Ethernet confusion for home networking

[Stormweasel]

Hello,

I'm looking to network two home computers (not related strictly to multiboxing, they're not both being used for it, just trying to get internet shared on my boxing PC)

The PC acting as the server is connected to the broadband modem thingie by USB (NOT Ethernet).

I need to buy an ethernet card for the second PC which I will do later on today assuming I'm correct in the following understanding:

The server PC only has one ethernet card in it and as it's not my PC I'm not in a position to stick in an extra ethernet card. Everthing I've read on the internet says you need TWO ethernet cards in the server PC, one for the broadband to come in, one for it to go out to the clent PC.

However, as the internet connects by USB to the server PC, does that mean I can just run an RJ45 connection between the server PC's single ethernet card and the second PC's ethernet. And then just run Internet Connection Sharing?

/sits in the corner with a puzzled expression...

[dirjax]

you are thinking right

your usb is functionning as a second network card.
you will have to get either a small switch or.. if you will only get a second computer and not more, a twisted UTP cable. (with a normal cable between the computers you won't get them to talk to each other)
on the "server" you will have to "bridge" the network cards, but that shouldn't be too much of a hastle.

[Stormweasel]

you are thinking right

your usb is functionning as a second network card.
you will have to get either a small switch or.. if you will only get a second computer and not more, a twisted UTP cable. (with a normal cable between the computers you won't get them to talk to each other)
on the "server" you will have to "bridge" the network cards, but that shouldn't be too much of a hastle.

OK thanks Dirjax. So if do the following:

Buy and install an ethernet card for my gaming PC
Run a CAT5 RJ45 cable between the two ethernet cards
Configure ICS for the two machines
Have the server computer on when I want to use the second PC

Then I should be laughing?

I've not heard of the term UTP cable before, is that the RJ45 cable I'm thinking of?

[Wilbur]

Crossover cable.

Basically when you connect PC ---> Switch the switch handles the crossover. Now Tx and Rx are going to respectively the wrong wires, which is why you need to use a special cable :)

[Stormweasel]

Cheers,

Well, nothing ventured, nothing gained. I'm off to the hardware store to get the NIC and cable.

[sojolly]

You will see much better performance from an ethernet switch approach versus an internet sharing approach. Upgrade from the usb connection to the first computer to a RJ45 connection via a gigE switch. Then connect the second computer to the gigE switch. The gigE switch will make local file sharing amazingly fast and will significantly speed up applications like Kavoom.

I have:
Cable modem connected to 802.11G enabled Wireless router connected to a gigE local switch.

Sojolly

[Stormweasel]

Unfortunately I'm not in a position to make any hardware changes to this internet connection or the host machine.

I went out and bought and installed everything and getting problems as I expected!

Ethernet card is successfully installed on the client machine and drivers are up to date.

Running between the two cards is a CAT 5 Crossover cable with RJ45 connections. On both cards,
the light is on to indicate they're working correctly.

Server Machine

I can see the client machine under My Network Places. I put a music file into the Shared
Folder and can access that no problem.

The connection settings for the server read as:

Local Area Connection
LAN or High Speed Internet
Connected, Firewalled
Broadcom 440x 10/100
Integrated Controller

IP Address: 192.168.0.1
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
Manually Configured


Client Machine

Under My Network Places I *cannot* see any shared files or even the server computer name

The connection settings are:

Local Area Connection
Lan or High Speed Internet
Connected, Firewalled
Realtek RT8139 Family PCI
Fast Ethernet NIC

IP Address: 192.168.0.94
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
Assigned by DHCP
IPv6 Enabled

Windows, of course, tells me there is no problem with the connect!

I really don't know where to start with this, can anyone help? There's obviously some connection going on here or the server wouldn't be able to see the client.

[Wilbur]

On the slave make sure your DNS server points to 192.168.0.1

[Stormweasel]

OK on the TCPIP section I changed it manually to the following settings

IP Address 192.168.0.57
Subnet Mask 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway (blank)

Preferred DNS Server 192.168.0.1
Alternate DNS Server (blank)

Still doesn't work

The annoying thing is that on the host I can go to Start > Run and type in \\192.168.0.57 and up pops the other computers accessible folders

If I try and do the same with \\192.168.0.1 from the client, nothing, hangs for ages then says it can't be found.

So they're definitely talking to each other it just seems to be a one way conversation.....

[Caspian]

you need a default gateway. I am not familiar with windows and especially the USB connection. But you want to copy the DNS, and probably gatway settings from the server PC to the gaming PC I would think. 192.168.0.1 *might* not be correct. You can also open a command window and type


ping 192.168.0.255

This is the broadcast address your your network. Anything listening *should* respond back. That would most likely be your DNS and default gateway.


Though the server PC might be your gateway, depends on how ICS really works. I guess if one doesn't work try the other.

good luck.

[Stormweasel]

Cheers,

If I ping that address on either machine I get no response, it times out.

On the server machine only the IP address and the Subnet mask are filled out, everything else is blank. This is for the Local Area Connection.

For the actual Broadband setup, it's set to Obtain an IP Address automatically. Ditto for the DNS. There's no details to copy.

What a bummer :(

[Stormweasel]

AMMAGAWD, AMMAGAWD!!

It works!

Guess what it was given how thick I sound in this thread?

Any guesses.......?















The McAfee firewall on the host computer was blocking the incoming request from the client

/cough

[dirjax]

grats... and enjoy :)

[Wilbur]

a definate facepalm moment.

[Caspian]

always something stupid, glad you got it figured out :)

[Stormweasel]

Jesus Christ, never goes simply does it?

Anyway, I now have two problems with our Tiscali connection.

First, when I try to connect the broadband I get a message saying: "There is no dial tone"

Then we get the following message:

"Warning! Insufficient bandwidth.

Other applications currently occupy the bandwidth. Please close all other
applicatons, then remove the other USB devices. Click OK to continue"

(The second networked PC is not switched on or even connected by the ethernet cable - all unplugged)

However, just to confuse things, sometimes it magically connects for no apparent reason (without a restart) but rather than being 2.3MPS, it's throttled down to 64kbps.

Or it just fails to connect ever.

I am baffled and Google's not giving me much to go on. Anyone got any ideas?