Trying to set up a network - frustrated, ideas?

[Wickerman]

I got broadband, I got a router, I got cable on two machines. How do I get them to read each other? I want to share printers, files, etc. Anyone point to a good tuturial - one for someone who apparently has a pretty low computer IQ?

thanks,

LB

[Wonk]

1. What OS? Windows, I assume? nt

[Wickerman]

2. oh yeah

windows98

[leftofthedial]

3. sell those machines and buy a couple of Macs running OS X

It'll be easy and work better after that.

[Wickerman]

4. thanks for the help

but not gonna work for this afternoon

[Wonk]

5. I don't do Windows, but I found this with a quick google.

http://www.dslreports.com/faq/networking

Maybe that'll help.

http://www.google.com/search?q=%22Windows+98%22+LAN+cable+networking

[Wickerman]

6. thanks Wonk!

looks like I can get something usefull there!

[DS1]

14. sigh, that stopped being cute last year

:eyes:

[cally]

7. Whatever brand your router is

check out the website. I found detailed instructions online and even a help number. I was able to set one up.

[Wickerman]

8. cool, will try that!

[DBoon]

9. Try google for "home network" and "internet"

I think there is a dummy's book on home networking as well.

Basic stuff:
- Router should do Network Address Translation (NAT) for your inside machines. Means you look like to the Internet address x.x.x.x while inside you are really y.y.y.1, y.y.y.2, etc. The y's are something you make up, by convention either 10.y.y.y or 192.168.y.y

- DHCP. Do you want the router to automatically assign IP addresses? It sounds convenient, but I forgo this. For a small home network, you are better off using static IP addresses.

- Lastly, your home machines should use the inside address of the router as their default gateway.

[Bozola]

10. Statis IP, yep

yep that's what I prefer, especially since I have a number of servers behind a firewall.

Here's a simple setup:


(damn, on edit, what I called the subnet is actually the "subnet mask")

The non-routable part is 192.168.xxx.xxx

The SUBNET part is 192.168.1.xxx

The unique address for a SPECIFIC computer on the subnet is 192.168.1.20


Rule: you must use a non-routable address. 192.168.xxx.xxx is the most common.

In your case, your computers MUST BE ON THE SAME SUBNET. If you use 1, then they all must be set to 1.

Make sure that they all use the same subnet mask (255.255.255.0) is the easiest.

[LTR]

11. Easy way to share files

http://www.foldershare.com/

Nice little prog.

Not sure how to network to run printers, etc. I just set up my router, and still haven't figured the rest out.

But if you want to transfer files between computers, Folder Share is excellent! And outrageously simple. Works like a file sharing program.

The next easiest way is to email between computers (aka the idiot's way).

[Nlighten1]

12. Any luck yet?

Do you have a linksys router?

[Wickerman]

13. I have a D-Link router

No, I had to take a bit of a break, eat, put the kids to bed.Am goig to start back on the suggestions of DBoon and Bozola in a sec.

thanks for checking in and to everyone who has offered suggestions.

[Bozola]

15. If you've got the new Linksys Cable/DSL router

Full Blown Docs
ftp://ftp.linksys.com/pdf/befsr41V3_ug.pdf

Here's the one you want with Win98 instructions:
ftp://ftp.linksys.com/qinstalls/befsr41V3_fs.pdf

It looks pretty easy to setup with DHCP according to these docs.


(on edit)....

ah D-link...I'll assume a Di604 4 port ethernet dsl router.

http://support.dlink.com/Products/view.asp?productid=DI-604#qig