Can't get two NICs working in Win98

[ProtoCube]

OK, here's the setup: we have three computers on our home network. Mine has two NICs, one to connect to each of the other two computers. (My computer is also hooked up to a cable modem via USB, and I'm sharing our Net connection with Wingate.) Everything was working fine like this before.

I just put together a new computer for myself, and I can't get two NICs to work in it at the same time. I can install one and it works fine, but when I put the second one in, it appears fine in device manager, and I've got link lights, but the computer it connects to doesn't show up in network neighborhood, nor can I ping it or access it by typing in it's UNC name, and I can't access my computer from it either.

Either NIC works fine by itself, or if it's the first one I install in my system, and I've tried different combinations of NICs, and different PCI slots to no avail. All three computers are running Win98, and mine is a fresh install on a brand new system. The other computers' NICs are working fine, as I can connect to either of them with the NIC that's working in mine. I have TCP/IP on the NICs in my system set to 192.168.0.1 and 192.168.0.3, and the other computers set to ...2 and ...4.

Any help would me much appreciated!

 

[rw120555]

Would life be simpler if, instead of having all these NICs, you just had a switch?

Is this the setup: USB cable modem connects to 2 NIC machine (Machine A) , 2 NIC machine (A) connects to a 1 NIC (B) and new 2 NIC machine (C), and the 2nd 2 NIC Machine (C) connects to another 1 NIC Machine (D)?

If so, I'm thinking, in Machine C (the new 2 NIC machine) you may want/need to bridge the 2 network connections, i.e. the 2 ethernet cards. In WinXP, you would go into Network Connections, select both ethernet networks, right click, choose bridge. As things now stand, Machine C is part of 2 separate networks that can't communicate with each other; once you brdige them, they can. I don't know how to do bridging in Win98 though, or whether it even can be done.

It may be I don't understand your setup. But in any event, it seems simplest to me to just get a cheap switch or hub than to fool around with all these nics. If you can clarify the setup, maybe I can revise my advice. Good luck.

 

[ProtoCube]

Actually there's only 3 machines: machine A (with the cable modem and 2 nics) is new but simply replaced the old one - everything's in the same configuration as it was before when it worked, except that machine A is new. So machine A just connects to machines B and C.

I'll get a switch or hub if I have to, I'm just perplexed that it isn't working on the new machine the same way it was on the old one. As for bridging, it wasn't nessesary before - machines B and C could see machine A, but not each other - which is ok for my purposes.

 

[JackMDS]

Your new machine probably can not organize the IRQ; thus two NICs conflict, and don?t work.

Read the new computer Motherboard manual, and see if you can play with the IRQs, and preset manually.

BTW: Your choice of Network configuration, and sharing, is probably the ?worst? choice possible.

You have many better options:

1. Get rid of the USB Cable Modem, you can Ethernet Cable Modem in a sale for less then $50, get a Cable/DSL Router ($50), and for $100 you have the best.

2. Or, get Cable/DSL USB Router (a little more expensive $125).

3. Or, get a Hub (you can find one for $10-$15), and get rid of all the double NICs tricks.

 

[rw120555]

Well, that does sound odd then. Are any IRQ conflicts showing up in device manager? Are you sure you've configured the software exactly as it was before? You've got the IP addresses right on the new machine? New computer has the same name and workgroup as the old computer? My guess is it is either IRQ conflicts or you are doing something slightly different than before. Your software might offer help on this. These sorts of problems can drive you crazy, I know. Good luck.

 

[ProtoCube]

My cable modem does have ethernet - I've only got it on USB so I can connect the other computers to the two NICs. I realize it's kind of a lousy setup, though it worked ok before. There don't seem to be any IRQ problems - I've tried different slots and all I've got in there so far are the two NICs and an SBLive.

Oh well, I think I'll just pick up a router and let the 2 NICs problem remain a mystery. Thanks guys.

 

[rw120555]

I had an ICS-type solution and switched to a router and there was a vast improvement in performance. Plus, in your case, there is all the aggravation involved with your current setup. If money is the issue you can buy a cheapie hub, but in the long run I think you'll be happier with a router. It'll certainly make your life simpler if you ever want to add more machines or add a wireless WAP to it. Hope you are happy with whatever you wind up with.

 

[ProtoCube]

Yeah, I decided to go for it and ordered a Linksys router from NewEgg, so I should be fixed up - thanks.