioning
(2) Hybrid topology of bus, star, ring, and/or fully connected networks.
(3) Types of cables to use, whether you want to use the old 10base2 or 10base5, or go with 100baseTX or 100baseFL fiber optic.
(4) Keeping in mind the limitations of the your network design with cable standards and rules, such as the 5-4-3 cable connection length rule. and so.

So, if I understood your question right, setting up a star network by itself is nothing to worry about.