Home Network - ?!

sticker

Hi all,

I've a simple setup at home - 2 Desktop PCs - One monster rig and a secondary PC. I'm with BT with a 3meg connection and want to split the broadband signal between the two and also create a network where I can send files back and forth from one to another.

Probably a simple task but I'm unsure of what hardware I need.

I'm not all that interested in lightning fast transfer speeds between each PC, just the facility to move files across if need be. I'm not using wireless at the moment - I don't think each one has the capability! (stupid statement?!!) I'm a little new to this, I don't know if ANY PC can be made wireless or would the wireless connection effect the BB speeds! that said I don't see any "wired" options on Argos etc...

Is there much setting up to move modem settings from my existing DSL router to another?

Would this suffice...?

http://www.argos.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=30001&langId=-1&catalogId=1500001101&productId=1500200851&clickfrom=name




Thanks in advance

AntiRip

sticker wrote: »

Hi all,

I've a simple setup at home - 2 Desktop PCs - One monster rig and a secondary PC. I'm with BT with a 3meg connection and want to split the broadband signal between the two and also create a network where I can send files back and forth from one to another.

Probably a simple task but I'm unsure of what hardware I need.

I'm not all that interested in lightning fast transfer speeds between each PC, just the facility to move files across if need be. I'm not using wireless at the moment - I don't think each one has the capability! (stupid statement?!!)

Is there much setting up to move modem settings from my existing DSL router to another?

Would this one suffice...?
http://www.argos.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=30001&langId=-1&catalogId=1500001101&productId=1500200851&clickfrom=name

Thanks in advance

I wouldn't spend that much on a router. I have a dlink524
and I just share the folders I want shared between the two pcs. Works great for me anyways. I can also view video files from each pc without a hitch so far :-)

Sherifu

Cheapest way would be use the router you have atm.
If you want to go wireless, you're going to need to add the capability to whichever pcs dont have it.
The Belkin seems like overkill to me, the guts of 200 euro; it's up to you which way you want to go, if you need wireless i'd look at a cheap g or 2g router till the n routers come down in price.

Axwell

Do you need to go wireless? Are the computers close enough that you could just have them both connected to one router with ethernet cable or is this not an option?

If you can connect them both to a router then it is easy enough to setup a home network, they both will have access to the internet and you can share files between them no problem.

You can also do it wirelessly but you would need to get a wireless adapter for the pcs if they dont have a wireless card which i would assume they dont. If possible though go with the wired option to save you hassle. Let me know if its an option and pm me if you have any questions.

sticker

Thanks for the replies guys - this is the router I currently have;

http://www.voyager.bt.com/wired_routers/voyager_210/product_info.htm

and you're right it DOES support a small network...! Question is how do I do it?! There's only one ethernet connetion and 1 USB.

I'm currently using the ethernet for the main rig, can I just connect the USB lead to the other PC and it should work?!

Axwell

i dont think that router is going to do the job, you should look at getting one with 4 ethernet ports, for example a netgear one. this will allow you to connect 4 devices to it and have your net shared over them. I have a pc a laptop and my xbox hooked into mine all sharing the one connection. My laptop and pc then can share files also as i want. You can get them in pc world or any of the usual shops and it wouldnt cost anything near what you have above.

i have the DG834GT ADSL modem router if you want to look it up

sticker

Axwell wrote: »

i dont think that router is going to do the job, you should look at getting one with 4 ethernet ports, for example a netgear one. this will allow you to connect 4 devices to it and have your net shared over them. I have a pc a laptop and my xbox hooked into mine all sharing the one connection. My laptop and pc then can share files also as i want. You can get them in pc world or any of the usual shops and it wouldnt cost anything near what you have above.

i have the DG834GT ADSL modem router if you want to look it up

It is actually working - the dual web connetion that is...

In regard to the 'network' - I'm not sure how it works - would it be the case that the respective PC's would simply appear in 'My Computer' as a removable drive?! Or do I need to setup the network seperately?

Axwell

Im not sure with a usb setup like you are using but usually you would setup a small home network through windows. Click on start and then My network place and there is an option top left to setup a small network. Follow the steps in that. For sharing of files and folders once you have that up and running you right click on a folder and select sharing and make that folder shareable on the network.

Thomas_S_Hunterson

sticker wrote: »

I'm currently using the ethernet for the main rig, can I just connect the USB lead to the other PC and it should work?!

You could do that yes, but don't. From my experience USB network connectons like that are very unreliable.

You're best be is to buy a small Hub or switch, and plug that via ethernet into the router, then plug the rest of your PCs into the remaining ports on the switch.

sticker

Sean_K wrote: »

You could do that yes, but don't. From my experience USB network connectons like that are very unreliable.

You're best be is to buy a small Hub or switch, and plug that via ethernet into the router, then plug the rest of your PCs into the remaining ports on the switch.

Could you recommend a hub or switch please?

Thomas_S_Hunterson

I have no personal experience with this one, but netgear are reputable enough:
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=319207

Feelgood

Sean_K wrote: »

I have no personal experience with this one, but netgear are reputable enough:
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=319207

Netgear are 100% alright, failing that anyone will do the job. They are all the same really...

If I was you I would pick up a wireless router for about €100, throw that BT voyager in the bin and just use the wireless router as your gateway?.
Giving you 4 ethernet ports for pc connections, wireless capabilities in case down the line you look at getting a laptop, xbox360 or something.

Any router will do the job, they all essentially do the same thing..
Asus, netgear, linksys, Canyon, all the same thing to be honest.

RoyalMarine

sticker that one sean_K showed would do perfectly.

plug the bt voyager into it. then plug ethernet cables into both computer's connected to the hub.

if you have windows vista on both computer's it will create the network itself.
if win xp then there's a tiny setup needed but its a simple few steps that takes 5 mins.

sticker

Thanks for the advice all,

I'll pickup the Netgear from Komplett then - Do I need any additional cables etc or will it have all the kit out of the box?

RoyalMarine

i dont think it comes with ethernet cables. but they are dirt cheap everywhere.

it will come with its own power plug so dont worry.

Thomas_S_Hunterson

You'll need 3 ethernet cables in total, one for the router and one for each PC

Sherifu

That router is a good price. Netgear should be solid too.

sticker

Thanks again all ....appreciate the help!

sticker

...Would you believe I cant find a ethernet cable on it's own on Komplett?!!

Sherifu

http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=114700

sticker

rkm wrote: »

http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=114700

Thanks! :rolleyes:

Sherifu

sticker wrote: »

Thanks! :rolleyes:

What's with the rolleyes?

sticker

rkm wrote: »

What's with the rolleyes?

...as in i'm a dumbass - should have seen it myself

Sherifu

It's not the easiest to find the way they named it.
Here's the list of available lengths etc. http://www.komplett.ie/k/kl.aspx?bn=10188

sticker

rkm wrote: »

It's not the easiest to find the way they named it.
Here's the list of available lengths etc. http://www.komplett.ie/k/kl.aspx?bn=10188

Thanks!

sticker

Hey all,

I got the kit and setup the new network - In Network connections, and view workgroup computers I see each PC in the network - (2) Web working fine on both also.

But when I click on them I just see printer profiles and "SharedDocs" - I can't browse to the other PC's desktop or view the entire contents of the other connected PCs - which is what I wanted in the first place...

What am I doing wrong?!

Sherifu

Use remote desktop.

sticker

Sherifu wrote: »

Use remote desktop.

I'll give it a go!

As a matter of interest, when I wenty to set up the network initially, I ran the setup home newtowrk wizard on BOTH PC's - using the XP idsc when prompted - I assume this was correct...?!

Manaris

You need to share whatever folders you want to make available to the other pc. Right click on a file/folder and select "sharing and secuity" and tell windows to share that file/folder. If you want to share the entire drive, just right click on the drive in My Computer and do the same...

sticker wrote: »

Hey all,

I got the kit and setup the new network - In Network connections, and view workgroup computers I see each PC in the network - (2) Web working fine on both also.

But when I click on them I just see printer profiles and "SharedDocs" - I can't browse to the other PC's desktop or view the entire contents of the other connected PCs - which is what I wanted in the first place...

What am I doing wrong?!

DannyMac

There shouldn't be any need to change the sharing properties of the folders on each machine.

What you can do is figuire out each machines's IP address by doing an IPconfig

(Start --> Run --> CMD) --> then type ipconfig in the command prompt window and it will show the IP network info.

Then on each machine do the following..

start --> run --> //<ip address of host you want to connect to>\c$

C$ is an administrative share, so if you have admin rights, you will be able to connect to the system and see all folders

You can do the same with D$, etc

When you hit enter after running the command above, a connection window will appear requesting login details..

these are in the format "workgroup name\username" and then the password in the next box.

sticker

DannyMac wrote: »

There shouldn't be any need to change the sharing properties of the folders on each machine.

What you can do is figuire out each machines's IP address by doing an IPconfig

(Start --> Run --> CMD) --> then type ipconfig in the command prompt window and it will show the IP network info.

Then on each machine do the following..

start --> run --> //<ip address of host you want to connect to>\c$

C$ is an administrative share, so if you have admin rights, you will be able to connect to the system and see all folders

You can do the same with D$, etc

When you hit enter after running the command above, a connection window will appear requesting login details..

these are in the format "workgroup name\username" and then the password in the next box.

Thanks... but I don't follow the last step - what unsername / password do I enter?

DannyMac

For the username and password, this will depend how you log on to Windows.

When you boot up your machines, and you are not prompted to log into windows, then the username and password will be administrator with no password.

If however, you get a logon box prompting you to enter a username and password when you boot iup, then you need to enter this.

sticker

Thanks all - I went with Manaris solution, as I just needed to access a few folders...

As a matter of interest, if I'm downloading with full bandwitdh from the web, will the network transfer speeds slow down - ?!

sticker

I'm back with a problem with this issue....

I just switched to NTL and they installed a new modem - The Scientific Atlanta 2203. I've connected the Netgear switch in exactly the same port as the old BT modem was in, but both PCs are NOT seeing eaach other.

The wierd thing is the web IS shared accross both rigs - just not the ability to explore / transfer.

By the by - on bith PC's the sharing option is ON as before.

Help!

Sherifu

The new modem has a firewall?

sticker

Sherifu wrote: »

The new modem has a firewall?

I honestly don't know to be honest... where would I find that information?

Also, the NTL tech disabled the Local Area Connection in my network Connections, the first thing I did was re-establish it. Any deeper and I'm over my head!

Sherifu

Well if nothing else has changed it must be the modem.

You can do a command in a command prompt

ipconfig /all

and find out the ip of the modem and put it into your browser to change the settings.

sticker

Sherifu wrote: »

Well if nothing else has changed it must be the modem.

You can do a command in a command prompt

ipconfig /all

and find out the ip of the modem and put it into your browser to change the settings.

When I enter "ipconfig /all" (without commas) a black dos window appears for a second and disappears again - ?!

Sherifu

Launch the command window first by running cmd.

sticker

This is what I get

Sherifu

That looks fine.

So your setup is;

Modem - switch - PCs ?

And you haven't changed anything on the pcs?

Can you ping one PC from the other?

sticker

Sherifu wrote: »

That looks fine.

So your setup is;

Modem - switch - PCs ?

And you haven't changed anything on the pcs?

Can you ping one PC from the other?

Ahem, don't know how I'm afraid *head bowed*

The setup with the switch is as follows - the two ethernet cables from each PC into the ports 1 & 2 on the switch... the third ethernet cable from NTL modem to 100M / 10M port on switch.

I can't understand why the web is shared between both and they still can't see each other - I've allowed sharing to the two C drives on both PCs as I had before...

Should they just appear in the opposite "My Computer" - ?!

Sherifu

Yes. They should be in my computer in a perfect world.

Could you do ipconfig /all on both pcs?

You can ping by typing

ping [ip address]

in a command prompt

sticker

Sherifu wrote: »

Yes. They should be in my computer in a perfect world.

Could you do ipconfig /all on both pcs?

You can ping by typing

ping [ip address]

in a command prompt

Screengrab of 2nd pc

Sherifu

sticker wrote: »

Screengrab of 2nd pc

Ok cool, so from this window on the 2nd pc

enter

ping 89.100.136.200

to ping the 1st pc.

sticker

Sherifu wrote: »

Ok cool, so from this window on the 2nd pc

enter

ping 89.100.136.200

to ping the 1st pc.

It pinged back ok - 4 replies / sent 4 - received 4 - lost 0

What does thid mean?!

Sherifu

sticker wrote: »

It pinged back ok - 4 replies / sent 4 - received 4 - lost 0

What does thid mean?!

It means the 2nd pc can see pc1 ok. Is file sharing enabled on each pc?

sticker

Sherifu wrote: »

It means the 2nd pc can see pc1 ok. Is file sharing enabled on each pc?

Just double checked - file sharing is allowed on both PCs

I never checked if there was a firewall setting on the new NTL modem - do you know how I can check this?!

Moriarty

Sticker, you should get yourself a cable router to put between the switch and the ntl modem or better yet get a router with a couple of ethernet ports (most routers have a little switch built into them). At the moment what you'll be doing is sharing your files by uploading them all to the local UPC server and then downloading them again. You don't want to do this for a whole load of reasons, the most obvious being that it's a massive security hole and it'll be really slow. You're also exposing your windows machines to the internet which is a bad idea.

This costs just over 30 squids and it's well worth it. It also has wifi built in if you ever get yourself a laptop and want to use it wirelessly around the house. If you don't use the wifi you can disable it via the web interface very easily.

sticker

Moriarty wrote: »

Sticker, you should get yourself a cable router to put between the switch and the ntl modem or better yet get a router with a couple of ethernet ports (most routers have a little switch built into them). At the moment what you'll be doing is sharing your files by uploading them all to the local UPC server and then downloading them again. You don't want to do this for a whole load of reasons, the most obvious being that it's a massive security hole and it'll be really slow. You're also exposing your windows machines to the internet which is a bad idea.

This costs just over 30 squids and it's well worth it. It also has wifi built in if you ever get yourself a laptop and want to use it wirelessly around the house. If you don't use the wifi you can disable it via the web interface very easily.

I started this thread to bridge the gap between the 2 PCs I have at home - I bought the Netgear switch after being advised to do so on this thread...

After the new NTL router was introduced this week, the whole shooting match is blown - I can't understand why NEW HARDWARE is the answer - ?! I assume NTL tech support would fob me off saying it's not their hardware...

Moriarty

I'm just giving you some advice, if you don't want to take it that's fair enough. NTL will say it isn't their issue and they'd be right. They give customers a free router (same model as the one I linked to infact) if they subscribe to the top broadband package, otherwise you need to source a router of your own.

Your windows machines will more than likely be compromised very quickly if they're left directly connected to the NTL modem via the switch.