Help with setting up a network in my dorm

[StevenRFrancis]

Well here is the info. I have a laptop and an external drive. The drive failed and western digital is going to send an internal one at my request. This drive is only used for music storage, so I wanted to build a small tower to act as a jukebox, as inexpensive as possible.

So, my college, USC, has an ethernet set up for the internet. However, they automatically block your port if more than one computer is detected on it. So I am trying to find a way around this. The jukebox doesnt need internet, but I wanted it to network with my laptop. My goal is to use windows remote desktop to control the jukebox with my laptop to save the price of a monitor or a graphics card with tv out.

The network needs to be something like this: college ethernet <=> laptop <=> jukebox, but the college ethernet can not "see" the jukebox at all. Any ideas?

THANKS



Two BTW's.
1. My western digital 200gb firewire drive failed again, both times after about 3 months. I think there is a design flaw(s) in the enclosure. It does not have adaquate ventilation so it runs really hot. The case is practically burning. Plus, it is externally powered, so the damn thing never shuts off unless you unplug it. But, if you unplug it the wrong way it can zap the drive too.

2. Anyone have ideas for ultra cheap parts, except for the audio card. So far using some stuff at newegg I came out to around 150 since I dont need the OS or the hard drive

 

[Ionizer86]

Use 2 ports?

In actuality though, what happens if you hook up one router with NAT to the port, then have 2 comps hooked up to it? Doesn't the router block everything behind it, making the one device the only visible one?

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: Ionizer86
Use 2 ports?

In actuality though, what happens if you hook up one router with NAT to the port, then have 2 comps hooked up to it? Doesn't the router block everything behind it, making the one device the only visible one?

Ding ding ding. WinnAr.

Either get a router that will do NAT, grab a Linux box to sit in the way and NAT, or set up one machine as the gateway and leave it on 24/7.

- M4H

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Are you sure about it blocking if more than one computer is deteced? I don't know anything about that college but many times they just say that junk so kids don't go around setting up 10 gaming servers in the school and hog all the internal bandwidth from video games using the network.

 

[StevenRFrancis]

Ok, so I read up on the NAT router and that will solve the problem I think. Anyone know a cheap one? If not I'm gonna have to hope that they were BS'ing.

 

[Jeff7181]

There's a networking forum that might be more helpful.

 

[randomlinh]

you can buy a cheap router that will solve your problems.. $20-$30 after rebate. just be very careful not to plug the internal ports to the school... if you have the dhcp running, you may take down the building

and yes, schools to limit you. we were limited at one comp per student (we have to go thru a registration process). they upped it to two since everyone is on the ps2/xbox gaming train.

 

[dangereuxjeux]

lnguyen, we have to register our network connections to access outside resources (a.k.a. internet). Did you have to do something like this and if so how did you get it to work with your PS2/xbox?

 

[Vinny N]

An alternative to a router since the jukebox doesn't need internet access, would just be to add another NIC to your laptop, and connect it and the jukebox with a crossover ethernet cable and put them on the same private IP range. The laptop will be on college lan and you'll have your personal lan just between the laptop and jukebox.