New (to me) Switch Question??

[DUSNOETOS]

Yesterday I picked up a NETGEAR FS108 fast Ethernet switch at a thrift shop - for $5. (is this a good switch??)

I am rather new to the whole networking thing so I have a few questions. But first let me do my best describing my set up so I can be best helped.

I use Qwest DSL for my Internet access. The modem I have is the: Actiontec GT701-WG. It has one Ethernet port, one USB port, and 802.11b/g wireless access.
I currently have three computers attached to the modem: 2 desktops -with XP home - (one via Ethernet port and the other to the USB port) and my laptop with XP PRO (wireless)

I currently have simple file and printer sharing that works well. (I have multiple hard-drives in each desktop that I store different stuff on (pictures on one drive, homework on another for example) that I access regularly.

Aside from my 3 main computers I also have 2 other older computers (that have Windows 98se) that I do use for random things. But if I want to access the Internet with them I have to swap Ethernet wires - plus I don't have printers to them.

Now I have a HP deskjet 6940 printer that has a Ethernet port on it....

Can I connect all 4 desktop computers to the switch plus the printer and the DSL modem and still use the wireless connection on the modem?? Will all 5 systems have Internet access and printer access - while keeping the file sharing on the 3 main computers. (i know the Win98se computers cant read the NTSF file system of XP)???
If yes. what kind of set up will I have to do??

[~(o)-(0)~]

Yeah all your PCs should have access to the net. , just run a wire from your modem/router to the switch and connect on from there.

Nick

[Hitbox]

Unless the modem has DHCP in it, which I don't think it does, I don't that would work.
You have to plug it in this order:

modem --> router --> switch --> computers

The switch doesn't assign IP's, it only extends (virtually) the number of ports on the router.

[=ACID RAIN=]

The issue with win98 not seeing NTFS is strictly on local drives. The network uses TCP/IP and therefore file system type doesn't matter, which is why win32 OSes can see shares on linux partitions, etc. Win98, as long as authentication is set up correctly (or perhaps none at all) can see a share on NTFS just fine :)

As for the network, I assume the router is giving out IPs via DHCP. If that is the case, then hook the switch to the router, then hook all the computers to the switch. For simplicity (to keep you out of the command prompt) reboot the boxes if they are not already shut down.

Hook the printer up and set up the IP address based on the subnet of the other machines, but in the higher range so DHCP will not conflict. In other words if your computers are 192.168.1.x, then you will probably be safe making the printer 192.168.1.250, for example.

And yes, wireless will still work fine :)

[DUSNOETOS]

Unless the modem has DHCP in it, which I don't think it does,.


infact it does:
DHCP Settings
The Modem has a built in DHCP(Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server that automatically assigns a different IP address to each computer on the network, eliminating IP address conflicts. The factory default setting is On. Actiontec strongly recommends leaving the DHCP Server option On. If the DHCP server option is Off, ensure the IP addresses of the networked computers are on the same sunet as the IP address of the Modem.

Still learning the termonalogy, but this whole networking thing may not be as hard as I orginaly thought.

[=ACID RAIN=]

Yeah if you looked up the model, it's a DSL adapter (modem) + single port router w/ wireless.

[DUSNOETOS]

The issue with win98 not seeing NTSF is strictly on local drives. The network uses TCP/IP and therefore file system type doesn't matter, which is why win32 OSes can see shares on linux partitions, etc. Win98, as long as authentication is set up correctly (or perhaps none at all) can see a share on NTSF just fine


Wow I did not realize how ignorant I was. I knew that the Internet used methods to make different Operating systems and file types compatable... But hear I was thinking that for a LAN all machines had to use the same file system. I truly learned something today.
I hooked up the NETGEAR switch and I have Windows 98se and Windows XP talking to each other.:thup:

I am glad that I am modest enough to know that I don't know everything and able (and willing) to learn new things