Configuring a larger home network.

[wagnj1]

Hey all -

I will soon be moving in with about 5 of my buddies. They dont' currently have the internet at their place, so I called up the local ISP (which I work for), switched the account to my name (so I get the discount on high speed internet), and ordered the fastest DSL high speed they have available (7Mbps down, 680Kbps up).
Right now, at the place where I live, I'm the only computer in the network. I have all of the correct ports forwarded so that Bit Tornado, mIRC, and LimeWire all work properly. I am also playing World of Warcraft and have the correct ports forwarded for that.
The situation will be different at the house I'm moving into. There will one day be about 5 PC's on the network, with at least 3 of them using Bit Tornado, mIRC, and Limewire. They will all be running World of Warcraft as well.
My question is, how can I configure the network so that all of these programs continue to work on all of the PC's? I can't forward a port to multiple machines can I? How can I set up the router so that these programs will continue to work, even though they are on more than one computer on the network?
Does anyone know if World of Warcraft will work on more than one machine on the network?? I know that theoretically it should, but what I'm I going to do port-forward-wise? If I somehow have those ports forwarded to more than one machine, how are the patch updates going to download?
I hope someone can help me out...

 

[Papa4]

I don't have a DSL connection, so what I say here may not work for you if your DSL modem connects to your PC via a phone jack instead of an RJ45 ethernet connector.
I am assuming your DSL connection is "live" at all times
and does not require you to dial a number to activate it.

Something you need to know is that your DSL modem is assigned an IP address by your ISP, and it is this IP address that the WORLD sees. This may change every time you connect with your DSL modem, but it is often the same IP address for long periods of time.

You need to set a Unique fixed IP Private address on all of
your other PC's, using the same Netmask on each. Something like this:
192.168.0.1 255.255.255.0
192.168.0.2 255.255.255.0
192.168.0.3 255.255.255.0
192.168.0.4 255.255.255.0
192.168.0.5 255.255.255.0

(These are known as private addresses, and are NEVER used on machines sitting on the real Internet.) No PC can have the same IP address as another PC.

I don't know your hardware, but I can make a guess based on my experience with networking 12 PC's in my own home. I have access to the Internet via a Cable Modem, which then pluged into a Linksys Router/DHCP server/Firewall. The output of my Linksys router is then plugged into an 8 port Gigabit Linksys switch. All of my PC's are plugged into the Switch so that they all can connect to the Internet via my router and cable modem that is active at all times.

Make sure all PC's are running an Anti-virus program, and software such as "Spy Sweeper" to keep adware and such off of your PC's. You will be very sorry if you do not.

You can purchase an 8 port Switch for about $50 to $100
As for pre-made RF45 ethernet cables, I purchase mine from

http://www.cablewholesale.com

for VERY resonable prices. Typically more than 50% less than the local computer store. Always purchase longer cables than you think you need. Cable is cheap.

You could also use the "Internet Connection Sharing" tool in WinXP. All of the other PC's will gain Internet access through your PC, which can slow it down dramatically.

You can install a second Ethernet card in your PC, and plug this new card into an 8-Port switch. Your PC and All the other PC's would plug into this 8-port switch.

Set an IP address on this second NIC to the same subnet and netmask as your other PC's. Example:

192.168.0.10 255.255.255.0

In the network settings of the other PC's on your network set their Gateway to point to the IP address of your second
NIC. Example: 192.168.0.10

Hope this helps.

Paul