- Mar 11, 2001
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Well, my current network setup consists of a cable modem, a desktop, a laptop, and possibly an XBOX and networked PVR in the future. The desktop and laptop are connected via a 3com Home Connect Wireless Gateway, with the cable modem connected to the WAN port on the gateway, the desktop connecting via ethernet to the switch, and the laptop using a wireless pc card. I've been fairly happy with this setup except for the fact that the router built into the gateway has no options for port forwarding, and the built in firewall has no options for letting through specific types of traffic on specific ports. This makes it impossible for me to host games on the MSN Gaming Zone, or set up an FTP server. I am constantly thinking up new ways to remedy these problems, and the issue seems to be becoming more of a problem for me as more and more products get network interfaces, such as the XBox and the new ReplayTV pvr's coming out soon.
This is my most recent idea to alleviate the problem:
1. Disable NAT, Firewall, and DHCP server on 3com Wireless Gateway
2. Hook linksys 1 port cable modem/dsl router to the gateway and use the linksys for DHCP and NAT.
Hopefully this would allow me to continue using the gateway as an ethernet switch and a wireless ap.
Would this set up work? Are there any settings I would have to change on the wireless gateway, besides disabling the firewall, NAT, and DHCP? What about the settings on the new router? Also, the gateway has a WAN port and 3 switched 10/100 ethernet ports. What port would I hook the new router up to and would I need to use a switched cable?
I would also appreciate suggestions on what router to use if the Linksys will not be sufficient. In the future when I need more ethernet ports, can I simply connect an ethernet switch to the gateway? Or when I buy the new router, should I buy a multiport model and connect a new switch to that?
This is my most recent idea to alleviate the problem:
1. Disable NAT, Firewall, and DHCP server on 3com Wireless Gateway
2. Hook linksys 1 port cable modem/dsl router to the gateway and use the linksys for DHCP and NAT.
Hopefully this would allow me to continue using the gateway as an ethernet switch and a wireless ap.
Would this set up work? Are there any settings I would have to change on the wireless gateway, besides disabling the firewall, NAT, and DHCP? What about the settings on the new router? Also, the gateway has a WAN port and 3 switched 10/100 ethernet ports. What port would I hook the new router up to and would I need to use a switched cable?
I would also appreciate suggestions on what router to use if the Linksys will not be sufficient. In the future when I need more ethernet ports, can I simply connect an ethernet switch to the gateway? Or when I buy the new router, should I buy a multiport model and connect a new switch to that?