LAN connections?

OK im new to this lan stuff but i want to set one up, I hav two comps i want to lan there using the same internet connection via rounter, so wat do i need to set up thsi lan and wat instructions do i do? thanx

 

Hi,
Not too hard, very basic.
The router is set to DHCP (automatically assigns LAN addresses) and connects to the WWW. It performs Network Address Translation, and is therefore a NAT Firewall.
If all this is setup and functioning (who set it up? Go to ShieldsUp at www.grc.com to test your security exposure) then all you need is a common Workgroup name on both PCs, and File & Print Sharing should 'see' both PCs. WinXP's Simple File Sharing makes it easy (no 'logging-on' is required).
Here is an important resource for you:
http://www.tomsnetworking.com/
You must learn - check it out, and become an expert :^)
L8R

 

You'll need to connect a switch to the router and then connect your pc's to the switch. That way all of your pc's will be able to connect to the internet and to each other.

Just disable DHCP on the router and assign static IP adresses to the pc's (for example 192.168.1.1, 192.168.1.2 etc). Also assign the same workgroup name to all of your computers (choose any name, even "Workgroup" is fine, as long as it's the same on all computers).

In your pc's network properties - IP properties you may also have to set the values for "Primary DNS Server" and "Gateway" to the IP adress of your router.

Maybe it sounds difficult, well it's not. if these settings are made, you're all set.

Please post your results.

 

LoL :^)
Bakbukkem that is very interesting advice...

In my reality, a router IS a switch!

Hmmm... whatever floats yer boat - but why?

It sure is, compared to automatic settings (which work perfectly well).
Buddy is 'new to networking' - why are you trying to teach him the LAN of the 90's?
Moan (~patience~) when you disable DHCP server, you assume personal responsibility for the addressing of each & every host on the workgroup LAN! Duplicate addresses, incorrect subnet masks, inappropriate gateway, DNS server(s), NetBIOS over TCP/IP, etc. etc. all have to be set MANUALLY.
New members CANNOT simply plug in, and be instantly on the LAN and WAN.
This is not good and is to be avoided.
There are some valid reasons for manual configurations but they're pretty unusual in a typical residential LAN...
You both need to learn basic networking fundamentals - when I learned, everything WAS manual.
Believe me when I tell you what a blessing DHCP addressing is :^)

 

A router with built in switch of course eliminates the need for a separate switch. But that wasn't mentioned in the question.

I described the way I set up things on my (home) network, because that works fine. So that is A way of setting up a network that works. One reason I use manually assigned IP adresses is that I have an e-Mule pc on the network, which needs a static ip address.
Luckily it's not THAT difficult to assign an IP address to a new computer on the network ;-)

Of course there are other ways that may also work in some network setups. If you want to use DHCP for some reason, maybe to keep it simple, be my guest ;-)
People who need to keep it as simple as possible, due to a lack of know how, or maybe if anything slightly more complicated than plug and play is too difficult to set up, should of course stick with what they know.

A modem-router-switch all in one may be the perfect solution then.
Then you need no more network "configuration" than plugging in some cables.

Damn..why didn't I think of that when I bought my gear?! :-( ;-)

 

Ahh well I'm sure we're all trying to help each other out on this forum. I know I am. There'll always be different people with different opinions and solutions to a problem or question.

I just hope he gets his network to work, and that we didn't confuse him further, with all our mambo jambo about IP-addresses (static or otherwise), NAT, DHCP, DNS, Gateways, Routers and Switches (which btw are not the same in MY reality) et cetera.

I think we should be careful not to get too caught up in our own discussions and differences of opinions, but to focus on the question.

So you're right ddp; we should not only teach but also learn!