quick reset for networked computers?

[avidgamr]

Thanks!

 

[JeffMD]

Well, one strike is your old and out dated hardware. Why is this system still being used? Those arnt internet safe for sure. Also I figure a single modern system would replace all 4 if those.

 

[Ketchup]

So are you running a domain? Not sure why one would on a home network. As JeffMD said, these computers are very old, and one new computer would outrun these 4 combined. Can you tell us a little more about what you are trying to do with yout setup?

 

[avidgamr]

 

[mxnerd]

remove all 2nd NICs in every computer & remove switch. connect all PCs to the router.

What's the reason you turn off computer browser service? Re-enable computer browser service on every computer so each PC has a computer list.

Since you only enabled computer browser on one of the computers, only that machine will keep a computer list. Once that machine is down, no other computer has a computer list for the network to work with.

only turn on the computers you need, why do you keep them running 24/7?

finally, if you can't retire XP machines, at least retire 98SE machines that are 17 years old.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

One network. Linux if you don't want Microsoft snooping. (I'm sympathetic to that one, but what you have now is just bad network design.)

 

[VirtualLarry]

but what you have now is just bad network design.

The only reason I could see, to maintain a totally segregated LAN and WAN like that, would be for HIPPA compliance. And I'm not even sure it goes that far.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

The only reason I could see, to maintain a totally segregated LAN and WAN like that, would be for HIPPA compliance. And I'm not even sure it goes that far.

Nah, not unless you have some "cargo cult" approach to network security. HIPAA compliant Cloud-based EHR and Clinic Management suites are totally (s) thing(s), and break that model immediately.

When I was a kid, my dad did something similar many years ago, since we had a LAN to share files/printer but WAN connectivity was via dialup/modems attached to each computer. That's about the only circumstance I can think of where it makes any kind of sense.

 

[Red Squirrel]

If power failure is the main reason, a big enough UPS should help. If you want lot of run time (hours) consider an inverter-charger with a bank of marine batteries. Keep in mind that not all inverter-chargers are created equal, you want to check for one that has a fast switch time, like <16ms.

As for original question, are you basically looking for something simple like having to press only one button that does everything? You could maybe setup something with an arduino. Basically it could be setup to hit the power buttons (shorting out contacts with a small relay for example) of each PC with a specific delay.

 

[JackMDS]

Put a cheapo Router (you can find ones for less than $10) working as a DHCP server on the secondary Network (leave the WAN open) and configure it to be the gateway and handle the IPs.