A little help please

T

Trent242

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Could someone please tell me how it would be best to set up two PC's to be able to play BF2 on a local site, using OpenWeb as an ISP, on the same ADSL line. It is an 384 ADSL connection.

In effect, not only to play BF2, but to get both PC's able to access the internet. I find all this rather daunting, and help would seriously be appreciated.
 
What ADSL modem/router do you have and how do you have the two PC's connected to it?
 
There is basically 3 ways to do this, correct choice depends on your available h/w and requirements:

Method 1 [Ethernet ADSL Router with FireWall and IP Masquerading and Prefrably Firewall PNP]:
Purchase an Ethernet ADSL router with at least 2 ports and the port for the telephone line.
Plug each computer into the ADSL router, configure the ADSL router and the PC's to work together [Network IP Addresses and Gateway Configuration].
Configure the Router to automatically establish an ADSL connection whenever the 2 computers are not talking to each other.
Configure the Router's Firewall and IP Masquerading [default setup should do].
[Easiest method, sometimes the IP masquerading can become a problem]

Method 2 [Ethernet ADSL Modem in Bridge Mode through 2 NIC Server]:
Configure an Ethernet adsl modem to run in Bridge mode.
Plug the adsl modem into one network card on a server.
Plug the network switch into the other network card on a server.
Install decent FireWall + Chache + Routing software on the server to control your internet access and the ADSL modem.
[Requires that server run all the time, and that the FireWall S/W be of decent quality]

Method 3 [Ethernet/USB ADSL Modem in Bridge mode using WinXP Internet Connection Sharing]:
This is the most unstable type, and a game like BF2 will probably chew so much of your PC's resources, that there will be very little priocessing power left to actually control the ADSL connection and the firewall and stuff.
Have both Machines running Windows XP.
Connect the USB ADSL modem to the USB port.
or
Connect the Ehternet ADSL modem to the ethernet port.
Configure the ADSL modem to run in bridge mode.
Setup a dial-up connection to connect the ADSL modem to the internet with ISP login and passwords.
Share that Dialup Connection.
Configure the other machine using the Connect to Internet Wizard to use that machine as the network gateway [Other machine connects to internet option].
Hope that it works while you're playing BF2. [Depends on how fast the Sharing PC is...and the amount of hack attempts your firewall has to fight off]

Well - that's 3 I know of - I'm sure there's more ...

Ask.
 
also depends if the game allows two connections with the same IP address... There are a few games but i don't know about BF2. i don't think so though.
 
Holy crap. Not so easy ...
Here I thought that I'd be able to do it by simply connecting the the other PC to mine ( via crossover ) and then connect with the ADSL modem in my PC.

As you can see, I don't know a lot yet regarding this whole ADSL thing. Telkom has given me an installation date ( 19th October ) and I'm only getting all the hardware, whatever it may be, on that date.
 
In that case, make sure you get an ADSL ethernet router. This means then that you can do Stoke's method 1, which is the easiest and usually the best. The other two options are only recommended for desperate people who already have the hardware that lock them into one of those options.
 
gkm said:
... recommended for desperate people who already have the hardware that lock them into one of those options.
Click to expand...
Ouch. :p :cool:

Me apologises for not explaining properleee...

Method 1 is for the plug the router in and play type setup, and then when you need to do more than the router can do by itself [proxy/email/web server], you then setup another machine to take over those specific responsibilities, and get the router to "port forward" those responsibilities to the new machine.

Method 2 is for when you have to be concerned about bandwidth and you need to install a proxy server to try to save on bandwidth, or alternatively, you need to run your own mail server / web server / game server / whatever server.

Method 3 is for when u're desparate just to get it up and running for a while so that your GF can access her mail and do some browsing and downloading while u're doing similar.
 
stoke said:
Ouch. :p :cool:

Me apologises for not explaining properleee...
Click to expand...

Sorry, I think you explained it very clearly. I just wanted to say to Trent242 that if he still needs to get the hardware, then there is only really one option (ADSL Router) he should consider, for the reasons you have given.
 
Trent242 said:
Thanks. Appreciate it, will wait for the installation and then take it from there.
Click to expand...

Just make sure when Telkom asks you what kind of modem you want, that you say you want the ADSL Ethernet 4 port router or alternatively you can get your own one from a computer shop. Do not get an USB modem if you want to connect two PC's. You will be throwing it away after a while in frustration, which will be a waste of money.
 
why buy a router?

buy a usb modem and just run the network wizard thats how my network is setup

works really well
 
killadoob said:
why buy a router?

buy a usb modem and just run the network wizard thats how my network is setup

works really well
Click to expand...
P.S. Killa is running an extremely fast machine ... [correct me if i'm wrong - remember - 3.2GHz dual/ht is fast mkay...:p]
 
killadoob said:
why buy a router?

buy a usb modem and just run the network wizard thats how my network is setup

works really well
Click to expand...

I am also not really sure if it will work so great if both PC's are running BF2. I never had an USB ADSL modem, so I cannot comment from personal experience, but lots of other people did not have anything good to say about them.

Just get the ADSL router - aka Stoke option 1. They are designed to do exactly what you want to do. Any other solution requires effort and has hassles.
 
I got the marconi 4 port router modem. You can set-up a network as well as connect to the internet for gaming etc. Its very very easy to set-up.

Syzygy
 
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