Home network question, 2 cards in 1 PC?
Discussion
Setting up a small home network. Have 2 PCs and a laptop. 1 PC has windows 2000 server on it (old PC 366MHz). Other PC has XP likewise Laptop.
Want Server to act as web server, and other two connect to internet via it.
Can I put 2 network cards in the server, rather than using a hub.
AND
If I can can I still transfer files from laptop to XP computer via server.
Helpful advice gratefully received.
Want Server to act as web server, and other two connect to internet via it.
Can I put 2 network cards in the server, rather than using a hub.
AND
If I can can I still transfer files from laptop to XP computer via server.
Helpful advice gratefully received.
It will work; it's what we used to do at uni, until we got a router.
Be warned though - one computer we had as a server was absolutley rubbish and killed the connection whenever the owner played Championship Manager!
I'll let someone who knows what they're talking about explain how to set it up.
Be warned though - one computer we had as a server was absolutley rubbish and killed the connection whenever the owner played Championship Manager!
I'll let someone who knows what they're talking about explain how to set it up.
fluffy said:
Setting up a small home network. Have 2 PCs and a laptop. 1 PC has windows 2000 server on it (old PC 366MHz). Other PC has XP likewise Laptop.
Want Server to act as web server, and other two connect to internet via it.
Can I put 2 network cards in the server, rather than using a hub.
AND
If I can can I still transfer files from laptop to XP computer via server.
Helpful advice gratefully received.
Win2k server can route traffic to the Internet or NAT it, but you'll need some decent firewall software on the server to prevent attacks on it. You can transfer files directly between the XP machine and laptop, even if you use 2 NIC's in the server rather than a hub.
However, 2 NIC's will complicate the solution and I would avoid it if possible. Hubs are relatively cheap.
You probably don't want the server to be a web server, but if you did you'd need to install IIS 5.0 which is a component of the OS.
The easiest way to do all of this is to use the Internet Connection Sharing wizard (see help file on the Windows 2000 Server). It pretty much walks you through the config
DJ
>> Edited by _DJ_ on Tuesday 27th January 20:44
>> Edited by _DJ_ on Tuesday 27th January 20:44
Nope, ICS will be fine assuming the one NIC is for the home PC and laptop, and the other is to connect to the internet via broadband or the like.
On the internet NIC, disable windows filesharing and NETBios over TCP/IP for that added security, but get a firewall sorted. If you're using ICS you really want to get ZoneAlarm PRO, which supports it (the freebie one doesn't do so well
).
Your internet NIC will get it's IP via DHCP, and Windows 2000/XP will them automagically assign the 192.168.0.1 address to the other card - and all machines on the LAN NIC will get assigned IP addresses by the server.
It's relatively fuss free on 2k/XP, just read the directions/help - but setting up routing on WinNT is a bit more fun
Ofcourse, if you mean two NICs for each machine and internet connection via a modem or something, then you're not going to have much luck with ICS and will have to muck around with routing tables. And that's a longer topic than I'm willing to rattle on about here
Cheers,
Dan
>> Edited by brumster on Tuesday 27th January 22:30
>> Edited by brumster on Tuesday 27th January 22:31
On the internet NIC, disable windows filesharing and NETBios over TCP/IP for that added security, but get a firewall sorted. If you're using ICS you really want to get ZoneAlarm PRO, which supports it (the freebie one doesn't do so well
). Your internet NIC will get it's IP via DHCP, and Windows 2000/XP will them automagically assign the 192.168.0.1 address to the other card - and all machines on the LAN NIC will get assigned IP addresses by the server.
It's relatively fuss free on 2k/XP, just read the directions/help - but setting up routing on WinNT is a bit more fun
Ofcourse, if you mean two NICs for each machine and internet connection via a modem or something, then you're not going to have much luck with ICS and will have to muck around with routing tables. And that's a longer topic than I'm willing to rattle on about here
Cheers,
Dan
>> Edited by brumster on Tuesday 27th January 22:30
>> Edited by brumster on Tuesday 27th January 22:31
If I understand this correctly, you'll be connecting to the server (with 2xNICs) using crossover cables?
Be aware that each NIC will have it's own IP address, so you might find that each connecting machines needs to address the server with the corresponding IP address.
I might be wrong on all of the above, I've never thought to set anything up in this way. Hubs (and switches) are dirt cheap these days; I'd just get one of those.
Be aware that each NIC will have it's own IP address, so you might find that each connecting machines needs to address the server with the corresponding IP address.
I might be wrong on all of the above, I've never thought to set anything up in this way. Hubs (and switches) are dirt cheap these days; I'd just get one of those.
brumster said:
Nope, ICS will be fine assuming the one NIC is for the home PC and laptop, and the other is to connect to the internet via broadband or the like.
Dan,
Re-read the original post. He wants to install 2 NIC's in the server and connect the 2 workstations with crossover cables to each NIC. Each NIC will need to be on its own subnet unless you want to use host routes in the routing table of the server. As that's a complete mess, you'll need 2 subnets thus ICS won't work.
I suppose what we need to know is how the 'server' machine connects to the Internet.
DJ
glyder said:
give the two nic cards different ip addresses on the same range using the same subnet mask, as for the server i would probably use lynix as the pc to use this does not have to be powerfull and you can get gui front ends that look like windows
OK, then how does the server know how to route traffic for the 2 workstations? As I said earlier, you could use host specific static routes on the server, and routes on each client to the other client. You also need to work out how to get broadcasts to work, or at the very least sort out a name resolution service on the server.
I think the point I'm trying to make is
BUY A HUB, DO NOT TRY AND BE CLEVER BY USING 2 NICS, IT'S JUST NOT THAT SIMPLE Edited to add: I presume you mean Linux (rather than Lynx the web browser). This is getting more daft by the minute. Someone how asks how to setup routing via a home PC is not going to want to change OS's for the simple purpose of routing traffic. It's fine as it is, no need to scrap the setup and start again.
>> Edited by _DJ_ on Wednesday 28th January 09:17
OK really getting 
now, many thanks for all the comments.
Basically in simple terms, I have a number of network cards already.
I have 2 PCs and a laptop.
I want one PC to be a web server.
The other to do my work on and surf the web.
The laptop to transfer my work to and from this PC and occasionally connect to the web.
I Know a hub is the best way, but was wondering if this way was feasible.
Anyway, will try it and let you know how I get on.
Cheers for all the help so far.
If I don't get back in the next few days you'll know I screwed everything up.
now, many thanks for all the comments. Basically in simple terms, I have a number of network cards already.
I have 2 PCs and a laptop.
I want one PC to be a web server.
The other to do my work on and surf the web.
The laptop to transfer my work to and from this PC and occasionally connect to the web.
I Know a hub is the best way, but was wondering if this way was feasible.
Anyway, will try it and let you know how I get on.
Cheers for all the help so far.
If I don't get back in the next few days you'll know I screwed everything up.
fluffy said:
OK really getting
Basically in simple terms, I have a number of network cards already.
I have 2 PCs and a laptop.
I want one PC to be a web server.
The other to do my work on and surf the web.
The laptop to transfer my work to and from this PC and occasionally connect to the web.
I Know a hub is the best way, but was wondering if this way was feasible.
Anyway, will try it and let you know how I get on.
Cheers for all the help so far.
If I don't get back in the next few days you'll know I screwed everything up.
yep can be done easily through MS ICS
setup internet on one card run the wizard for ics and follow instructions and it should setup network for you.
but you will need a crossover cable for connecting to network card(2) to the laptop
steve
Some partial success.
Server can see both machines.
Problem
laptop can only see Server.
Main machine can only see server.
internet still works.
usb card doesnt work in server.
server won't connect to internet via main.
cables are a nice blue colour.
They match the throbbing vein in my forehead.
Think I'll look at getting a hub.
Server can see both machines.
Problem
laptop can only see Server.
Main machine can only see server.
internet still works. usb card doesnt work in server. server won't connect to internet via main. cables are a nice blue colour. They match the throbbing vein in my forehead. Think I'll look at getting a hub.
fluffy said:
Some partial success.
Server can see both machines.
Problem
laptop can only see Server.
Main machine can only see server.
Think I'll look at getting a hub.
OK....the reason that the machines cannot 'see' each other is because:
1) the server isn't routing the packets
2) the default gateway is not set on the other machines.
DJ
Got it working now (sort of)
Server now connects to internet through Main. (via usb modem)
Behind firewall (XP) allowing web server through pointing to "Server")
Laptop now connects direct to Main but not internet.
Laptop doesn't need to connect to Server.
nearly Happy Chappy
Thanks for all the help.
(technical language a bit confusing though)
>> Edited by fluffy on Thursday 29th January 11:51
Server now connects to internet through Main. (via usb modem)
Behind firewall (XP) allowing web server through pointing to "Server")
Laptop now connects direct to Main
but not internet. Laptop doesn't need to connect to Server.
nearly Happy Chappy
Thanks for all the help.
(technical language a bit confusing though)
>> Edited by fluffy on Thursday 29th January 11:51
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