Author Topic: Advice Needed on Networking (Read 302 times)

Bullethead · « **on:** June 17, 2002, 10:30:52 PM »

I share a house with 2 other folks and all 3 of us have our own computer and dial-up connection. But DSL is coming soon (woohoo!). We have heard this will provide only a single internect connection so we'll have to network our 3 computers to share it. Unfortunately, none of us know the 1st thing about doing this so I've come here for advice.

Obviously, my main concern is to do this without ruining my AH connectivity. In fact, in all that follows, please give your advice based on the assumption that the sole purpose of this network is to give me the best AH connection possible while grudgingly letting the others have internect access

.

I'm open to both hard-wired and wireless network, assuming both work with AH, or a combination of both if that's possible. Whatever gets the job done and works in my situation.

Here are some more details that may help you give advice:

I am the only one who does online gaming at all, let alone AH. Optimizing the other 2 machines for this is nice but not necessary, if that makes a difference in price/complexity/stability.
All computers are in separate rooms. 2 of them, including mine, are on the 2nd floor in adjacent rooms. The direct distance (through the walls) between them is about 20'. The 3rd is in a 1-story wing of the house, perhaps 40' away as the neutrino flies. None of them can be moved to other rooms.
Unfortunately, this isn't a bachelor pad so any wiring required must be hidden instead of just laid down the halls and stairs. Installation would therefore be a pain. The house is pier & beam so the wires can run under it as well as in the attic. However, we're out in the sticks so have rats, bats, and squirrels chewing attic wiring, and all kinds of stuff messing with sub-floor wiring. Thus my interest in doing this wireless if possible, at least for the other 2 computers.
My machine in a P4 running WinME. The other upstairs computer is a P2 running Win98. The computer in the other wing is a P3 running Win98.

So, what I want to know is what type of gear to get: hard-wired, wireless, or some combination thereof. Also, I'd like some recommendations on makes and models, or at least pros and cons on them.

Thanks for the help

Swoop · « **Reply #1 on:** June 17, 2002, 10:44:22 PM »

The easy way is put 2 network cards in the PC to have the DSL connection, a single network card in the others and run 1 cable to each (just one cable from DSL PC to both others, no need for a hub or anything fancy). Then on the other PCs, set your internet options to use the DSL PC as the 'gateway' (do this in INTERNET OPTIONS on control panel). I've done this with 2 PCs right next to each other on the same desk just using a 1 foot long BNC cable.

Ya can be all done in 30 mins.

If you're using Windows XP it does everything for ya, you dont even have to configure IPs.

Turbot · « **Reply #2 on:** June 17, 2002, 10:54:39 PM »

absolutely do NOT do wireless

Morgoth · « **Reply #3 on:** June 17, 2002, 11:09:15 PM »

Use a wireless access point device like the LinkSys EtherFast® Wireless AP + Cable/DSL Router w/4-Port Switch for about $135 online and a LinkSys Instant Wireless PCI Adapter and Instant Wireless Network PC Card for each computer for $38 and $66 online. Use whatever flavor of Windows you're shackled with setup as DHCP-assigned through the DSL router. You're hardware firewall safe from the Net and able to play AH with no modifications for IP addressing. You have to be careful with encrypting your wireless net. There have been a number of good articles written about how to do it lately (in plain English). I can dig them up if you need them. Also note that these are 802.11b spec devices (11MB in a perfect world). The new 802.11a spec being pushed out the door supports up to 72MS in a perfect world at a different spectrum of 5GHz. It's more expensive and wouldn't add to your net gaming pleasure just your internal network speed and any LAN gaming you did.

Hangtime · « **Reply #4 on:** June 17, 2002, 11:15:49 PM »

Quote

Advice Needed on Networking

Don't.

AKIron · « **Reply #5 on:** June 17, 2002, 11:24:59 PM »

I know folks that have good service with wireless. I think it would be fine to connect each of you to the Internet, however, if you want fast connectivity (100mbps) between the PCs you'll want cabling (cat 5). I'm assuming there won't be any interference problems. You don't live next to a radio station or big power lines do ya?

I'd do a gateway router/firewall like dlink or netgear rather than use one of the PCs to share the connection for a couple of reasons:

First, security. Let the box (router) with nothing else to do handle this. Why expose even one of the PCs to the Internet as well as bog down your PC?

Second, convenience. Leave the DSL modem and the router turned on all the time. They use very little power and are pretty secure. Plus you don't have to turn on your friends PC when you're the only one that wants to use the computer/Internet.

I've tried it both ways and never plan to go back to the PC sharing a connection.

SOB · « **Reply #6 on:** June 18, 2002, 02:24:04 AM »

If you can count on your friends not downloading stuff from Kazaa or the like 24/7, then I'd say just get a firewall/switch like this, and do the cabling. The distances you're talking about shouldn't be an issue. Internet Connection Sharing sucks, imo, I wouldn't use it. If you have a friend that's good with Linux, you could also throw together a cheap cheap cheap server and put Linux on it to act as a firewall & proxy server.

I've got no idea how reliable wireless is...never looked into it or used it. As long as you can get a solid connection between the computers tho', I don't know why it'd be a problem. Maybe when the time comes, you could buy a couple of wireless setups from a store with a good return policy and give it a test

Good luck, and enjoy the DSL!

SOB

tofri at work · « **Reply #7 on:** June 18, 2002, 07:21:37 AM »

Yep, as already said at best DON'T share your internet.
I've done this some time ago, the discos became a constant nuisance.
At least set up a seperate linux network server.

About wireless I know little, only the hints of a developer of german leading wireless network firm

Stay with the good ole Cat5 cable, its cheaper, more reliable, more stable.
If you want to transfer files or surf in the internet, its fine as long as you want to pay the high prices for a good system.
But your mother old hoover, mixer or microwave oven, the drill machine of your neighbour or any other electro mechanic machine will reduce the transfer rate by destroying the packets.
And thats not acceptable for an MMOG.

Wlfgng · « **Reply #8 on:** June 18, 2002, 09:25:27 AM »

I totally agree. Don't share a DSL connect unless you don't mind being slowed waaaay down.
Now if it were a T1 that'd be different.

Morgoth · « **Reply #9 on:** June 18, 2002, 10:02:00 AM »

I think perhaps folks may be being a bit negative regarding wireless capabilities and sharing a connect. Or maybe they didn't read your reqs carefully. In any event -

Interference: you said you're sharing a house. I assume that means a single family detached home. That means the only possible interference you'd have would be coming from inside your house. You want to take into account other wireless devices like phones or remotes. Other devices like microwaves could cause interference but that depends on the quality of the device you don't want to be interfered with.
Example: I have a 900MHz baby monitor camera that feeds to it's own remote monitor. I also have a wireless network setup for my two notebooks. When I use my microwave I do get interference with my baby monitor picture but I don't get any dropped packets or transmission failures with my wireless network. Reason? The reception quality, strength, and range of my wireless net far surpasses the capabilities of the baby monitor.
You can also avoid the interference issue by seeing what band your current wireless devices work in. 9 out of 10 will be 900MHz. Solution? Get one of the newer 5GHz devices I mentioned in my earlier post.

Line Sharing: For a concise answer, you need to provide us with the speed of DSL you're getting and what type of net activities your non-gaming roomies do. Do they just do web, email, and news? They're not going to be sucking much bandwidth. Do they do streaming audio or video feeds? Do they wear an eye patch, have a peg leg, and a parrot on their shoulder and constantly mutter, "Shiver my timbers! I be DLing some fine warez! Arrrr!". Then you could have some bandwidth issues. That's just the nature of sharing. I have my brother-in-law and his wife moving into my house temporarily. He's a pr0n freak and I've already had a talk with him about sucking up all my bandwidth and exactly how far I can throw a PC from my doorstep.
Maybe you should have the same talk with your roomies.

Hope this helps.

DFATITAN · « **Reply #10 on:** June 18, 2002, 10:10:35 AM »

My roomy and I used Verizon DSL and a Linksys DSL router and had no connection problems at all. He was a Quake III freak too playing 8-10 hours a day (that's freaky compared to my 2 hrs a day in AH).

I have three computers routed (2 PC's and Laptop) right now and use the other computers while I am flying (especially bomber msns) and don't have a problem. Of course, since I've always done this, I don't know what I am missing by not using the router and feeding directly into my AH computer.

Just my 1/2 cent of worthless advice.

Good luck!

>S<

Wolfhere · « **Reply #11 on:** June 18, 2002, 11:59:40 AM »

Slight correction for Morgoth's post --

If you're looking at wireless, most of them are 802.11b which runs at 2.4GHz, not 900mhz. Microwave ovens also run at 2.4GHz as do some of the newer wireless phones. Older ones do run at 900mhz as Morgoth posted, and will not cause interference.

802.11a is the newer wireless standard and does run at 5GHz. I don't know of any household appliance that runs at that frequency.

Morgoth · « **Reply #12 on:** June 18, 2002, 12:04:54 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Wolfhere
Slight correction for Morgoth's post --

If you're looking at wireless, most of them are 802.11b which runs at 2.4GHz, not 900mhz. Microwave ovens also run at 2.4GHz as do some of the newer wireless phones. Older ones do run at 900mhz as Morgoth posted, and will not cause interference.

802.11a is the newer wireless standard and does run at 5GHz. I don't know of any household appliance that runs at that frequency.

DoH! I must have had wireless phones on the brain to have said wireless APs run at 900MHz. Wolfhere is correct with the 2.4GHz info.

The only household device I'm aware of that uses the 5GHz range are high end wireless phones. They uses this for the same reason as the new wireless APs do: less interference from other wireless devices operating in the over-crowded 2.4GHz range.

Sorry for the confusion.

Grimm · « **Reply #13 on:** June 18, 2002, 12:15:58 PM »

BH,

I Cant believe you came here for the answer. LOL! Just look to your squaddies. What a guy will do to avoid having to buy drinks

heheheheeheheee

I will Try to Give you a Call later or catch you on ICQ. (at work now)

Basicly, the short answer is Yes this can be done and done well.

I have a DSL connect with a large network. Its works smoothly and will work great for AH. You can even fly multiple accounts if you choose. I have used a combination of Windows 98 and XP so there is no problems there either. the only complication I have run into was with Firewall software and thats just a matter of getting the settings correct.

I think you will be extremly happy with the results.

Grimm · « **Reply #14 on:** June 18, 2002, 12:27:32 PM »

I do have one question for the network Gurus around here. The replies you guys have been posted are good and helpful.

Does anyone have experience with a Hybred LAN. A Hard Wired and Wireless network??

That is what BulletHead really needs.

1) He needs to have his DSL Modem and Router/hub switch in his part of the house. This would be hardwired to his gaming machine and possibley a secondary box.

2) He needs to have 2 wireless links to other parts of the house for the other users. They dont game or do anything thats is bandwith hungry. Email, Internet, etc...

This would be his Ideal Situation. Anyone have some Good Recomendations??