Multiple TCP/IP Devices on LAN will work? ISDN+Wireless Broadband

[vforge]

Trying to maximize bandwidth by selecting a radio-frequency wireless internet service (SPRINT) for $149/month plus an existing ISDN line at $60/month. Unfortunately my DSL provider is now bankrupt and I have no other service options available in my area.

The wireless service uploads at a max of 256 Kbps (more like 56 if I listen to existing users), but I need at least ISDN speed for outbound file transfer.

Does anyone know if I can have two TCP/IP devices functioning as modems/routers on the same LAN? Can I train the outbound data to travel on the ISDN line and the inbound requests to go through the wireless modem? Will I need some sort of proxy server to manage this?

Any help greatly appreciated.

 

[CTR]

Traffic you send through your ISDN will route back to you via the same link. Ditto for the wireless. Home users just do not have access to the same functionality that carriers have with respect to IP routing.

The part of the link that you DO control is which route your traffic takes out of your LAN to the Internet. You need a device that can choose a route based on type of traffic or destination. Personally I have only dealt with this at a hardware level, but I've seen some software products mentioned on this forum that might be able to help you out.

How many PC's are on your LAN and what OS are they running? Multihoming capabilties are built into some OS's.

 

[vforge]

4 PC's on the LAN...all running WIN98SE. Thinking I might need a server soon for file/print, so if multihoming capabilities are built into Windows2000 or Novell, perhaps that would direct the IP traffic? Thanks.

 

[CTR]

You have to go to win2k adv. server to do routing. I personally would run Novell Netware 5 since I actually got my CNE a couple years ago and I have some licenses sitting around. Pure IP, sweet routing. Better file and print services than windows. If I had my choice, though, I would put in a Cisco 2621 router with and do all the multihoming and policy routing from there. But that's because I also got my CCNA a couple years ago! So you can tell I am biased and hopefully someone else will have some more balanced input for you. Good luck!

 

[xyyz]

hmmm router work... i know this is possible... but i'm not sure about the full details... unfortunately i'm not that far in my CCNA course... but i'll ask my instructor tonite.

you need to build a static route and a router that has two ethernet ports... the router needs to know that all outbound trafic needs to go through one particular IP, in this case the ISDN, which would be connected to one of the ethernet ports and that incomming traffic needs to come through the other port that is connected to the sprint service.

again, i don't know details, but i'll find out tonite...

 

[Tsaico]

Even better than that, you can combine your lines into one! Try going to midpoint.com and learn more about their software. It is pretty cool and somewhat easy to setup. I got a cable modem, dsl line and a 56k modem to combine into one! The program will split traffic according to what is best handled on what line (ie the smaller stuff like text and small pics can travel down the modem line, while larger graphics, flash, and larger stuff goes through your ISDN). It will work with any sort of internet connections. You might have problems with online gaming, but it doesn't sound like a problem for your situation. Either way, good luck!

 

[spidey07]

there is no way in heck that the midpoint software will be able to combine his bandwidth. In order to multihome you need some coordination with your upstream provider and run a routing protocol (BGP). Sure getting it to load balance outbound is very easy. it is the return traffic you can't control. that is based on the source address of you outbound request (dest address on the return)

linkies to some pictures of your layout (beer and napkins) would help

cheers

 

[Tsaico]

Hmmm.... I think it worked... to tell you the truth, because the stuff the modem downloads is so small, I don't know if it really combined the two. I did go to microsoft's connection speed test site, and according to it, my speed was faster by 4.1k (which is what the modem connectes at). So as far as that is concerned, it worked. Still worth a shot.