Network Setup

[Coop]

I'm trying to figure out how to get some things accomplished with my 2 computers. One has XP the other has ME, cable modem, linksys router.. Heres what I'm tryin to do.. cable modem to router, router to both PC's and be able to use internet as normal while being able to have both use the printer thats hooked up to the XP computer and send files back and forth thru the router (if thats possible). Also want it setup this way so I can make use of the hardware firewall so I can take the software firewall off the XP computer and get the ME computer under a firewall.

Just some info on the current setup here. I have the router setup as a hub and its hooked to both computers, ISP has issued me 2 IP addresses btw. Do I need one of those turned off, and just get a main IP?

Can anybody provide me with some info on this, setup steps and what not? Can what I want be done? Thanks :)

[Noevo]

Sounds like you want to run just like I have my setup, pretty much. What you want will work for as many computers as you can get onto your router.

You've got it pretty much figured out.

Cable Modem
\/
Router
\/ \/
PC PC


the second IP address doesn't really matter as the Router will just grab the one (assuming DHCP enabled). No need to have it "turned off"

Then with both computers you could just set them to DHCP and they will grab internal IP's from the router and be online and both behind the router/firewall. you can also set up static ip's on your PC's if you wish, speeds internal network look ups vs. DHCP.

Make sure both computers have the same Workgroup name and create an account on the XP box for the ME machine. Without that you will only get access xp>ME but not ME>xp. Login on the ME machine is what you need to call the account you create on the XP box. Then you should be able to map to the printer hanging off the XP machine no problem.

This is just a basic description at best, but it will get you going. AND the way you are trying to. Hopefully if I missed or left something out someone will point it out to you.

i know what I am doing, heh, but don't have a lot of practice writing it out to someone else. workin' on it :)

[ImagoX]

"Make sure both computers have the same Workgroup name " VITAL!

You will need to be 100% certain you do this or your PCs will not "see" each other on the LAN.

ONe thing I've notoiced about Linksys routers though: They HATE their own DHCP setup. Every piece of support material from Linksys has, as step one "If you are running the router with DHCP, turn OFF the NIC cards setting of "Obtain an address automatically" and instead set up each PC to have a static IP address.

I had an issue with a Linksys box on my LAN, with 2 different PCs (a Win 98 and a WinXP Pro box) where one of the PCs would just vanish from my LAN, and it woul[d not be able to get online at all, at random. I tried everything (up to and including reformatting and reloading the OS0 and the issue kept coming back.

I called Linksys teech support, and they had me set my NIC cards to STATIC addresses (bypassing the DHCP system on the Linksys router) and VIOLA!! All my PCs can share files on the LAN, all can get online, etc.

Look in the Linksts dox for "Setting Static IP Addresses for your PCs" for more info, and let us know if you get stuck anywhere- BELIEVE me I know what that's like by now. :)

[Coop]

Thanks for the start up :)

I know when I first put the router in there, setup as a router, I had mad problems with surfing and game play over the net, UO mainly. I then called up Linksys and they told me how to basically make the router into a hub. Works nicely, but I am wanting more functionality and such. My Gf tells me to quit wasting my time trying to redo the whole set up, kinda the "if it aint broke, dont fix it" line... but hey I didnt fork out the money for a router when I could have just bought a hub heh

[ImagoX]

Oh yeah, make the router fully functioned! The hardware firewall in the Linksys box is actually REALLY good, and will protect you quite well.

ONE NOTE ON GAMING: If you plan to run a SERVER on a PC behind that router, you will almost certainly need to put the PC you are using as the server in the "DMZ" of the Linksys box. This forwards ALL ports to the Server machine, effectively bypassing all the port blocking the hardware firewall does. You can TRY manually forwarding the needed ports for the server, bit it's really MUCH easier to just out the server machine in the DMZ, play your game, and them take the server out of the DMZ afterwards. See the Linksys dox for details. If you just plan to PLAY games on open servers, then you will almost certainly not need to monkey with all this- if you can get in the internet, then you should be able to play (most) online games right though the firewall.

Happy hunting!

[Coop]

The only thing I play is Ultima Online.. Nothing else tickles my fancy like UO lol

Hopefully I can shut all down, hook it all up as router and get at least the XP machine running so I can ask questions as they arise. Thanks all :)

BTW, I made sure both PC's workgroup names were the same. Hopefully I wont have any problems there. Only thing Im concerned about is making changes to either machine and not being able to restore it all to the setup that I have now..

[Coop]

Ok.. got router working.. both computers can access the net. How do I set up the computers so that the ME can use the printer on the XP comp?

also how do I set both comps to use the same router given IP all the time?

[YeOldeStonecat]

Must create a user account on the XP machine....long into the ME machine with the same exact username and password.

Share the printer to that account.

Computer cannot have the same IP address on the same LAN...but all computer behind a router share the same WAN IP of the router..the IP that it gets from the ISP. That's how routers work..single WAN IP converted to up to 253 internal LAN IP's....using a technology called NAT...Network Address Translation.

[Coop]

I give up on this file/printer sharing crap.. system restore the best way to get rid of all this network crap?

[YeOldeStonecat]

B4 ya do that...

http://www.wown.com/j_helmig/winxppro.htm

[Coop]

Ahh good reading :) ty much

One last thing, I hope... upgrading router firmware. I went to the linksys site.. found some program that is supposed to put it on there for me. However when I get to the screen where it wants my routers IP and password.. no matter what I put in there, its always wrong. Went into router setup, changed password, apply, told me changes were made successfully or something.. tried to upgrade firmware again.. still incorrect password or router IP.. what gives? BTW, I can confirm password was changed by trying to log back into the router setup. IP addy of router is stated in the setup as what is in the firmware upgrade program.

[YeOldeStonecat]

Linksys router...IP should be, by default, 192.168.1.1 Unless you changed it...if you're logging into the web admin...obviously you know what that IP is. Typing it in with dots in between each octet, right? Default password is "admin"...without the quotes. No username.

What firmware version is the router at now? You can tell on the first page of the web admin. If it's 1.38 or 1.39 or higher.....I wouldn't worry about upgrading it.

[Coop]

Yeah its all typed in right.. I changed the password.. even tried using "admin" still doenst work.

version is like 1.4x or something. I just like to be up to date on all things possible. emailed Linksys about it, hopefully they'll find an answer for me.

thanks again

[Coop]

Same thing is happening that happened the first time I use this router.. cant even get a trace route.. packetloss has increased.. so I'm changing it back the way it was :/