Advice on network setup needed please ...

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kilps

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Hi all ... me again ... ;)

I currently have a 384 line with a netgear DG834 router running a connection for four computers.

My neighbors want to share the line with me (I am not too worried about the speed issues) - and the idea is that we have a setup wereby we all connect to the modem using bridging with our own adsl accounts. The only problem is that for my end I will need one computer to manage the connection for my other four.

My origional idea was to use an old box and run smoothwall on it, then connect a hub to it and let the other computers connect to that. The problem is that the old computer is very noisy and there isn't really anywere in the house to put it (were someone won't complain ...) - I am also worried that it *could* just stop working one day (very old....)

What I want to ask is if anyone has a better idea than what I currently have to run the network?

Thanks :cool:
 
I'm no expert, but you could stick another NIC in your PC, run it to a hub/switch to which you connect your other PCs. The original NIC connects to the router, as do the neighbours. Then configure XP on your other PCs to connect through your PC. You'd have to leave your one on though.
 
If you could get your hands on a WRT54GL it could establish the PPPoE connection for you, however I'm not sure whether you could stop your neighbors from piggy backing on it... same applies to ICS.

So the best bet would be to put in a dedicated machine to manage the connection for you :/
 
pip said:
I'm no expert, but you could stick another NIC in your PC, run it to a hub/switch to which you connect your other PCs. The original NIC connects to the router, as do the neighbours. Then configure XP on your other PCs to connect through your PC. You'd have to leave your one on though.
Click to expand...

because eveyone is connected to the same router, the neighbors could piggy back on that machines connection and use his account... they only need to figure out what IP range his on, and thats straid forward using a progam like The Dude.
 
kilps said:
Hi all ... me again ... ;)

I currently have a 384 line with a netgear DG834 router running a connection for four computers.

My neighbors want to share the line with me (I am not too worried about the speed issues) - and the idea is that we have a setup wereby we all connect to the modem using bridging with our own adsl accounts. The only problem is that for my end I will need one computer to manage the connection for my other four.

My origional idea was to use an old box and run smoothwall on it, then connect a hub to it and let the other computers connect to that. The problem is that the old computer is very noisy and there isn't really anywere in the house to put it (were someone won't complain ...) - I am also worried that it *could* just stop working one day (very old....)

What I want to ask is if anyone has a better idea than what I currently have to run the network?

Thanks :cool:
Click to expand...
I'd say stick with the Smoothwall|IPCop idea and fix the noise factor on the old PC, or try and get another box that isn't so windgat...
 
Carlhead said:
because eveyone is connected to the same router, the neighbors could piggy back on that machines connection and use his account... they only need to figure out what IP range his on, and thats straid forward using a progam like The Dude.
Click to expand...

OK sorry. I have never run bridge mode/pppoe and thought the connection would be to the main PC not the router.
 
ic said:
I'd say stick with the Smoothwall|IPCop idea and fix the noise factor on the old PC, or try and get another box that isn't so windgat...
Click to expand...
That is probably what I am going to have to do ... I think a new harddrive (were a high pitched whineing noise is comming from) and fans (the rest, i think/hope) are in order ...

Thanks all for the help :cool:
 
You sure you dont want to get another router - considering that you're looking at getting a new hdd it could be cheaper in the end if you also keep in mind the amount of electricity it costs to keep it running 24/7 compared to keeping a pc powered up.

EDIT - As it is I let my neighbour have access via bridging while accessing it myself using the routers built in pppoe but mines a smc so that wont help you much.
 
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bwana v.15 said:
You sure you dont want to get another router - considering that you're looking at getting a new hdd it could be cheaper in the end if you also keep in mind the amount of electricity it costs to keep it running 24/7 compared to keeping a pc powered up.

EDIT - As it is I let my neighbour have access via bridging while accessing it myself using the routers built in pppoe but mines a smc so that wont help you much.
Click to expand...
How would getting another router work with one line? AFAIK you can only connect one modem to a line, so are you saying that the second router connects to the first and connects through the first? How exactly would this work (sounds very interesting...)
 
kilps said:
How would getting another router work with one line? AFAIK you can only connect one modem to a line, so are you saying that the second router connects to the first and connects through the first? How exactly would this work (sounds very interesting...)
Click to expand...

When he says another router, he's talking about an ADSL router without a built in modem.... i.e. your current router/modem would plug into the WAN interface of the new router. That's why I recomended the WRT54.

Again, the only issue is how much you trust your neighbour. If you use a 2nd router, or if your current router supports bridge and PPPoE at the same time, your neighbour could just use your account should they figure out the gateway address.
 
Carlhead said:
When he says another router, he's talking about an ADSL router without a built in modem.... i.e. your current router/modem would plug into the WAN interface of the new router. That's why I recomended the WRT54.

Again, the only issue is how much you trust your neighbour. If you use a 2nd router, or if your current router supports bridge and PPPoE at the same time, your neighbour could just use your account should they figure out the gateway address.
Click to expand...
Google isn't being my freind today :( - have you got a link for the WRT54?

It seems that this would be a better way for me to go about it, thanks :D
 
kilps said:
How would getting another router work with one line? AFAIK you can only connect one modem to a line, so are you saying that the second router connects to the first and connects through the first? How exactly would this work (sounds very interesting...)
Click to expand...
What he said :)
Carlhead said:
When he says another router, he's talking about an ADSL router without a built in modem.... i.e. your current router/modem would plug into the WAN interface of the new router. That's why I recomended the WRT54.
Click to expand...
I use - on occasion - my airport express to initiate a pppoe connection although my smc allows me to allocate different vlans to different ethernet ports.

I doubt your neighbour would poach knowing you can cut him off at any time.
 
bwana v.15 said:
What he said :) I use - on occasion - my airport express to initiate a pppoe connection although my smc allows me to allocate different vlans to different ethernet ports.

I doubt your neighbour would poach knowing you can cut him off at any time.
Click to expand...
You don't know of any other plain ethernet ones do you?
 
kilps said:
You don't know of any other plain ethernet ones do you?
Click to expand...

yeah, I think DLink do one, and there are SMC's as well... just look for broadband routers, and make sure they don't have built in modems.

The WRT is just very good because of the amount of control you have, esp with the GL as you can put another OS it on it :D... I use a WRT and Mikrotik RB112
 
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