Networking Nightmares

[baaj]

I've spent about a week trying to figure this out on my own, but, as awlays I've found I'm way over my head with networking between OSs and would really appreciate help from the experts here...

I've got a Symantec Gateway Security 460 router with the wireless installed, and I'm just trying to get all of my devices to communicate. This router supports VPN , but I have that turned off for now. At some point I want to set up the VPN, but I have not done so yet (as I think I'll need a fixed IP to do it).

Anyway, although all the devices can connect to the internet, I can't get any of my devices to recognize the existence of the others.
I've got a:
desktop running XP Pro (wired)
a laptop running kubuntu (Gutsy) (Wireless)
a laptop running OSX (Tiger)
a wii
a PS3
I know file sharing will be different between each OS, but getting just each to recognize the others would be a great start. *in oder or priority though, I'd like to get the PS3 and the XP Pro connected.

Is this a firewall issue, or what? Any general advice would be helpful so I can at least begin troubleshooting in the right place.

 

[Markbnj]

Well. what do you mean by recognize? Let's start with the basics. If all the machines are up and have valid IPs on the LAN you should be able to ping each from each by IP. If you can do that, then you can get packets from every machine to every other machine. Next up: do they know each others' names? Can you ping each machine by name? If not, fixing this problem isn't absolutely required, but it makes things a lot easier. Once you can ping every machine on the LAN by name (and if you can't, we can go into DNS in more detail) you have most of what a generic IP network can provide. Whatever else you want to do requires software that runs on top of the IP network.

If you want to share files and folders at this point, for example, install and configure samba on the Linux boxes, and set up a mount point to share out as a folder. The Windows machines will then be able to browse the Linux system and connect to shared folders. What else are you trying to do?

 

[jlazzaro]

are all these devices connected to the switch on the symantec gateway?

define "recognize the existence of"...can the devices ping eachother?

 

[baaj]

Sorry, I meant each device does not list the name any of the others. All are ping-able by IP, but not by name. The windows machine can ping all others, but none of them can ping the windows machine

I just want to share files between each and stream media to the ps3 from the Windows machine

 

[degibson]

Originally posted by: baaj
The windows machine can ping all others, but none of them can ping the windows machine

This sounds like a windows firewall issue. Either turn it off an use your external firewall, or enable exemptions. Or better yet, use a better firewall.

I just want to share files between each and stream media to the ps3 from the Windows machine

I'm not sure how file sharing to PS3's work, once you've addressed the firewall issue above your boxes should be able to see the shares on your windows box... I assume PS3's speak samba or something like it?

 

[baaj]

The weird thing about that is I have disabled the windows firewall. There is a network firewall on my router, but that should make a difference in this case, correct? I have AVG virus software that has a bundled firewall - do I need to make adjustments here? The only other thing I can think of is that maybe I don't have all of the services I need for networking running.

once i can solve the firewall issue, i think I (hopefully) can get the rest of the connectivity working myself.

 

[jlazzaro]

Originally posted by: baaj
There is a network firewall on my router, but that should make a difference in this case, correct?

for communication between devices, you never touch the router.

Originally posted by: baaj
I have AVG virus software that has a bundled firewall - do I need to make adjustments here? The only other thing I can think of is that maybe I don't have all of the services I need for networking running.

try totally disabling AVG. if you can ping from the computer, all your services should be fine.

 

[filetitan]

double check your windows firewall, I am 99% certain your issue is from that point.

 

[baaj]

It was actually the AVG. A really dumb oversight on my part. I haven't found the right configuration yet, but at least I know where to look.

Thanks all for getting me back on track with the troubleshooting. With networking, I remain the perpetual n00b. This community is awesome for not making me feel like one

Cheers!