Network advice for home office LAN

[borgmang]

Here is my situation - I want to set-up a Lan network to share files, printers, and play games internally(Lan party) and Online, as well as share bandwith. I currently have 4 computers - 2 XP Pro desktops and 1 Win2000 and 1 WinMe Laptops, and I also have a Sony PS2 that I would like to fit into this equation.

Right now I have a cable modem and a Linksys 4 port router, and this works fine for internet, but I'm not sure how to setup the internal lan to share files/printers/gaming. The prnters I have are 2 Epson Inkjets, and 1 HP Laser. It would be great to share the scanner as well.

So to make a long story short, what do I need to buy to set this up, and is it better to get a file or a print server. I also would like to eventually go wireless for my 2 laptops, and if possible the Sony PS2.

Oh yeah, I curently also have Verizon DSL that I haven't setup yet that I will be trying for free for 30 days. I was getting discontected a lot from online gaming from the pc as well as the PS2, so I thought I would go ahead and compare cable vs dsl. I may even decide to keep both, because of the bandwith hogs in the house.

One more note - we will be adding another 2 systems eventually to the network for a total of 6 computers, so I want to set-up for that now.

Any and All of your suggestions or recomendations would be geatly appreciated

 

[Smilin]

It sounds like you just about have everything. You're a couple ports short so you may need a hub but something that might work instead is to get one of those new Wireless-G Routers. You could use the wireless router as your connection to the internet and for the 4 ports that will come on it. You could then use your existing router as simply a 4 port switch. That would kill 2 with one stone there.

You're already setup for a home lan - you're just not using it! Get into your PC's and flip on file&print sharing, set em all to the same workgroup and you're set.

For the printers - snag a 10mbit jet-direct box off ebay or something for your HP Laser. The epson's might work with some generic print server but you may be better off just leaving them hooked to their respective PC's and sharing them.

If you decide to go with dual internet connections you're going to have to pick which one each PC connects through either through your physical setup or through dual nics or dual IP's or something. If you want to run both internet connections simultaneously you're going to need a router that's probably out of the price range of a typical SOHO.

Check the helpfiles on one of your XP boxes - probably all you need is there.

 

[borgmang]

Originally posted by: Smilin
It sounds like you just about have everything. You're a couple ports short so you may need a hub but something that might work instead is to get one of those new Wireless-G Routers. You could use the wireless router as your connection to the internet and for the 4 ports that will come on it. You could then use your existing router as simply a 4 port switch. That would kill 2 with one stone there.

You're already setup for a home lan - you're just not using it! Get into your PC's and flip on file&print sharing, set em all to the same workgroup and you're set.

For the printers - snag a 10mbit jet-direct box off ebay or something for your HP Laser. The epson's might work with some generic print server but you may be better off just leaving them hooked to their respective PC's and sharing them.

If you decide to go with dual internet connections you're going to have to pick which one each PC connects through either through your physical setup or through dual nics or dual IP's or something. If you want to run both internet connections simultaneously you're going to need a router that's probably out of the price range of a typical SOHO.

Check the helpfiles on one of your XP boxes - probably all you need is there.

Thanks for your help. How secure is the Wireless G Router - is it the same as my Linksys Router that I have now? Do I have to set-up VPN (not that I know what VPN is)? Also, awhile back some guy at Compusa said that I should setup a seperate network (NetBeui or something like that) for internal Lan for gaming and file/print sharing for security reasons. Does that make any sense? I tryed looking all over in xp and cant find anything about this - just wizards.

 

[Smilin]

Linksys makes a wireless router that's nearly identical to the one you have now. The setup of it via the onboard web page is like your current one but has an extra page or two on it.
The wireless is "secure enough". If the CIA is after you, your fugged but for anyone else it's secure. VPN (Virtual Private Networking) is where two computers connect to the internet then create a secure "tunnel" between them. After the VPN tunnel is setup, both ends behave as if they are on a LAN even though it's across the 'net. Don't really see where you would have an application for VPN though.

The guy at compusa was probably talking about the NetBeui protocol. It's just another protocol like TCP/IP or novell's IPX/SPX and you can use it for your file and print sharing. It's kinda cool for stuff like this because NetBeui cannot be routed - It can't leave your lan, period. The packets would just float off into cyberspace somewhere. That said, I'd probably still skip it. Your configuration is going to be relatively complicated anyway without throwing another protocol into the mix and fooling with bindings. Plus it's not even installed by default under XP - you have to dig it off some folder on the CD. NetBeui can't be used for gaming either. If you get your stuff up and running ok, revisit the NetBeui issue but don't worry about it for now.

 

[borgmang]

Originally posted by: Smilin
Linksys makes a wireless router that's nearly identical to the one you have now. The setup of it via the onboard web page is like your current one but has an extra page or two on it.
The wireless is "secure enough". If the CIA is after you, your fugged but for anyone else it's secure. VPN (Virtual Private Networking) is where two computers connect to the internet then create a secure "tunnel" between them. After the VPN tunnel is setup, both ends behave as if they are on a LAN even though it's across the 'net. Don't really see where you would have an application for VPN though.

The guy at compusa was probably talking about the NetBeui protocol. It's just another protocol like TCP/IP or novell's IPX/SPX and you can use it for your file and print sharing. It's kinda cool for stuff like this because NetBeui cannot be routed - It can't leave your lan, period. The packets would just float off into cyberspace somewhere. That said, I'd probably still skip it. Your configuration is going to be relatively complicated anyway without throwing another protocol into the mix and fooling with bindings. Plus it's not even installed by default under XP - you have to dig it off some folder on the CD. NetBeui can't be used for gaming either. If you get your stuff up and running ok, revisit the NetBeui issue but don't worry about it for now.

Any advantages over getting the Linksys Router with wireless A&G? Also, none of my printers are network ready - can I still run them on a print server?

 

[Smilin]

Choose your wireless either based on the wireless cards you already have or if you are starting fresh, pick something that supports G.

A - Fast, short range.
B - Slow, long range.
G - Fast, long range.

I think G is backwards compatible to B (someone correct me here if needed)

For your printers, I can only testify to the HP. It will work with a jetdirect print server and hang off the network ok. The other printers you're kinda on your own with. I know they make print servers that are basically an ethernet in and parallel out but you'll have to check with the individual manufacturer for compatibility. If it's not possible to hook them directly to the network you can always just share them off of whatever PC they are hooked up to. You may occasionally have to power up a PC to print to that particular printer but if it's an "office" kinda setting it's probably on already.

 

[owensdj]

borgmang, if your router has some basic firewall abilities, you don't need to worry about using TCP/IP for your local filesharing. The main thing is that the router must block Port 139. This is the port used by NetBIOS(Windows file sharing). After you get it all set up, go to Gibson Research and run their Shields UP port scan. If none of your ports are detected as Open, your security should be OK.

 

[Smilin]

hehe gibson research, hehe.

 

[borgmang]

Originally posted by: Smilin
Choose your wireless either based on the wireless cards you already have or if you are starting fresh, pick something that supports G.

A - Fast, short range.
B - Slow, long range.
G - Fast, long range.

I think G is backwards compatible to B (someone correct me here if needed)

For your printers, I can only testify to the HP. It will work with a jetdirect print server and hang off the network ok. The other printers you're kinda on your own with. I know they make print servers that are basically an ethernet in and parallel out but you'll have to check with the individual manufacturer for compatibility. If it's not possible to hook them directly to the network you can always just share them off of whatever PC they are hooked up to. You may occasionally have to power up a PC to print to that particular printer but if it's an "office" kinda setting it's probably on already.

Thanks for the info Smilin - Anybody else have any input on print servers?

 

[borgmang]

Originally posted by: borgmang

Originally posted by: Smilin
Choose your wireless either based on the wireless cards you already have or if you are starting fresh, pick something that supports G.

A - Fast, short range.
B - Slow, long range.
G - Fast, long range.

I think G is backwards compatible to B (someone correct me here if needed)

For your printers, I can only testify to the HP. It will work with a jetdirect print server and hang off the network ok. The other printers you're kinda on your own with. I know they make print servers that are basically an ethernet in and parallel out but you'll have to check with the individual manufacturer for compatibility. If it's not possible to hook them directly to the network you can always just share them off of whatever PC they are hooked up to. You may occasionally have to power up a PC to print to that particular printer but if it's an "office" kinda setting it's probably on already.

Thanks for the info Smilin - Anybody else have any input on print servers?

Bump

 

[borgmang]

Bump

 

[newuser]

edit

 

[mboy]

Originally posted by: Smilin
hehe gibson research, hehe.

Gibson research is a JOKE!!!!!

He got royally abused at this years SANSFIRE. He may be the least respected security "expert" in the business!!!

 

[borgmang]

Originally posted by: mboy

Originally posted by: Smilin
hehe gibson research, hehe.

Gibson research is a JOKE!!!!!

He got royally abused at this years SANSFIRE. He may be the least respected security "expert" in the business!!!

Any suggestions on how to set-up my network? I'm really looking for a solution for my 3 printers as well - I would like to network them with a print server. Also, I have cable and DSL that I would like to somehow tie together.

 

[borgmang]

Bump

 

[borgmang]

Bump again - I might have to give up getting any help on this thread - come on network experts!