Home Network

[Freddie]

Does anyone have any experience setting up and running a home network?

Ryan, would you be interested in some side work?

 

[maddogkf]

Ryan, would you be interested in some side work?

If you're a midget you're golden

 

[Freddie]

Nobody???

 

[Chaz]

What do you need to know?

 

[Mike Olbinski]

Yup, it's really simple.

If you have a high speed connection, or even if you don't, go buy a Router.

I have my Cox internet going from the wall, to the cable modem, to my router.

And then from there, I have my laptop and desktop plugged into it. It's pretty simple, and your router will probably have a good setup wizard to walk you through the process.

Fry's had some inexpensive ones when I bought my a year ago...only spent about $25 on it.

Mike

 

[Freddie]

I have a router and all that stuff, but I'd like a network where I can share files between computers and share printers.

The thing is, there is 3 computers in the house. The laptop does not get plugged into the router(wireless), while each of the computers are on a seperate cable modem. My desktop is hooked up to the router, but it is usually busy downloading stuff off the net or burning dvds. I'd like to be able to access some of the files on my desktop from my laptop or roommate's computer.

Mike, does the wizard walk you through doing anything like that?

 

[Chaz]

I have a router and all that stuff, but I'd like a network where I can share files between computers and share printers.

The thing is, there is 3 computers in the house. The laptop does not get plugged into the router(wireless), while each of the computers are on a seperate cable modem. My desktop is hooked up to the router, but it is usually busy downloading stuff off the net or burning dvds. I'd like to be able to access some of the files on my desktop from my laptop or roommate's computer.

Mike, does the wizard walk you through doing anything like that?

They each have a seperate cable modem?

The easiest way is to connect them all to the same router. That way they are all on the same subnet (similar ip address numbers). Mostly the routers have automatic addressing so by plugging them into the same router they are assigned numbers on the same subnet.

If they are all windows machines it becomes a matter of making sure the Microsoft network client is installed on all the computers and file and printer sharing is on. After that you should be able to see the other computers in network neighborhood.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

They each have a seperate cable modem?

The easiest way is to connect them all to the same router. That way they are all on the same subnet (similar ip address numbers). Mostly the routers have automatic addressing so by plugging them into the same router they are assigned numbers on the same subnet.

If they are all windows machines it becomes a matter of making sure the Microsoft network client is installed on all the computers and file and printer sharing is on. After that you should be able to see the other computers in network neighborhood.

Yeah, what he said.

Also, why do you have two cable modems in the same house?

Mike

 

[Freddie]

The two desktops are on different cable modems. He has his in his room and I have mine in the den.

If my laptop is connected wirelessly to the same router as my desktop I should be able to see the desktop in network neighborhood?

Thanks for the help, Chaz and Mike.

 

[Freddie]

Yeah, what he said.

Also, why do you have two cable modems in the same house?

Mike

I had one from before, and so did he.

We also both play ps2 online, so running a bunch of cat5 cable throughout the house did not seem like a reasonable option.

 

[Chaz]

The two desktops are on different cable modems. He has his in his room and I have mine in the den.

If my laptop is connected wirelessly to the same router as my desktop I should be able to see the desktop in network neighborhood?

Thanks for the help, chaz.

The details depend on the operating system version.

"Network Neighborhood" is actually a Win98 invention. In Win2K and WinXP it is "My Network Places". I did forget that the two computers should be in the same workgroup(just make the workgroup names the same). This is near the network ID in the control panel under network in Win98 and under system in WinXP/2K.

In WinXP/2K under my network places it is "computers near me".

BTW after getting things set it may take a little while for the computers to show up. Sometimes you can speed this up by searching for computer and putting in the other computer name.

 

[Chaz]

so running a bunch of cat5 cable throughout the house did not seem like a reasonable option.

Hence, the beauty of wireless today.

 

[Freddie]

Hence, the beauty of wireless today.

downloading at 54mbps is a lot different than downloading at 100 when you're downloading movies and such.

 

[Chaz]

downloading at 54mbps is a lot different than downloading at 100 when you're downloading movies and such.

That is true if you are downloading from a server or other PC on your own network but max download on a cable modem is 2-3 MB (your mileage may vary), well below the 54MB or 100MB.

IF you are using a USB 1.1 wireless adapter max transfer for the interface is like 2MB so that could become a factor.

Point is even 11MB wireless is faster than the fastest cable modem.

 

[Freddie]

That is true if you are downloading from a server or other PC on your own network but max download on a cable modem is 2-3 MB (your mileage may vary), well below the 54MB or 100MB.

IF you are using a USB 1.1 wireless adapter max transfer for the interface is like 2MB so that could become a factor.

Point is even 11MB wireless is faster than the fastest cable modem.

I'm downloading from a server. Good points.

 

[Ryanwb]

Sorry I don't even drag my ass out of bed before 10 am

Post any specific questions you have, I'll be glad to help

 

[Gnomad]

If both machines are running the same OS, you can simply install the IPX/SPX protocol and both machines will be able to see each other. It's the 'simplest' way to get your home network to work out, but it requires both computers to have the same operating system....

 

[Ryanwb]

If both machines are running the same OS, you can simply install the IPX/SPX protocol and both machines will be able to see each other. It's the 'simplest' way to get your home network to work out, but it requires both computers to have the same operating system....

Don't do this....

First off the only real use of IPS/SPX is for Netware computers, plus you need to have TCP/IP installed anyway if you want to connect to the internet and having more than one protocol running will slow your network down dramatically

 

[Gnomad]

I didn't say it was the best way. but it's simple and it works