How to network

[crucial]

I have two computers at home that I would like to network as cheaply as possible. One is connected to the internet via an external cable modem. Both are running Win 98. What exactly do I need hardware wise so both computers can access the internet etc? I don't want to set up a wireless network as the cable is already run in. (cat 5)

Thanks in advance

Crucial.

[Rick]

If both systems already have network cards installed.
The fastest and easiest way is to pick up a Etherfast Cable / dsl router

Just plug both systems into the router and the router into the cable modem

This allows you to access the internet with any one system without having to boot up both systems ..

[crucial]

Hi , thanks for the advice. I was advised to buy an ethernet switch by a workmate so I have, but I'm still getting no joy connecting to the internet on the second machine and can only see which ever computer I'm on, in network neighborhood.

Both pc's are running windows 98, both have Netgear NIC's - FA311 10/100Mbps and are connected to a Netgear Prosafe FS105 5 port ethernet switch. The original pc still works fine on the net (connected to my cable modem via the switch) the second pc cannot access the net.

If it's most likely the case that I have not configured something properly then I'll persevere, but looking at the kit I've bought should it work, or do I need a router or something else? :confused:

[jimmy5k]

a hub would've been cheaper than a switch, and a router is designed to do what you want without the cable modem.

Cable Connection---> Cable Modem ---> Hub/Switch ---> computers
or
Cable Connection---> Router ---> computers

it sounds like the tcp/ip network settings on the second computer are dodgy. have you tried setting them to auto detect? does it see the first computer?

[classicsoftware]

Unless you get a router, you will NOT be able to share the internet connection and only the first PC fired up will get the IP address from the modem.

Rt click on Network Neighborhhod.

Choose properties.

Click on the Identification tab.

Under Computer name, choose a uinique name for each PC.

Under the Workgroup name choose the same name for both.. Use crucial. Do not use Workgroup.

Click on the main tab, I'm note sure what it's called and until you get a router, nake sure NetBEUI is installed.

Re-boot both PC's and you should be able to see each other in the Network Neighborhhod.

Once you have acheived that, then explain what files/devices you eant to share.

[FastLearner]

Theoretically, couldn't he share the Internet with his current switch, as long as he enabled ICS on one of his machines? It's been a while since I tinkered with Win98, but I'm pretty sure it has ICS functionality.

[Rick]

Yes. BUT It is a pain..
A simple router will allow him to run any One or more systems and get internet access

The switch he has can be plugged into the routers WAN outlet
Allowing him to add even more systems to the net work later.
including network printers,drives, and other devices

Modem-router-switch-systems

ICS is more work than it is worth

[crucial]

Rick, you have confirmed what i suspected, I need a router.
On the plus side they seem to be pretty cheap, so I'll order one today. :)

I haven't had time to go through the Networking settings yet, but I'll follow your advice, once again, thanks. :)

[classicsoftware]

Theoretically, couldn't he share the Internet with his current switch, as long as he enabled ICS on one of his machines? It's been a while since I tinkered with Win98, but I'm pretty sure it has ICS functionality.

Need a second NIC to make ICS work......

[FastLearner]

Need a second NIC to make ICS work......

True.

I was just thinking it's cheaper to buy a new NIC (around 10 dollars) than a new router.

Although...
in the end it is better if he just goes out and gets a router anyway, especially if he ever plans on adding any newtorking devices and/or he doesn't want any throughput performance issues that are associated with ICS.

[PrntRhd]

A simple router has other advantages as well:

It connects with standard patch cables.
It usually has a hardware firewall integrated in the router, giving needed protection to both PCs.
Both PCs can be online without slowing the other down to a crawl.
Each PC can be independent of each other, meaning the first PC does not have to be on to allow the second PC Internet access.
DHCP from the router makes connecting the PCs easier.

Crucial's system will do ICS if needed if a second NIC is added, but I have used both methods, and I can assure you using a router is so much better and easier that it is a no brainer.

[crucial]

My Router should arrive today, thanks chaps. :)

[crucial]

It's never easy is it!! Still can't connect with the new router. I'm starting to think it's the NIC in the offending computer. It's not showing any activity on it's led's. I've borrowed an RJ45 cable tester from work so I know it's not that. I've tried the NIC in various pci slots but no luck. The computer is an old Dell Optiplex which has a built in NIC but I couldn't find the drivers for it so thats why I installed the netgear NIC. I've disabled the onboard NIC in the BIOS but no luck there. I guess I need to try the NIC in a different pc? :(

Any suggestions gratefully accepted :)

[classicsoftware]

What is the exact make and model or what is the service code for the dell?

Please let us know if there are any problems in device manager.

[Sylvander]

I just moved my NIC [that had been working just fine] to a different PCI slot, and discovered that Windows wanted the driver re-installed [for the new slot].
It was quite tricky to get that done correctly:

I had to go into safe mode | "remove" all instances of the NIC "device" | shut down | remove the NIC hardware | boot into Windows and run a prog [included in the driver file set] named "preinstl.exe" [this was to prevent Windows from attempting to fetch the drivers from the Windows installation files when I next booted with the card fitted] | shut down | fit the card | boot into Windows and [when the card is detected] browse to the driver files supplied by the PC manufacturer [no files fetched from Windows install files (Windows was installed from the G: partition and the files are still there)].

Even though I did that there were lots of files reported as not found!
I told it to skip them [since I figured they were already installed].
It then reported that lots of files were trying to be replaced by older copies.
Told it to keep the newer copies.
It was hair-raising, but All seems well.

[crucial]

Hi , if I remember correctly the code is RGP81, I did go to the Dell support pages and found the drivers relevant to my pc (Optiplex GX1). Unfortunately there are about six different sets of drivers, in device manager there is not a definite description of the onboard NIC, it just says ethernet controller. :confused:That's why I bought the PCI NIC card at £10 it seemed the simplest solution :rolleyes:

Also there are no exclamation marks in device manager, it says everything is working correctly :confused:

[Sylvander]

You said you've disabled the onboard NIC in the BIOS setup.
Is everything [including the onboard NIC] shown as working normally [with the onboard NIC re-enabled]?
Have you checked in Safe Mode to see if there are any multiple copies of [ghost] NIC [and/or other] devices?
You could delete any/all NIC devices, then restart [and having copied ALL possible examples of drivers to a CD], when the "new" hardware is detected, point the wizard at the CD and the wizard will select the correct one from among them.

[crucial]

Yup, I tried that originally. But when I pointed to the cd it said there were no correct drivers available. In device manager with the onboard NIC enabled it says this device is working properly but no drivers are loaded, that's why I gave up on it and bought the PCI NIC.

[Sylvander]

"working properly but no drivers are loaded"
I'm no expert on these things, but that suggests that this onboard NIC needs no driver. :confused:
Mind you, it only reports an "Ethernet Controller".

[crucial]

Sorry, my mistake, the onboard controller has exclamation marks and no drivers, it's the PCI card I installed that is working correctly (although as we know it isn't) :confused: I'm going to have another go at the Dell drivers tonight.

[deddard]

To get details on what hardware is installed, you could run something like belarc advisor - this may give you enough information to get the right driver.