Need quick answers for a networking job this afternoon: 3 node LAN, router, no Internet

[StattlichPassat]

Hey guys, I know this belongs in the Networking forum, but I need more than 1 answer in the next hour. I'm networking a sorority house 200 miles north this afternoon (WHOOP!), but the catch is that they don't have the cable internet activated yet, and those guys can't come out until next week. Question: Is it still possible to network 3 computers over an SMC Barricade 4-port router so they can at least share files? They should all be Windows98...

 

[TallBill]

ouch.. win98.. have fun with that.. you want a foursome? bring copies of xp

 

[StattlichPassat]

Lol... seriously here guys.

 

[iamwiz82]

win98 is a pain in the ass. I'd rather network 3.1 and DOS. Good luck. BTW, it can be done, I suggest going to practicallynetworked.com and reading/printing out their win98 stuff.

 

[vi edit]

Workgroup them, and set up dhcp.

It'll work like a normal hub/switch.

 

[iamwiz82]

bTW, do you know if their broadband provider will like coming out and seeing multiple PCs on one connection?

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
bTW, do you know if their broadband provider will like coming out and seeing multiple PCs on one connection?

im guessing probably not!

 

[StattlichPassat]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Workgroup them, and set up dhcp.

It'll work like a normal hub/switch.

Can I hook it up just like a switch without installing the router software on all the computers and have it work 'just as a switch'? Because basically that's all it needs to do for 2 weeks. HOWEVER, I probably will not be able to come back out to finish the job in two weeks and will have to step this friend of mine who lives in that house over it over the phone. What will cause minimal frustration and confusion once the cable service is activated?

 

[ATLien247]

I'm unfamiliar with that particular router. But I think you will need a hub or switch to plug into that router.

Other than that, all you need to worry about is setting up TCP/IP, or one of the other less savory protocols.

 

[StattlichPassat]

Originally posted by: bob970

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
bTW, do you know if their broadband provider will like coming out and seeing multiple PCs on one connection?

im guessing probably not!

I don't want to get into this, but it's not like it's illegal. What are they going to do?

 

[iamwiz82]

the router will do the routing, there shouldnt be any software on the PCs.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: NightFlyerGTI

Originally posted by: bob970

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
bTW, do you know if their broadband provider will like coming out and seeing multiple PCs on one connection?

im guessing probably not!

I don't want to get into this, but it's not like it's illegal. What are they going to do?

yeah, it is illegal, if its in the ISP's TOS.

 

[StattlichPassat]

I'm thinking about just loaning her my D-Link 4-port switch and mailing the SMC Barricade router to her later... I dunno exactly what to do here. It almost sounds like a waste of time and gas to do anything until the cable gets turned on, but she's been expecting me to do this for 3 months (yet I just found out 3 days ago that she doesn't have cable turned on yet), I need a road trip, and she's hot. Damn!

 

[StattlichPassat]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
the router will do the routing, there shouldnt be any software on the PCs.

Oh really? So I'd just have to set up the domain and workgroup stuff on each computer and everything would be gravy?

 

[StattlichPassat]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: NightFlyerGTI

Originally posted by: bob970

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
bTW, do you know if their broadband provider will like coming out and seeing multiple PCs on one connection?

im guessing probably not!

I don't want to get into this, but it's not like it's illegal. What are they going to do?

yeah, it is illegal, if its in the ISP's TOS.

Crikey. I didn't even think about that... what do you think the odds are? I'm not sure what ISP she'll be using. Let's say COX.

 

[lupohki]

The router has a 4 port switch built in, so yeah you can share files with it without having to hook up a net connection.

im guessing probably not!

If she's hot like you said she is, then chances are the guy won't mind.

 

[StattlichPassat]

Ok, I'm supposed to be there in less than 2 hours, it's going to take me 1.5 hours to get there, and I still have to mow the lawn before I go (late start on the day). :disgust: I'll be out mowing for the next 45 minutes- back to read your replies, thoughts and ideas here in a few.

 

[hoihtah]

Originally posted by: NightFlyerGTI

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
the router will do the routing, there shouldnt be any software on the PCs.

Oh really? So I'd just have to set up the domain and workgroup stuff on each computer and everything would be gravy?

nothing is gravy with win98.

is it win98 se or fe?

if it's se, it should have ics built in.
if not... then get ready to troubleshoot.

 

[TallBill]

id say to wait till after the isp gets there... unless u wanna make three trips.. which could work out nice for ya too... one to install the router.. one to uninstall it.. then maybe one more to reinstall it

 

[StattlichPassat]

Originally posted by: lupohki
The router has a 4 port switch built in, so yeah you can share files with it without having to hook up a net connection.

Cool. That's what I thought. Keep 'em comin!

 

[vi edit]

You can just use the router as a switch for the time being. You shouldn't have to install any software on the machines to use it for 'net sharing. All that info is passed along with the DHCP lease. As for the cable modem, the provider will probably just use a USB NIC to hook the modem up to the machine, for use on the one computer. After the tech leaves, just have somebody at the house just unplug the modem from the USB nic and plug a patch cable from the modem into the WAN port of the router. The router should be able to pick up all info it needs via DHCP of the cable modem connection.

 

[djheater]

Originally posted by: NightFlyerGTI

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Workgroup them, and set up dhcp.

It'll work like a normal hub/switch.

Can I hook it up just like a switch without installing the router software on all the computers and have it work 'just as a switch'? Because basically that's all it needs to do for 2 weeks. HOWEVER, I probably will not be able to come back out to finish the job in two weeks and will have to step this friend of mine who lives in that house over it over the phone. What will cause minimal frustration and confusion once the cable service is activated?

The barricade software IIRC is only for creating a network printer.

The baricade is a router/switch/print server

If it were me I would setup network "DROP" folders... a shared folder on each desktop named drop. You could map that as a shared drive even but it's probably easier to just have them navigate through the Network neighborhood folder to find it....

 

[StattlichPassat]

Originally posted by: bob970
id say to wait till after the isp gets there... unless u wanna make three trips.. which could work out nice for ya too... one to install the router.. one to uninstall it.. then maybe one more to reinstall it

This is what I'm thinking (to wait)... I'd just hate to call it off when she's expecting me to call her when I get into town in 2 hours. I guess that'd be no biggie though- I've got gobs of other stuff that need doing around here anyway. What do you think?

 

[iamwiz82]

With Cox, i believe you have to register eac PC with them. I believe they charge per PC.

link

 

[StattlichPassat]

Originally posted by: djheater

Originally posted by: NightFlyerGTI

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Workgroup them, and set up dhcp.

It'll work like a normal hub/switch.

Can I hook it up just like a switch without installing the router software on all the computers and have it work 'just as a switch'? Because basically that's all it needs to do for 2 weeks. HOWEVER, I probably will not be able to come back out to finish the job in two weeks and will have to step this friend of mine who lives in that house over it over the phone. What will cause minimal frustration and confusion once the cable service is activated?

The barricade software IIRC is only for creating a network printer.

The baricade is a router/switch/print server

If it were me I would setup network "DROP" folders... a shared folder on each desktop named drop. You could map that as a shared drive even but it's probably easier to just have them navigate through the Network neighborhood folder to find it....

Good idea. And now that I think about it, the software on the SMC disc was just for print server stuff...