Upcoming LAN party...need some advice

[dmw16]

I have some questions about setting up a network at a LAN party. My friends and I have had two LAN parties so far and we always spend tons of time setting up the network. We are getting better at it, but things are going to be different at this next one we have coming up. We have had 8 people at our last two parties and the one that's coming up we are going to be having 15 people. Also, instead of having a player host I am going to be bringing a server computer(win2k box) and a 16 port switch. So my question is this, what all do i need to do to make sure everyone sees everything when we plug in? Im not so much worried about sharing files(although there is always some of that) Im more worried about everyone seeing the server. So what protocals have to go on the server and the users? What else do I need to know? What else do I need to do?
thanks,
-doug

 

[ftp4you]

Make sure you have tcpip on all pc. One thing I do is make sure everyone know what IP to use. For example if there was going to be 18 people I would give each person there IP.

Example:
Me 192.168.1.1
1.192.168.1.2
2.192.168.1.3
3.192.168.1.4
4.192.168.1.5
5.192.168.1.6
And so on.

That way right off the bat everyone is in line.

Make sure everyone is under the same Workgroup.
Also same subnet. 255.255.255.0
And if you are going to file share, setup a file share id on all computers.

You probably no the rest.
Oh one more thing make sure everyone comes with no firewall software enable. Takes to long to get all that stuff worked out. Also if you all want to go the net. You'll need a router so haveing everyone ips lined up will help with that. You'll just have to plug in dns and gateway addresses.

hope that helps

 

[Garion]

Actually, you would be far better off setting up a DHCP server on the Win2K box or if you have a router, let it do the work. Whenever you give out statics, you have the potential to run into conflicts or misconfigurations. Let DHCP take care of the work to set up the addressing and there's less chance of problems.

Pretty much all games work at the TCP/IP level - They don't depend on anything like file sharing, etc. be setup. There's no need for you to do so on your server and probably isn't necessary.

Also, are you going to have Internet access? It's always good to get game patches, etc. if needed during the party. If you don't plan on having Internet access, make sure you have a CD with all the updates and patches to everything you plan on playing to make sure everyone is at the same rev level. Easier that way and it will save time in the end.

Last thing - Make sure everyone brings a long enough network cable to plug into your switch. Stupid little detail, but it can cause havoc and lost playing time if you don't have the right cables.

- G

 

[Quad]

ahhh just came back from my lan party
we had a dedicated server too. like garion, i also reccomend setting up a dhcp server on the extra box that you're bringing. sometimes at lans you won't be able to see the server from within your game, so just connect to the server directly....it always works =)

 

[toshiba3020]

I have held many many lan parties and they best way to do it is to use dhcp. Give your server and any other computer that may be used as a server a static ip though. This way the ip will never change on you, so you dont sit there trying to connect to the server for 15 mins before you reaslize you are using a diffrent ip. For protocals: TCP/IP, IPX. Those will cover your games. What else do you need to know? Make sure your order for bawls will be ready.

 

[GigaCluster]

I wish I could host a LAN party... I have an 8-port switch and two hubs... sadly, there are VERY few people in Pasadena, TX that even know what a LAN is.
Besides, my place is very small.

Is there any kind of web site where LAN-party hosts submit their data and visitors could find local LAN parties?

 

[Quad]

giga! =)
LANParty.com

i hope that's what you're looking for
man i wish you lived in toronto! i need more switches for my lans...
i had my last lan party a few days ago, and we only had 2 switches, a router, a million hubs....i'm trying to move to a fully switched network =)

 

[sml]

Definately use DHCP to assign IP addresses to the clients. Keeps the 'human configuration' factor out of the equation. Also; make sure that everyone who wants to share files has NetBIOS bound to their adapter. And make sure they have the Client for Microsoft Networks enabled as their primary login protocol, or else they will not bind to 139/tcp and 137/tcp+udp. Also, have people disable personal firewalls and make sure people have passwords on their pr0n shares unless they want them to get raped Hmm. Make sure you have 100mbit gear; it will make a big difference with a large amount of people. Also, use a centralized server for games rather than having a client run the game, this will keep network latency to a minimum and will keep one person from gaining an unfair advantage of being within loopback interface-speeds of the server and its data

 

[spidey07]

I always bring three cisco 2948s to the party. 48 ports times three of fraggin goodness. check sig.

 

[sml]

3 2948s? holy crap. want to trade/sell one of those? got any other Cisco gear? PM me! *drool*

 

[Garion]

What, you're not pulling a 6509 from the lab Spidey? Just a coupla 2948's? Geeze, I expected better of you. Fragging at gigabit speeds always sounded attractive. Not to mention the QOS features. "if (port != Spidey07) latency += 60;" Muhahaha...

- G

 

[toshiba3020]

I need you setup with those cisco switches. I have 2 16port SMC switches and a bay 12 port hub, and a 5 port linksys switch (all 10/100), and its jut not doing the job any more. Anyone want to sell some switches, I may be able to trade a cisco rotuer, 1601 or 2501.

 

[sml]

Ha. the 6509 is the uplink man! He connects the 2948's via the Fibre uplink ports to the 6509s that are loaded up with an RSM and some ATM cards to provide for the tier-2 fibre he has running in his yard seriously i wish I could hit up a LAN party with 10,500 [ebay value, probably pay 40-60% more retail] worth of networking gear. Sweet setup, Spidey!

 

[Nutz]

<< Not to mention the QOS features. "if (port != Spidey07) latency += 60;" Muhahaha... >>



Damn thats evil!

toshiba3020
Ebay is your friend. 2900XLs are dropping in price ($400-500ish), and 2950s are occationally finding their way on there too.

 

[judgenot]

Make sure you have tested out your win2k server box as a games server really thoroughly before basing your Lan party around it. I set up a box with win2k server to act as a Counter Strike server - for some reason about 20 mins after bootup, it's network would just die - any transfers, games, etc would just stop and than what it. I have little experience at win 2k server so I went back to win2k professional intime for my lan party - no problems.

 

[spidey07]

set port qos 2/1-48, 3/1-48, 4/1-48, 5/1-48, 6/1-48, 7/1-48, 8/1-48, 9/1-48 cos 7
set port qos 4/47 cos 0
^thats me

then on the router low queue anyone tagged COS 7, high queue COS 0

evil yes, works yes, check sig.