Help appreciated. Adding a hub to a client on the server. Hub will be used to connect the client and a print server.

[Jwyatt]

Heres the deal.

Server is running NT3.5 (i think) Nt something.

Between the server and all the clients is a kingston EtheRx Pro-Series KND810TX. The site shows it as a 10/100 auto negotiating hub.

The problem is the person who set the network up setup this clients printer to share between the 5 other clients on the network. When this person isnt logged in or inactive for a period of time the network boots it off making the printer not accessible.

I had a linksys 4port switch and a spare HP print server. I thought thats simple enuff. Ill just put the switch and the server there and let the DHCP assign the correct address however When i connected the hub and the print server niether the client or the server was on the network. Printing a test page from the printserver to the printer showed the ip of 0.0.0.0 which tells me it didnt see the network. Same for the client. Was unable to access the network.

Is the problem the switch behind the hub? Will a hub work instead of going with a switch?
What device or devices do I need to install a print server on the network for all computers to use.

Another thing, which i dont think effects anything, but the original guy that set everything up told them the new computer using winXP wasnt able to play nice with the network and would have to have Win98 loaded. I disabled the firewall to get the propriatary program they were trying to use to work the way it should on the XP machine.

On this network is 3 WIndows95 and 2 win98 computers and one XP machine. As well as the server running some form of NT.

Any help is appreciated.

THanks

 

[reicherb]

There is no reason what you are describing shouldn't work. Your problem may be the cable between the hub and the switch. If neither device has an uplink port, you will need a crossover cable.

You will also need software to program the print server. I believe it's called HP Network Printer Install.. something like that, or you may be able to telnet into it but not if it's got 0.0.0.0 as an address.

You wil probably get a bunch of responses about why a switch is better, which it is, and why should get one, but your network is small enough that you probably won't even notice a difference.

 

[Jwyatt]

I tried a switch on there. I didnt try using the uplink port on it though. Using the uplink port will i need to make the cable a crossover cable?

When i connected it i just plugged the switch into into existing port that was at the desk. Then plugged the computer into another port and the print server to another. I might have screwed up, but didnt want to look like i dont know what im doing

So, what your saying is on the linksys switch i should connect the uplink port to the existing connection that came to the computer. Then connect the computer and the print server to port 1 and 2?

 

[Jwyatt]

I do have the software to set the printserver up. Just didnt have a lan connection to do so.

 

[Jwyatt]

Ok. I just setup the switch and server on my network. I didnt use the uplink port to connect when I was there....GRRR. its an hour and half travel, but oh well. I just wont tell em that i screwed UP!

Thanks for the help

 

[Jwyatt]

I guess my biggest consearn was using a switch behind the hub. DIdnt know if there was a problem doing so. My home network doesnt have a hub then switch. Its all on a router/switch combo.


NEF

 

[reicherb]

The hub and switch combo really menas nothing. A switch is just a slightly smarter hub.

When you connect a hub to another hub or to a switch, you need to either use a crossover cable or the uplink port on one of the devices. The uplink port effectively crosses the cable.

In your case, plug the cable into the hub and into the uplink of the switch and then the server, printer server, and whatever else into the switch.

Give that a shot.