OT: Need Help With Home Networking

[Atrocities]

Hello,

I want to connect my HP xp System to my Win2k system via my data link hub. Before I had DSL the system worked find. I could share files without problem. But now that the hub is being used as a remote link to the DSL modem, I no longer can access information on the win2k system.

I tried the network set up wizard, but I don't think it worked, or does not work for what I need it to do.

Can any one offer a suggestion?

Thanks.

[narf poit chez BOOM]

Some form of headache medicine. We've pretty much given up on keeping the home lan up unless we really need it and our hub is our internet too.

No idea how my dad gets it working.

[ July 15, 2004, 01:24: Message edited by: narf poit chez BOOM ]

[Suicide Junkie]

"I no longer can access information on the win2k system."

Do you mean it is a one-way problem or something else?

[QBrigid]

Won't the XP write your network LAN protocalls to a disk for another System?

[ July 15, 2004, 01:39: Message edited by: QBrigid ]

[Slynky]

I'm probably off base here but this is my thought (and maybe I was similar to your situation):

Before, we had 4 PCs hooked up on the hub for home networking. At that time, we had dial-up (ugh!). But dial-up had nothing to do with the hub.

Then we got cable (same as DSL...just a different "brand").

At this point, a hub, by strict definition, couldn't handle things. So, I replaced it with a router. One port on the router connects to the cable (or in your case, DSL). The other ports connect to the PCs to share the DSL connection.

So, all our PCs have broadband access AND connectivity to each other.

Does this help any?

[Atrocities]

Originally posted by Suicide Junkie:
"I no longer can access information on the win2k system."

Do you mean it is a one-way problem or something else?

Two way. Before I could access info from either machine. Now I cannot. I think it has to do with the hub also acting as the ISP interface. IE both machines wired into it, and it into the Modem.

Also both PC do have access to the internet independantly of one another.

[ July 15, 2004, 02:30: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

[Atrocities]

Since I have a wireless enabled DSL modem, it is possible, however unlikely, that it acts as the the hub thereby negating the D-Link hub.

However when I disconnected the DSL from the Hub, and switched it back, I still was unable to establish a machine to machine connection.

What I am attempting to do is set up the machines to play head to head. I am rebuilding an older PC to use with these two machines that will function as a server. (Win2k) So I will have a Win2k PC, An XP pc, and a Win2k server.

Now I have no experience in this, however, now that I think of it, I do know someone who is IT certified.... I should call my friend and have him call him.

The other option is to buy a wireless adaptors for both machines.

I simply do not know what the problem is, but I wish I could fix it. The Blue box needs a new floppy drive. So much for Teac being top of the line.

With that I shall try the network disk that XP made and see if that works.

[Starcrusade]

Okay, first of all a hub can network a DSL based internet enviroment assuming it has an uplink option (old hubs you have to push the button but new ones do it automatically), However I would never suggest you buy a hub unless you have a specific reason for it.

Try pinging the other computers IP address from the command prompt. If it works you know the computers can communicate but that there is something else that is not letting them see eachother.
If they can ping eachother check to make sure they are in the same subnet ("ipconfig /all" at the command prompt)
If there is an issue with the subnet there are three options:
1. call your ISP and request that you get ip addresses in the same subnet (never tried this so I don't know if it works)
2. Install a second network card in the XP machine and run the DSL straight into it and share it through the hub with the 2000 machine (it can be done the other way around but XP has a very nice and easy to use wizard)
3. Buy a router, most home routers will run a DHCP services thus providing you with a proper subnet (This also adds a second layer of security as routers block access to computers, unless they themselves are compromised)

My guess would be that the subnets are the problem but a couple other things to check are:
Drivers (get the manufacturer's drivers not microsofts)
WorkGroups (I don't think this is a problem in XP and 2000 but in the old 9X systems I don't think you could see other workGroups)
Try different ports on the hub, I have had ports on hubs go out before (it got all the way down to where only one of them worked, still don't know which )

That's just my thoughts, someone with more knowledge could tell you more exactly but this should get you started at least.


..... Oh and any changes you make you will most likely have to restart (including removing the DSL)

[ July 15, 2004, 03:42: Message edited by: Starcrusade ]

[Fyron]

Basically, the problem is that you have a PC running XP... it really screws with networks. Good luck getting it to see the 2k computer! Make sure to kill the built-in XP firewall. It is wholey useless in any practical situation. All that it does is give you a huge headache trying to get networks running... you can disable it in the properties of the connection used in Network Connections. I believe it is in the Last tab.

As Starcrusade alluded to, you can not use mutliple PCs on the same internet connection through a hub. You must have a router (most routers have a hub or a switch built in). And no, having 2 separate connections with different IP addresses to DSL does not count...

I suggest using a build of linux as the server, rather than win2k server. There are some builds designed specifically to be used on PCs set up as routers. No need to buy an actual router, just a second network card for the comp to turn into a router. It can also act as a web server, mail server, print server, etc.

[ July 15, 2004, 05:48: Message edited by: Imperator Fyron ]

[Atrocities]

I have the Actiontech 54meg wireless DSL modem. Both PC's are accessing the internet simutaniously through the D-Link hub which is connected to the DSL modem.

Thanks for the info guys. I think I will invest in a router or two wireless cards later this week and go directly through the Modem.