Help needed I''m afraid

Wed Jan 07, 2004 2:55 am by cardam|ne

Hey all, one for Tawaklana, Esquilax, or qhoever else can be arsed to reply. Here goes:

In the August school holidays of 2003 I upgraded my PC. Well should I say built a new base unit and kept the monitor. I have recently decided to build up my old PC again, with a monitor I've nicked off of my dad.

My new PC is:
P4 2.4 GHz Processor
512 MB-RAM
GeForce 4 MX 440 128MB Graphics Card
Windows 98 SE (not updated yet)
20GB HDD

My old PC is:
AMD 500MHz Processor
160 MB-RAM
GeForce 2 64MB Graphics Card
Windows 98 SE (also not updated)
3.2GB HDD

I want to network them, along with my brothers, which is:
Intel Pentium III 750MHz Processor
128 MB-RAM
GeForce 16MB Graphics Card
Windows 98 SE (also not updated)
10GB HDD

All three PCs have a netowork card, all 3Com Etherlinks, and will be connected with the round plug and cable, rather than the crossovers. I will use a Router on my PC as a server (Sygate Home Network) to monitor the network, and will have games like Freelancer, StarLancer, Rise Of Nations, and Age of Empires 1 and 2.

Now then, the questions:

> Are there any compatibility issues that I should be aware of that will inhibit a smooth running network?

> What is the easiest way to network Windows 98 SE PCs, because, as some of you may know, I've had problems with a Windows 2000 PC and a laptop with ME?

> What do I need to do, step by step, to set-up the network?

An idiot's guide style thing would be appropriate, as I've never set up my own network, only helped my Dad troubleshoot.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, as was your help beforehand!

Regards,

Dale

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

War isn't about what's right, it's about what's left

http://www.cardamine.net/ - should be up and running after Christmas!

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Edited by - CaRdAmInE v2 on 1/7/2004 3:05:23 AM

Wed Jan 07, 2004 3:10 am by Tawakalna

what do you mean, round plug and cable? not BNC/thin ethernet? forget that if that's what you're on about. RJ45/Cat5e and only use that.

network 98 machines together? that's a piece of p*ss, just use static IP addressing in TCP/IP in network properties. take you 5 minutes and a restart. you don't ewven ned to bother about domains and hosts, just put sequential IP addresses into the TCP/Ip properties on each machine, the same subnet mask on each, make sure each machine has a unique network name and logon, and thats it.

If you're going to be using a router (a proper one this time) then you can still use your static IP addressing as above, but you will need a lot more info. You will need a host (call that whatever you want but it has to be the same on each PC) a domain, which your ISP will give you, the IP address assigned by your ISP, and the starting IP address assigned by the router, this will be the first IP address of your network and will determine what all the rest in your n/w are.

So get that info (don't post it here esp the ISP's IP - security you see!) then get back to me/us and I/we'll tell you where to go from there.

Don't worry we're cooking on gas now and you'll be able to be a flash git in front of yer dad!

Wed Jan 07, 2004 3:13 am by cardam|ne

@Taw - cheers bud, just wondered! I don't have the net on my PC, so is there a real need for a Router?

Wed Jan 07, 2004 3:15 am by cardam|ne

with network cables there are two types if I'm correct:

The push and twist plug type
The crossover cables, which are like phone cables in the way you plug them in!

Wed Jan 07, 2004 3:22 am by freighter fighter

*cough* edit button

Wed Jan 07, 2004 3:23 am by cardam|ne

@ff - i require help, not spam

Wed Jan 07, 2004 3:26 am by mustang

There are about twenty different types of network cables but the two I think you are reffering to are:

Push and twist: Im guessing coaxial
Crossover Cable: RJ45/Cat5(e) or Cat6 with wiring set to communicate directly between PC Ethernet cards. The more common approach for RJ45 connections is a patch cable whereby you would use a hub or switch to interconnect PC's. Good thing to know the difference otherwise you can be scratching your head for hours.

EDIT: I would get a hardware router if I were you. You can screw around with ADSL or Cable modems and get them to work using internet sharing, but it's a pain in the ass and not worth the grief. Also I'd get yourself a cheap switch to interconnect your pc's, or even a hub would do the trick for less money.

EDIT2: Hang on if your not planning on having an internet connection then don't worry about the router. Just stick em all on a hub, set up a private network and you'll be golden. A small LAN like that is about the most piss easy thing you can do in networking.

Edited by - Mustang on 1/7/2004 3:32:58 AM

Edited by - Mustang on 1/7/2004 3:35:15 AM

Wed Jan 07, 2004 3:29 am by cardam|ne

@Mustang - cheers, twas helpful. I thought there was only two! Oh well! I want to know if there's a need for a Router if there's no internet connection

Wed Jan 07, 2004 3:50 am by Tawakalna

a router will share the internet connection and act as a network hub/switch. If no-one is having Internet then y'all dont need a router, just a hub/switch like Emperor Mustang says. if y'are having internet even on one Pc then get a router, cos net can be enabled/disabled for each machine individually.

Wed Jan 07, 2004 3:51 am by _Trader_

your help is immensely appreciated, and I shall report to Emperor Mustang and Lord Talkwana first thing tommorow!

Wed Jan 07, 2004 3:52 am by cardam|ne

Holy leaping lizards batman, I guess I'm not the only one using TLR on this college PC!

EDIT: Bypass the anti-profanity detection system and i'll make you sound like a chessy 70's super hero.

Edited by - Mustang on 1/7/2004 4:04:37 AM

Wed Jan 07, 2004 3:53 am by cardam|ne

Somebody had checked remember password, hmm . . . i wonder who it could be? Isn't _Trader_ that twat who started a best ship thread?

Wed Jan 07, 2004 4:13 am by mustang

I gotta admit that was a wierd comment from Trader, even for spam it was wierd.

Wed Jan 07, 2004 4:14 am by cardam|ne

EDIT: Bypass the anti-profanity detection system and i'll make you sound like a chessy 70's super hero

How would you do that?

Wed Jan 07, 2004 4:15 am by cardam|ne

No Mustang, it was me, but under someone else's username. These College PC's are crap and if you check to sign in automatically on anything, anyone can access it! So I typed it, I did it, shoot me now!

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