I want to write a program that is to be deployed on a small LAN (15 pc's). One of the PCs will be nominated as the server (usually the first one to boot up in the morning) and the others will take their cues from it.

The server PC will keep a list of data and will distribute it to each of the other machines. Any of the PCs should be able to edit a small part of that data and relay the changes to the server PC, which then refreshes the other machines.

If the server PC shuts down then one of the other remaining PCs takes over the server role automatically.

How hard is this to implement?

Presumeably the best bet would be sockets and UDP comms.

I really don't know where to start learning about this so any advice would be great

Thanks.

Des.