Small network running Unix server - DSL install question 2

[Hueby]

Hi everyone,

We have a small network of 6-8 computers. We have a central Kingston EtherRx workgroup hub and a server used to run Unix for our old accounting program. All the computers are running Windows 2000 / XP.

We now have a DSL connection. I'm not a network expert here, but can we simply run a cable from the DSL modem into the hub and fiddle with some basic networking setting in windows to provide internet access to everyone?

I guess i'm tryin to understand that as long as we plug into the hub with the modem, then the hub can split up the bandwidth okay? Even with a Unix server there for running the Accounting program?

Thanks for any help, or guidance!

 

[edfair]

How about a 2nd instance of TCPIP? One fixed and one DHCP.
Can't remember for sure, but think I set one up like that But then. it might have been a 2 NIC installation.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[Judbud]

You *could* install 2 nic's in a pc, Double the wire, install the winpoet junk on the pc's i guess, install wingate, or use windows me/2000 built in connection-sharing driver instead of installing a router. I think this is an absolutely terrible way to go, though I have seen it working in a few places. (I didn't set it up. I have set up wingate once, could not figure out the windows built-in stuff) maybe these cases were installed before these routers were such a commodity item. I'm working on My last option before I leave this for next week... currently I gave 1 user access by just hooking to the dsl modems usb port it works for 1 but no others even with connection sharing it will end up changing the user with the dsl modems IP and then they can't access the unix server anymore... I think the Key is going to be the correct router settings, I'll let you know how it goes..

 

[Hueby]

JudBud, please let us know what you found out... thanks!

 

[Hueby]

Well.. new update:

Now.. I have the static IPs set up on each computer so the Unix server talks fine, and my SBC DSL connection is shared fine as well. This is when I have some of the computers, and server plugged into the router (D-Link 604).

As soon as I get everything (12 computers) plugged back into the hub (OLD kingston workgroup hub), and I try running a straight-thru cable / or a cross-over cable, I can NOT get the hub and router to communicate.

What could be causing a problem?? Is it possible my old workgroup hub just isn't up to par with the router? Do I need a switch instead of the hub?

Everything within the hub is communicating.

The router has 4 ports (that all look the same), then a WAN port -- This is where I plug my cable coming from the DSL modem into. Then from one of the 4 ports on the router I run a cable (tried both cross-over and straight) to just one of the open ports in the hub. On the hub there are just 12 of the same looking ports. sooo...... are we talking about just standard ports then here (not uplink ports), then using a cross-over cable SHOULD work?

If it helps, my PCs are currently setup as this:

Set the router to 192.168.1.2 and give it DHCP address range of 192.168.1.200 through 192.168.1.209 (10 addresses).

Static IP addresses, put the router address (192.168.1.2) as the gateway address. For DNS, I put 192.168.1.2 AND one of the DNS servers that gets assigned by my ISP. That's it.

Thanks everyone!!!

 

[edfair]

If you can ping back and forth on all the machines using all the ports on the hub it should work ok to talk to the router.
There can be speed problems and port problems that will affect you but you should be able to ping to the router without problem if everything on the hub is operational.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[Hueby]

Hmmm.. last time I checked, I could NOT ping the router going through the hub, but I could all the other machines.

 

[Hueby]

I just remembered.. if it is of any help: On the workgroup hub it has a switch with icons = or X I am assuming it means use either "= straight thru cable" or "X cross-over". It is on the straight thru now. Would that mean my cross-over cable connecting the hub to the router wouldn't work? ... could this issue be behind any of my problems?

 

[edfair]

Yep.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[Hueby]

Okay, but when I use a straight thru cable is still doesnt work. But that is okay?

So........ if I change this over to "X" on the hub, the cross-over cable should work, and it will not effect all the PC's connected?

 

[Hueby]

Update: I just tried it both ways...

Hub set on = , with straight thru (from a open port in hub to open port in router)... can't ping the router.

Hub set on X, with cross-over calbe... can't ping the router.

Unless I'm doing my procedures wrong, or something... what else could be going on?

 

[edfair]

Time for the hub documetation. My brain is unix focused right now and converting to hub application would require a book.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[Hueby]

The switch controls whether the port (only 1 port on the hub will be affected by this switch - either first or last port) will be an uplink port or a standard port (Hub set on = means standard port; Hub set on X means cross-over port).

Setting the switch to X is the same as using a cross-over cable between the hub and (another hub, router, etc.).

So, choose one of the following:

- Set the switch on the hub to X and use a Standard Cable between the specific port on the hub controlled by the switch (usually either first or last) and your router.

or

- Set the switch on the hub to = and use a Cross-Over Cable between the specific port on the hub controlled by the switch (usually either first or last) and your router.

-----------------------

Well...... I tried both different methods (X and straight thru, = and crossover).. no success to ping the router. (I plugged the computer straight into the router, pinged fine. So the router is up and working)

I tried both first/last ports. It is the first port though, because on the front it has the X = switch then it says "cascade" under it, and then it has a line that runs from the switch to the first port.

((Is it a possible setting are wrong still on the computer))????

 

[Hueby]

Just a quick update for anyone that cares... could never get the hub and router to talk. SOOO... I hooked up a linksys switch and everything works now.