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Unusual Network Setup Question

E

Exterous

Super Moderator
I have an older wireless G router that doesn't like alot of newer programs that I only use on my desktop, but I also have a laptop and a wireless PDA.

So I ran the internet from the cable modem into the desktop. From there I enabled connection sharing and ran cable from the other ethernet adapter into the wireless router. I got the internet working fine so my minumum goals are satisfied.

However, after this was all set up I was thinking about sharing folders and printers over the network but I haven't figured out how (if it can actually be done). As far I can tell the firewalls aren't causing the problem since I temporarily turned them off. All the sharing settings should be correct. My PDA and Laptop can see eachother and can communicate but can't find the desktop. My desktop only sees the "residential internet gateway" ie cable modem but not the router, laptop or pda. The desktop is running windows vista ultimate, laptop windows XP home, PDA is a Palm OS
 
Sounds like you might have accidentally plugged the cable from your PC into the WAN port on your router.

Although kinda irrelevant I'd just get a newer Buffalo router (dirt cheap) and set the network up with the router at the "core".
 
Originally posted by: InlineFive
Sounds like you might have accidentally plugged the cable from your PC into the WAN port on your router.

Although kinda irrelevant I'd just get a newer Buffalo router (dirt cheap) and set the network up with the router at the "core".
Click to expand...

Nope, its plugged into the right spot. I'd been thinking about getting a new router, but i guess i don't care that much at the moment
 
Um, no, it's not plugged into the right spot at all. You need your router as the center of your network with ALL of your PC's plugged into one of the four LAN ports on the back. You don't want your PC acting as your router, there's no benefit to this at all. If the router is acting flaky on some things used for internet, then yes, it's also time to get a new router. But your setup is completely off. To get things working correctly, plug your cable modem into the WAN on the back of the router, then all of your computers into the LAN on the back of the router. After this, turn off your cable modem, turn off your router and turn off your desktop. After 1 minute, turn on the cable modem, after another minute, turn on your router and after one last minute, turn on your computer. Voila.
 
Kevenich2 is correct. Using your desktop PC as a router is a bad idea. Routers are cheap. If you have a bad one, then get a new one and plug ALL your PCs into the LAN port of the router. If you need additional ports, buy a cheap switch, plug it into one of the router's LAN ports, and use the switch as an "extension cord".
 
Originally posted by: kevnich2
Um, no, it's not plugged into the right spot at all. You need your router as the center of your network with ALL of your PC's plugged into one of the four LAN ports on the back. You don't want your PC acting as your router, there's no benefit to this at all. If the router is acting flaky on some things used for internet, then yes, it's also time to get a new router. But your setup is completely off. To get things working correctly, plug your cable modem into the WAN on the back of the router, then all of your computers into the LAN on the back of the router. After this, turn off your cable modem, turn off your router and turn off your desktop. After 1 minute, turn on the cable modem, after another minute, turn on your router and after one last minute, turn on your computer. Voila.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I know how to get a network working like that. However - I am curious, what is bad about using my current setup (other than I am having trouble sharing folders and printers, which I really don't care that much about)?
 
What is bad? Honestly, it's more of a question of what isn't bad? There honestly isn't ONE good reason to have the setup you have. Using your computer as the router opens your computer up a whole assortment of security and virus related issues. Using internet connection sharing to share the internet to your router can lead to it's own assortment of problems and it defeats the whole purpose of having a standalone soho router.
 
If you are using a secured, hardened machine that is dedicated to routing and natting, then it's fine. If you are browsing the web, surfing, have network stuff listening, and in general it's NOT a machine dedicated to just that, then it's bad. I cringe to think of a windows machine with a live IP,even with a s/w firewall (I think S/W firewalls are mostly worthless)
 
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