I think i finally need to get a server....help please

[agg123456789]

ok. I have a network with one mac and about 8 PCs. the whole thing is rather hosed up. when i open network neigbhorhood i cannot see any of the other computers, however when i type in the address of a computer into IE (like //user1/0 i can get right in and use all the network stuff like normal. when i was installing the software to make the mac show up on the PC network i got a clue as to why this may be happening. it tells me that there is no master browser. a quick search on the web told me that the network browser is what keeps track of the machines that are turned on and provides network services to them. anyway i need some advice on what to do. I have a DSL modem acting as the DHCP server for all the machines that i cannot give static IPs to (since my ISP limits the number of static IPs that I can have).

things are a big mess, and i was wondering how i might go about setting up a network that has an actual machine dishing out the IP addresses, or something. I just need this darned thing to get working, and i think i have reached the limits of peer to peer for this combination of computers.


any info links or input would be greatly appreciated. thanks.


agg123456789

EDIT: i think that this is probably in the wrong section... how do i move it....???

 

[Nevo]

<< ok. I have a network with one mac and about 8 PCs. the whole thing is rather hosed up. when i open network neigbhorhood i cannot see any of the other computers, however when i type in the address of a computer into IE (like //user1/0 i can get right in and use all the network stuff like normal. >>


Are all machines members of the same workgroup or domain?


<< when i was installing the software to make the mac show up on the PC network i got a clue as to why this may be happening. it tells me that there is no master browser. a quick search on the web told me that the network browser is what keeps track of the machines that are turned on and provides network services to them. anyway i need some advice on what to do. >>


In a workgroup, all members of the workgroup will automatically elect a browse master. But, you don't really need a browse master if you're on a flat network, I think.


<< I have a DSL modem acting as the DHCP server for all the machines that i cannot give static IPs to (since my ISP limits the number of static IPs that I can have). >>


This is probably not part of the problem. Thanks for including enough info for us to assist, though!


<< things are a big mess, and i was wondering how i might go about setting up a network that has an actual machine dishing out the IP addresses, or something. I just need this darned thing to get working, and i think i have reached the limits of peer to peer for this combination of computers. >>


No, you probably haven't. The first thing to do is ensure that all of your machines are part of the same workgroup or domain, depending on which you're using. If they're all members of the same workgroup, and are all on the same subnet, then something is indeed wrong that we need to troubleshoot.

 

[agg123456789]

they all are on the same subnet and workgroup.... that was the first thing that i checked.

any other thoughts???


thanks


agg123456789

 

[mcveigh]

what are their IP adddress's are they all on the same subnet? i.e. 192.168.0.1 and 192.168.0.59?


get a router and switch to handle that DSL connection

 

[Kill_Phil]

one word, router..

or in two words, linksys router..

in several words, linksys 4 port dsl\cable router.

if you allready have a hub, you can grab a 1 port, but i reccommend the 4 port since its got a built in switch, whitch will inprove network performance.

 

[mcveigh]

he's got 8 pc's plus a mac
so he'll either need the 8port model and leave one out or get a switch or hub. (preferbly a switch)