1.assuming 0fee pool that pays out txn with blocks you should get the same over time
solo you get a whole block every now and then , with a pool you get small regular payouts - your choice really
I have heard comments from "i will only ever solo" to 'the time for soloing is over - I am joining a pool"
2.you need to edit your litecoin.conf file and to look like
server=1
rpcallowip=*
rpcuser=user
rpcpassword=password
you can leave the other stuff commented out
then point your network machines to the ip of the pc with litecoin on it by editing the .bat files for the miner machines to ip of the litecoin machine and set the same user/pass.
hope thats a help
Graet