If you can solve this network problem, i salute you

[lostatlantis]

ok here's my bizarre problem. I've two desktops and one laptop.

desktop #1 - WinXP Pro, P3 800+ (varies from overclocking and mood hehe), 512MB RAM, has three NICs (10Mbps NIC for road runner, 100Mbps NIC for laptop, a Netgear Pa301 Phoneline 10Mbps HPNA 2.0 NIC for desktop #2)


desktop #2 - WinME, K6-2 550, 224MB RAM, only has one NIC (Netgear Pa301 phoneline NIC to desktop #1)


laptop - the system i carry off to college; dell inspiron 8000; WinXP Pro, P3 800, 512MB RAM, 100Mbps ethernet, connected to desktop #1 via crossover



my goal: set it up so when I leave, my two computers can talk to each other perfectly, sharing resources and road runner connection; when I am home, all i need to do is plug in my laptop via crossover cable to desktop #1, and the laptop joins in and shares all the resources.


current situation: right now, on desktop #1 running WinXP Pro, I have the NIC#1 connected to road runner and that's working fine. I've bridged the netgear phoneline 10Mbps NIC with NIC #2, which is 100Mbps. When all three machines are connected, everything works fine!

my problem: But, when the laptop isn't connected, which will be the case when I leave home again this weekend, the phoneline NIC won't stay connected. I.E., it would show connection, then red X and just randomly connect on and off. BUT, if I take the phoneline NIC out of the bridge setup and disable the bridge, a stable connection results. Why can't it stay connected under the bridge? Now, if it's my laptop connected and desktop #2 w/phoneline NOT connected, everything still works fine.

I've tried to word this as clear as possible, but i realize it's pretty complicated. So all you network wiz out there, give me some help and ask for any clarification that you need, alright?

thanks in advance!!!

 

[Sahakiel]

Might have better responses in another forum, but here's my try.
Setup Internet Connection Sharing on Desktop #1 (the one with WinXP Pro) to use 10-baseT connection to access roadrunner.
Use DHCP on your laptop.
Use DHCP on desktop #2.
Don't bridge any NIC's.

Second solution: Same as above, but use HPNA on your laptop.

 

[rimshaker]

I smell another thread lock, but anyway....

I also suggest using Internet Connection Sharing as a simple solution from desktop#1. I'm sure most of the weird problems stem from using 3 separate NIC's in a single system. You should only need 2 at most, and then branch out using a small switch or hub. Then you don't need to worry about using crossover cables too. My home network sounds like yours except i have 3 desktops and 1 laptop. I can plug my laptop into my 5-port switch at anytime, and disconnect w/o any problems. WinXP should setup ICS fairly easily, and everything is set to use DHCP.