Hubs & routers 1

[mmenarry]

Hi folks!

I've STFW, but to no avail. Myself and a few mates are thinking of setting up a LAN for some gaming action against each other. All high end machines running XP (ME on another friend's PC). Is a hub & cables all I need? (& NICs, of course). No connection to the web is required, or wanted.

I've read through dozens of guides online, and the fact that this simple option isn't covered would point me in the direction that all that's required for this scenario is that the PCs all see each other & ping ok.

Apologies for the "unprofessional" topic!

Michael

 

[ANFPS26]

If it was, me I'd check out these sites:

http://www.homenethelp.com/

http://www.practicallynetworked.com/

http://www.wown.com/

Jim

 

[mmenarry]

Yeah, I've checked those already. All are more internet type network orientated. I feel I could now start a Net cafe from scratch.

To connect say 5 PCs, is the cable and hub all that I need?

Michael

 

[cdogg]

A router with DHCP would make life easier, but since you are not sharing a broadband connection, you can get away with a basic hub. However, you will need to setup each IP address within the same subnet ranges and make sure the network settings on each PC match.

Maybe some of these articles will help:

http://www.infoweblinks.com/content/buildingalan.htm

http://www.computerbits.com/archive/1998/1200/home_lan.html

http://www.lincezone.com/homenetworking/

http://www.cgonline.com/features/020315-f1-f1.html

~cdogg
[tab]"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources"
[tab][tab]- A. Einstein

 

[mmenarry]

Cheers, cdogg!
No internet involved at all. Just a straightforward fragmatch! Setting up IPs & subnets is no problem.
Just wanted to check a hub & cables was all I needed, rather than setting up a server on one of my Pcs, etc, etc. and spending a fortune on bits & bobs.

Have a star, my good man!

Michael

 

[cdogg]

Glad that helped! You should have no problem networking the 5 PC's with a hub. However, the game must support static IP addresses and not rely on a server to work. Many out there do, but not all.

Good luck!


~cdogg
[tab]"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources"
[tab][tab]- A. Einstein

 

[paparazi]

My daughter goes to a "computer club" on a monday evening, to be honest with you it's just one big fragmatch, in UT mostly but anyway, they just individually set IP addresses, make sure they are all on the same workgroup and connect to single or multiple, standard hubs (sometimes there can be as many as 15 seperate PC's)
But as far as I know all the games they play, one person has to host as a server (usually the guy with the fastest PC) but this doesn't slow things down for that user as far as I can see.
Martin

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