Home network setup/major problems

[Robert65]

Hello,

I have read through some of the threads, but cannot seem to figure out what to do. I hope someone can help.

This past week we had a cable modem installed. The technician from the cable co told us that if we got a hub and another ethernet card for our second computer that we could network, and that the cable company has no idea how many computers we would have online (he has done this himself :). We would also like the computers networked so we can play games together offline. So, after purchasing the additional equipment and installing it, we still cannot connect.

The hardware installed tested out fine. The modem goes into the hub and then from the hub to both computers. I did read that someone here said to connect the primary computer to the modem, then cable to the hub and out to the second computer but we dont have an output from the primary comp for this to work, and the technician said otherwise.

We have the settings on the secondary computer set to the same as the primary, using winip config. Both IP's are different, using detect IP auto. If manually set, IP same as main computer. but a hardware comflict results and the interface is automatically disconnected. On autoconfig the secondary computer's IP addy is same as the local link i.e. 169.254.x.x but on the network neither computer will recognize the other.

Are we even looking in the right ballpark for the answer here?

Any help you can give would be appreciated :)

rain:(

[xanthan]

i have a set up like what you are wanting but its been a long while since i did it hehe.

you have to connect the modem to a NIC in the primary computer, run your cat 5 cable from the 2nd NIC in the primary computer to the hub then from the hub to the NIC in the secondary computer.

you must have file/print sharing enabled and each device you want to share has to have sharing enabled in its properties box.

only way to run the modem off the hub is if your cable company gives out multiple IP's (from what i see hardly any do anymore) and even then you pretty much need a router or switch....

hope this helps.

if there is anything else you need let me know, i can look and see my actual settings if ya need.

[Weazel]

Ok, basically what the 'cable guy' suggested was you setup your primary pc as a router therefore all the computers behind it cannot be seen by the cable provider only the primary pc.
in order for this 2 work you need 2 nic cards in the primary pc 1 connected to the cable modem and the other to the hub, then you have to install some kind of proxy software depending on the os your running....most likely Internet Connection Sharing if you have windows. On the second pc you would need to connect it to the hub and set the tcp/ip settings to automatically get an ip address as it will pull it from the primary computer which is now working as a dhcp server to the other computers on the hub. With me so far?
Now, if I were you, to save time, headaches, and probably a crap load of frustration go to compusa, bestbuy or whatever retailer you prefer and pick up a router/gateway. Dlink, Linksys, Netgear they all basically do the same thing.
if you still want to go the first way heres some linkage
http://www.zdnet.com/filters/printerfriendly/0,6061,2279694-77,00.html
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q234/8/15.ASP

and of course i'm assuming your running windows 98 or ME

[R0BB23]

thats the biggest mistake made by ppl when looking to connect multiple computers to the internet. i was one of those, and that is think ing you can just plugin it all into a hub and bam it works.

nononoononoonono it doesnt wrok that way, the best way is to get a router with a hub integrated into it.

router router router router.:D

[xanthan]

you dont actually have to get a router or switch, it can be configured to work with just a hub but its slower.

we can even play games like EQ without a router.

[R0BB23]

yah but a router is the best way by far.

[dugans]

2 ways to do it- I've done both.

1- put 2 nics in one pc, hook the modem up to one of them ( the original nic- mac address is used to identify you to the isp).
Then you need to use some proxy app- 98/me/2000 have ICS (Internet Connection Sharing) which I don't like, or one of the third party apps. Then you can hook up the second pc with either a patch cable or through a hub- NOTE: patch cables ONLY work pc to pc, a hub needs a regular cat5 cable.
I went this route up until recently (not using ICS though!)

2- Get a cable router/switch: I use a Linksys, netgear also makes them and I think Dlink and others as well. This has advantages in that it provides a level of firewall protection, is generally easier to configure, and removes the routing load from your pc.

Either way works, but I would go for the router setup.
Also I would suggest using a software firewall, I use ZoneAlarm, but there are others.

[engjohn]

I cannot say enough about the SMC Barricade.

You can get it in a 4 port version that is great.

A firewall, router, switch, and PRINT server all in one!

You can share a dialup, cable or DSL connection.

Takes about 5min to setup and you are off and running...

[mr00bill]

With some cable modems, you need to use a cross-over cable to go between the cable modem and router. (its a normal cat5 cable only with the wires arranged differently)

[Mi6]

Look All You Need is 3 network cards and a Cross Over Wires
2 Cards on the main PC and 1 on the Othere PC
then Blug in the Cross Over Wires And Run Allaboard
and youre set i did this for 3year with my ISP and they still do not kno i whonder if youre isp Is Videotron 2 ;)

well thats what i did just ask youre local store for Cross Over wires ands youre set no need for a Hub

[dozier768]

lots of ideas here. they only way to do it without the cable company knowing is to set the primary machine "the one hooked to the cable modem" as a dhcp server and then connect a crossover cable to a second nic on that computer and then to the other computer, otherwise it is required that you run the cable modem into the uplink of the hub and hook the two comps into the hub with two different computer names the only prob is that the cable provider only gives u one and if you want a nother one you gotta pay. it will mostlikely work but eventually the cable co. will notice there is a machine with a non-recognized name in their network and take some kind of action, as rob said the best way is to use a dsl/cable router as it takes the place of the dhcp server and there is no way of the cable co. finding out

[mr00bill]

I just checked my ISPs website, not only do they not care how many comps are using one IP address, they even tell u how to setup a LAN :)

[johns linux box]

my isp does not want multiple computers sharing the same ip they want you to pay for the extra addresses


i run linux mandrake 8.0 one the machine with the cable modem in it and that is my sever it runs as a dhcp sever for the rest of the machines in the house and yes i have windows machines on the hub as well as other linux machines
my hub is connected to a second network caed in the sever machine .
linux has a firewall built in

[dozier768]

isnt it funny that they want to charge you for an extra address but not give you anymore band width? what do they think this is cable tv?

[mr00bill]

Originally posted by johns linux box
my isp does not want multiple computers sharing the same ip they want you to pay for the extra addresses


i run linux mandrake 8.0 one the machine with the cable modem in it and that is my sever it runs as a dhcp sever for the rest of the machines in the house and yes i have windows machines on the hub as well as other linux machines
my hub is connected to a second network caed in the sever machine .
linux has a firewall built in

You've got a cable modem inside your computer?

[johns linux box]

the linux machine has 2 10x100 base nic cards
one that goes to the samsung cablemodem and one that goes to my five port 10x100 base hub that i use to connect to the other computers.
But they do have built in cablemodems

[mr00bill]

Cool :)