Can Ping but NOT vice versa

[Heinz-W]

Hi all .....

I'm testing new software for an internet cafe setup.
What is supposed to happen is the following:-
- A pc called "server" which controls the opening and closing of customer pc's, charges etc. etc.
- The "server" has 2 NIC connections : ADSL line plugs into NIC1 which has internet "shared"
- NIC2 plugs into a router, which all the customer pc's are connected to (to receive internet connection)
- NIC1's IP address is 192.168.0.5 and NIC2's IP address is 192.168.0.2. Customer PC's IP address is 192.168.0.131 (and so forth). ADSL Modem IP address is 192.168.0.1

The problem:-
- I get internet connection on customer pc with IP address 192.68.0.131, so that all works 100%
- From the "Server" pc, I can ping the customer pc (and adsl modem etc. etc. - obviously!!)
- From the customer pc, I can ping the NIC2 card (obviously cos it's directly connected via network cable) but ........

I cannot ping the NIC1 connection (i.e. 192.168.0.5) or the ADSL modem (192.168.0.1) ... therefore, the "server" and "customer" pc's dont "see" each other for the Internet Software to work (i.e. open and closing the terminal etc etc).

WHAT AM I MISSING ??
I've checked the Firewall settings and the internet software program is "abled" - ticked (on both pc's)
.......... anyone know what else I can check or why this is happening?

Thanks guys !!

 

[noswal]

I have a hosts files in each of my pc's on my lan with each other's ip & name listed in it... then I also check my pinging computer name

 

[Heinz-W]

Sorry noswal .... you lost me. I'm not sure what you're saying ...

 

[xrapidx]

Should nic1 and 2 be on the same subnet?

 

[Heinz-W]

Yes, they are ...

 

[Heinz-W]

"server" pc:-
NIC1
IP 192.168.0.5
Subnet 255.255.255.0
Def Gateway 192.168.0.1
NIC2
IP 192.168.0.2
Subnet 255.255.255.0

Customer PC:
IP 192.168.0.131
Subnet 255.255.255.0
Def Gateway 192.168.0.2

 

[rajharie]

Your server needs to run some sort of routing software.
NIC 2 does not know how to get to NIC 1

Basically, your client computer does not know that NIC 1 exists therefore traffic cannot route through. You can look at some routing software on your "server". I used www.untangle.com - it does a lot more then just route.

 

[EasyUp Web Hosting]

Or you must bridge the 2 nics, but I am not sure if your software will work then.

+1 for untangle, but you will probably need another pc.

Explain a bit how your software works, reason being, why didn't you connect the router and pcs to one switch...?

Edit: What OS you running on the "server"?

 

[Heinz-W]

Hi sharkbait ....

I've tried the bridging route and no, it doesn't work.
The "software faq's section" says that the internet connection has to be "shared" and the customer pc's must connect to the net via NIC2.
What I've currently have is:-
ADSL Line -> Router -> all pc's (customer and "server" connected via the router) - all works 100%

What I'm trying to achieve is that one of the features of the software, is broadband monitoring and I can allow a specified amount of bandwidth and then charge for whatever they use after that ... but the software company says, that in order for this to work, I need to have the customer pc's connect to the internet via the "server" which "controls" the internet conenction and in doing so, can monitor the bandwidth. So effectively, the "server" becomes the gateway to the internet

 

[Heinz-W]

Sorry, windows7 pro

 

[EasyUp Web Hosting]

Does the software maybe handle the routing? What does the software do to block internet access and give access?

When you bridge the 2 connections, you will have 1 "nic" called bridged connection. you will specify this connection and ip address and the network will work both ways, eg they will have internet access, but like I said, the software won't work.

After some carefull reading, I see that you only have the router and couple of pcs. You have 2 network cables going from the server to the router and the other pcs connect to that same router as well.

If above is incorrect, please drawn me a pic showing the setup and post link or something.

 

[Obelix]

put nic1 and nic2 on different subnets, ie nic1 on 192.168.0.1-254 and nic2 on 192.168.1.1-254
Also make sure youre default gateway ( on server ) points to the address of your adsl modem. For the PC's the default gateway should be the address of nic2 in the server.

 

[ramar]

I really think you need to have your networks on separate subnets for a setup like this to work, and for the server to be able to figure out what is internal and what is external traffic.

E.g - external (adsl & Nic2) on a 192.168.2.0/24 subnet and your internal (Nic1 and client PC's) on a 192.168.1.0/24 subnet. Obvoiusly the the Nics in the server would need to be routed - i would guess your internet cafe software might be handling that.

And when you say "NIC2 plugs into a router, which all the customer pc's are connected to", i assume that 'router' you refer to is just a switch (or a router but you are just using the switch ports)?

 

[xrapidx]

Should nic1 and 2 be on the same subnet?

Yes, they are ...

I wasn't asking if they are (I saw they were) ... I meant the following:

put nic1 and nic2 on different subnets, ie nic1 on 192.168.0.1-254 and nic2 on 192.168.1.1-254
Also make sure youre default gateway ( on server ) points to the address of your adsl modem. For the PC's the default gateway should be the address of nic2 in the server.

I really think you need to have your networks on separate subnets for a setup like this to work, and for the server to be able to figure out what is internal and what is external traffic.

E.g - external (adsl & Nic2) on a 192.168.2.0/24 subnet and your internal (Nic1 and client PC's) on a 192.168.1.0/24 subnet. Obvoiusly the the Nics in the server would need to be routed - i would guess your internet cafe software might be handling that.

 

[Heinz-W]

Does the software maybe handle the routing? What does the software do to block internet access and give access? The software "locks" the customer pc (from the server) and you would either have to have it opened from the "server" again or have a valid login code to "re-open" the pc for usage - does that make sense? It doesn't close the internet connection, that is always tehre. The software merely "closes" the desktop so that no one can have access to it without us physically "opening" it for them ....

When you bridge the 2 connections, you will have 1 "nic" called bridged connection. you will specify this connection and ip address and the network will work both ways, eg they will have internet access, but like I said, the software won't work. Yeah, tried that already and it doesn't work

After some carefull reading, I see that you only have the router and couple of pcs. You have 2 network cables going from the server to the router and the other pcs connect to that same router as well.

If above is incorrect, please drawn me a pic showing the setup and post link or something.

What we've currently have is:-
ADSL Line
Modem / Router
Router (switch) has cables running to the office pc / printers / staff pc's (x2), the "server" (for the internet cafe side) and 10 customer pc's (controlled via the "server"). As I said, this works 100% but .....

What I want (and the software company says it should be set up like this) is:-
ADSL Line
Modem / Router
Router (switch) which connects the office pc, printers, staff pc's (x2) and the "server" ... then, from the
"Server" (via NIC2) connect another router (switch) .... to connect the 10 customer pc's. So the 10 customer pc's will connect via the router (switch) to the server and then the server connects to the adsl line

Am I making sense?

 

[EasyUp Web Hosting]

Yes, it kinda makes more sense now.

Are both routers connected to the internet, meaning you have 2 separate telephone lines?

 

[Heinz-W]

Hi xrapidx / obelix / ramar.....

I'm gonna try and duplicate what you've suggested .... I'll post back my findings (hopefully with good news).

Thanks guys !!

 

[rajharie]

Based on what you say then I think you should have 2 ranges, ie 192.168.1.x and 192.168.2.x as long as you are using 255.255.255.0 as your subnet. It seems that your software is doing the monitoring and management of the routing between the 2 nics. It doesnt sound like it will work with an IP on the same range.

 

[Heinz-W]

Yes, it kinda makes more sense now.

Are both routers connected to the internet, meaning you have 2 separate telephone lines?

Only the one has the incoming adsl line to it - Modem / Router ... the other - I should have called it a switch - read my comments again ... I changed it ...

 

[Heinz-W]

Based on what you say then I think you should have 2 ranges, ie 192.168.1.x and 192.168.2.x as long as you are using 255.255.255.0 as your subnet. It seems that your software is doing the monitoring and management of the routing between the 2 nics. It doesnt sound like it will work with an IP on the same range.

I'm gonna give it a bash ... will let you know .... thanks a mill