Networking trouble...

[WiK]

Hey there,

Do any of you guys know anything about home networking? I have a problem that is making me loose hair/sleep.

Ok, basically, we have two Dell Dimension computers in the house. We linked them both together a while back, using an Actiontec Cable/DSL Router and the supplied USB Access Point. The internet comes through a Ntlworld external broadband modem

Heres what we have:


https://homepage.ntlworld.com/paulhandley/networkcur.JPG


Now, what I want to do is use an old pc that I have aquired as a server to play multiplayer games, store files, etc. This is running Windows Millenium Edition. So today I bought a Belkin 32bit PCI Card, and installed it in the "server". It all installed okay. Now, when I connect it up to the "LAN" ethernet socket in the router, the light for the socket doesnt come on on the router, and none of the pc's can access it. When I plug the "server" into the Main PC with CAT5 cable, the "server" is found by the Main PC, and I can access the files on it. But when the two pc's are connected, the "server" doesnt seem to recognise a connection of any sort.

Even so, I would much prefer to have the "server" connect to the network through the router rather than the Main PC.

Heres what I would like:

https://homepage.ntlworld.com/paulhandley/networkwant.JPG

Why isn't it working? I would ask on some PC forum, but you guys are nicer .

Does all that make any sense?


Thanks in advance,

Phil

 

[cls]

Phil, I think you have a "crossover" ethernet cable. you need a "straight-through" ethernet cable instead. go buy a "straight-through" cables and plug your server in to the router.


you can check your existing cable: holding the two RJ-45 connectors next to each other, clip side down, look at the color of the 8 wires inside. you should see something like orange/white, orange, blue/white, blue, green/white, green, red/white/red. what matters is that the pattern is the same on both connectors - that's a straight-through. if a couple pairs are swapped on one of the connectors, then you have a crossover cable.


can you ditch the USB and use ethernet to connect the main computer to the router?

 

[thomasrau]

I'd have to agree, sounds like you have a crossover cable. 2 PC's can not be directly connected (no link) with a standard patch cable (you said you got a link). By the way WinMe is horrible, you'll have fewer problems if you run 2000 or XP on your "server".

 

[WiK]

Aha! Thanks guys! And unfortunately I can't connect the main pc to the router with ethernet, only one Ethernet socket in there!

Thanks again,

Phil

 

Originally posted by WiK
Aha! Thanks guys! And unfortunately I can't connect the main pc to the router with ethernet, only one Ethernet socket in there!

Thanks again,

Phil

Get yourself a cheapo hub off ebay, uplink it to your Ethernet port on the router. That will give you all the extra ethernet ports you'd need.

 

[WiK]

Good idea. Pity I have no cash at the moment

Just to let you know, I used the correct cable, and it is doing *exactly* what I want it to do. No problems with Windows ME yet.

Thanks again for the help,


Phil

 

[cydermaster]

Originally posted by WiK
This is running Windows Millenium Edition.

[SUBLIMINAL]Get LINUX![/SUBLIMINAL]

 

[lalligood]

Originally posted by asmqajm
Get yourself a cheapo hub off ebay, uplink it to your Ethernet port on the router. That will give you all the extra ethernet ports you'd need.

No, no, no! Not a hub... Get a SWITCH. Spend the extra ~$10 for a switch instead of a hub. Looks the same on the outside, but provides considerable advantages on the way it handles data. Besides, some routers don't like hubs

 

[WiK]

Right, I'll leave you to argue . I don't have any money for anything computery for a while, so I have time to decide.

Cyder, nice try!


Phil