Home Network - Forcing network traffic (for lack of a better title). Read on...

[beer]

OK. My home network is configured as such:

4 computers:

SWITCH:
3 current connections -
DSL (into uplink port)
JOEYSROOM
WEBSERVER

The DSL line gives DHCP addresses to both Joeysroom and Webserver. In essense I have two DHCP addresses and both computer are connected directly to the Net.

SERVER (WEBSERVER):
2 network cards -
Linksys PNA - 192.168.0.1
Linksys Ethernet - DHCP plugged into switch

JOEYSROOM:
Linksys Ethernet - DHCP going into switch

LIVINGROOM:
Linksys PNA going into Webserver. DHCP address given by webserver. It gains Internet connectivity through Win2K NAT software.

MATTROOM:
Same config as above (Linksys PNA, DHCP addy given by webserver, uses NAT to get net access).

I had Joeysroom on both Ethernet and PNA before but I had to free up an extra PCI slot so I yanked the PNA card; everything works fine except that I want to force JOEYSROOM to get a DHCP address from WEBSERVER and hop over to Webserver before it gets out to the net. This is for security, and it saves me from having to set up two software firewalls.

The DHCP-subnet of my DSL is 255.255.248.0. The DHCP address is typically in the 4.3.169.xxx range. Is there any way I can force JOEYSROOM to travel through WEBSERVER first?

 

[ChicagoMaroon]

Drop another ethernet card into WEBSERVER (this card will only have an internal IP; i.e. 192.168.0.x or 10.0.0.x). Give JOEY an internal only IP address and have it access the net with NAT (WEBSERVER) over the new ethernet interface.

 

[beer]

Tried it.

Win2K NAT will only enable Internet sharing only one connection....which in my case is the PNA

 

[ChicagoMaroon]

1) Buy a router; or
2) Get real NAT software, not Win ICS

 

[beer]

What type of NAT software would you recommend?

 

[Sukhoi]

Why can't you just pull the ethernet card out of Joey's computer, put the PNA card back in, and have it go through your web server like all your other computers?

 

[beer]

Need the Ethernet card for LAN parties, etc.

 

[cavingjan]

How about leave in the PNA card and pull that and install the NIC for LAN parties? How often do you go to LAN parties?
If that is not the case, manually give that computer an IP address in the range that you use for the DHCP from the server (blocking that address off from the pool so it does not give your address out to another computer) and list the server as the gateway. Otherwise it will go for the first DHCP server it can find and it appears it finds the modem first.