Likewise, if your printer gets bogged down processing one large job after another, a server can help there, too. However, if you're still hesitant about adding a server to your family of Macs, you might want to consider a simple file-sharing solution. For starters, if someone else on the network accesses your hard drive while you're working, you'll see a dramatic performance hit. This way, individual workstations on the network don't get clobbered. However, even if you set up an old Mac in the corner for shared files, a second disadvantage remains.
File sharing slows down significantly as network traffic increases.
If you try to copy a file while someone else on the network is printing, for example, file copying slows down and the print job takes longer than expected. The only solution to this second dilemma is to add a real server. Network Upgrade Don't forget that adding a server won't change the top speed at which data can travel on your network. If you're still running slow Ethernet, you should upgrade to 100BaseT before taking another step. The added muscle of any new server you buy will be wasted if your network doesn't offer the extra bandwidth for moving data.