Yes, you typically need a router for a LAN to connect multiple devices and manage network traffic.
Yes, you typically need a router for a LAN to connect multiple devices and manage network traffic.
I plan to purchase a basic 5-port switch with 100Mbps speed, which is more than enough for moving some MS Word files. The main computer in the office will act as the storage device for the other PC while also handling word processing tasks.
You won't. It's necessary to configure fixed IP addresses on the linked devices or have one device serve as a DHCP server.
It seems simpler this way, though you might prefer machines to create APIPA addresses.