Help the Poly Luddite set up a network

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Guynemer
Would it work if I connected the modem to the hub, instead of her computer?

That will be slightly better in the sense that one of you can use the broadband connection from either computer, but otherwise you need one of those switch/router combo thingies.

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Guynemer
Okay, I know she has two network cards; the rest was absolute Greek. Anyway you could dumb that down for me?

::scratches head::

Okay. All network cards need something called an IP address to be accessed on any network that uses TCP/IP, which is the protocol suite underlying the Internet. The network card that connects to the cable modem doesn't need you to give it an IP address, because it will be done automatically when you connect to the broadband.

The other two cards require these IP numbers, and the easiest way to do it is just give them one manually. This is called a static IP because it doesn't change. Anyway, IP numbers are in the form of a.b.c.d where a, b, c, and d can be anywhere in the range of 0-255. My suggestion is to give them a number in the range of 10.0.0.0 to 10.255.255.255.

"Binding" TCP/IP to your network card simply means make sure it recognises the network card and is configured to work with it. It should be pretty automatic in Windows and you can check the settings by right clicking Network Neighborhood and click on Properties. Same with "binding" the dialing program (if any) to one of the network cards. If it is bound to both delete the one that's connected to the hub. Assign IP to the card that's connected to the hub, and thus forms part of the LAN.

If you have more questions I'll try to answer them tomorrow, if Wraith or somebody else hasn't beat me to them.

[Guynemer]

Do the Ethernet cards need to use the same IP address?

[Garth Vader]

If they are the same it won't work.

They need to be on the same subnet,

For example one computer could be 10.10.10.1 and the other 10.10.10.2

[Guynemer]

Okay, did that, still not working. Getting a touch frustrated.

If I want to use ICS, as I understand it, the cable modem will have to go into my computer--the newer Windows can work with the older, but not vice versa. However, her computer is the one with two network cards; will it simply be a matter of taking one out of her computer and putting it into mine?


Simply connecting the two cards together, sans hub, led to complete loss of connection between the computers... curse my logical thinking.

[Promethus]

If you can spare $60.00 this will solve all of your problems. I have the 8 port version and it works great and you don't need to know beans about networking.

http://www.bestbuy.com/ComputersPeripherals/ModemsNetworking/RoutersBridges.asp?m=488&cat=540&scat=1574

[Guynemer]

It may come to that.

In the meantime, I've come up with a patchwork solution. Since I can access her computer from mine, and run programs on my computer that are located on her computer, I tried running the Tropico 2 Demo (which wasn't working on her computer). Lo and behold, success. So, I thought to myself, "if I can run that--on my computer, from hers--why shouldn't I be able to run the Internet Explorer the same way?

Yup, I'm pretty much a prisoner of logic. Needless to say, that didn't work. Please, don't anyone try to explain why it doesn't work--it's liable to make my head explode.

Anyway, I figured I can just download programs that I need onto her computer (ie, patches, med school stuff, etc), and then run it on mine. It'll do, until we get the network thing figured out.

[VetLegion]

If you truly were a Luddite you would be destroying technology and not asking advice how to make it work

Poser!

[Promethus]

also the reason you could not connect the two computers without the hub is because you are using a "patch" cable and you need a "crossover" cable to do this.

[Wraith]

--"would that be of any use?"

Yeah, it can do exactly what you want. You'll just have some configuration to get it to that state.

Really, though, the cable/DSL routers are really cheap. It's normally not going to be worth the effort. If it saves you a couple hours of messing with the programs, it'd be worth just buying one of them.

--"Would it work if I connected the modem to the hub, instead of her computer?"

Depends on your modem and your ISP. If what you're calling a modem is actually a DSL router, then this would solve the problem. If it's really a DSL modem (something of a contradiction in terms itself, but I won't get into that) then that won't do it. Your ISP will have to have assigned you two IP addresses, and most of them won't unless you're paying extra.

--"will it simply be a matter of taking one out of her computer and putting it into mine?"

Should be, yes. As long as the NIC is compatible with your new machine, which it should be as long as it's PCI and not ISA (the slot it fits in should be beige rather than black).

--"Simply connecting the two cards together, sans hub, led to complete loss of connection between the computers."

You'd need what is called a crossover cable to do that. To over simplify, each wire in the cable can only handle traffic in one direction. Switches and hubs are made to compensate for this by listening on a different wire than a PC does. Using the same cable to connect two PCs means they both listen on the same one and speak on the same one, so nothing gets through.

Wraith
"In the fight between you and the world, back the world."
-- Franz Kafka

[Guynemer]

Thanks for all the help... looks like it's probably router time.

EDIT: Just to clarify, so I don't end up in another nightmare, with a router all I'd do is plug both computers' Ethernet cards into the router, and that's that, yes? No ****ing around with software or drivers or configurations or IP addresses or anything else that makes my blood pressure spike?

[Wraith]

--"with a router all I'd do is plug both computers' Ethernet cards into the router, and that's that, yes?"

Well, almost. There had to be a catch, right? In this case, it's pretty simple. You'll have to add your username and login to the router, instead of doing it on the computer. You'll also have to change her computer so that it gets its IP address automatically.

But that's it.

Wraith
"I'm an engineer, not a normal person."
-- Dilbert ("Dilbert")

[Promethus]

All you do is plug the Cable/DSL modem into the WAN port of the router and connect the computers LAN cables to the LAN ports on the router, turn on the power and all will be well. Both computers will be assigned a TCP/IP address by the router (you will need the network software on the computers set to auto config address). The router will have the address assigned by your ISP and your computers will have address assigned by the router.

Works great we have 4 users online at once and only one TCP/IP address. Since most of the time the connection is idle, the only time it slows down is if someone is downloading a very large file. And even then the router "shares the bandwith" with all users.

Save your hair do it !

[Urban Ranger]

Only if the router has DHCP, and he'll need to set the computers to get their IP's from the router.

[Promethus]

Wraith
Quote:

Well, almost. There had to be a catch, right? In this case, it's pretty simple. You'll have to add your username and login to the router, instead of doing it on the computer.

We did not have to do this with the Linksys BEFSR81 router we have. Does this have something to do with this router having DHCP built in?

EDIT: The router I sugested he get is the 4 port version of the one I have, it's only $10 more than the cheapest router he can get "off the shelf" in A2.