HOME NETWORK: Advice Needed!

[johnny-c]

I have the following computers:
* Old pentium 166 (to be used as the "server")
* Newer pentium desktop (Winxppro)
* Notebook (Winxphome)

Each of the above computers have a network card in them. What I want to do is buy a PCI card with a USB port on it for the pentium 166 - is this possible? - and connect to the mywireless network through that pc. I'd like to leave the 166 on 24/7, as an "always on" server. Then I want to put two network cards in total into the 166, and run a cable from each network card to a socket of some sort in the rooms that the desktop and the notebook are mainly used in. In this way, whenever a computer is turned on and logged on to the network, it will have an internet connection that is shared with the other computer.

I'll obviously need to buy some cabling, another network card for the 166, and some sockets.

The main question is: how? Considering the limitations of a P166 (latest OS for it is Win98SE - consider nobody actually has to USE the machine so "speed" is not a really worrying factor here, also a bit of loss in download speed is not a worry to me as most of our activities are low bandwidth), how do I do this? What software do I use?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[dikbek]

What you need to do is buy a hub or switch and connect all 3 computers to that via 10baset cable, one cable per machine - a 4-port 10Mb hub would work fine and you might be able to get a secondhand one cheaply. PCI usb cards are available. Either install server software on the 166 or Win2K (workstation) or Winxp pro which will allow you to share the connection across all 3 machines.

Hope this helps.

 

[johnny-c]

Hello there dikbek,

Thanks for the help, but unfortunately it doesn't quite suit my configuration. I'm trying to avoid buying things like routers/hubs/etc as I have no clue on how to use them, and I seem to think they are quite expensive (R500+).

I'd ideally like to just buy another network card, a USB card for the 166, and the cabling/sockets. The 166box is just going to sit up in a cupboard, and be on 24/7.

I seem to remember Win2K will run on a 166 box, so thats worth a try. Does Win2K support "bridging" connections? Perhaps that is the solution?

 

[francoistk]

Well it should work with just another network card. And then using cross over network cables to the 166 machine.
A simple switch costs about between 200 and 300. And that is just plug in the network cables and it works. I would suggest this option is maybe more effective, and i think easier to set up

 

[privet]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by johnny-c</i>
<br />I have the following computers:
* Old pentium 166 (to be used as the "server")
* Newer pentium desktop (Winxppro)
* Notebook (Winxphome)
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

You should not have to pay more than R300 for a 5 or 8 port hub/switch. No worries about setup and all. You plug the power in, and you plug the ethernet cables in... easy as that.

I can recommend you install Linux on the P166. Download say RH 6.2 ISO and away you go... router/firewall/proxy/web/mail all standard out of the box.

 

[johnny-c]

Thanks for all your advice.

I will look into getting a hub, may I just ask - I assume the connections will be as follows:
Hub &gt; 166
Hub &gt; Notebook
Hub &gt; Desktop

I'll give linux a shot, I've used it very briefly when it was (I think) RH6.0, and found it quite difficult. I'm sure I can find some helpful info on the net....

*trots over to google*

Can anyone suggest any good sites for Linux information, such as how to things?

 

[Perdition]

Your connection layout is correct.

I agree with everyone that a hub/switch is the best way to go, this way if you need to add more computers to the network (even if temporarily) it's easy []

Linux is good if you have the time and patience to play around with it. If you need to get up and running quickly then your best option might be 98SE as you suggested. I had 2000 running on a 166 with 64MB ram as my server for a while and it ran ok even with a firewall installed, though you won't be able to do much else with it.

 

[guest2013-1]

I'd say go for a wireless lan, much cooler... you have the mobility in and around your house with your laptop, and no cables for your wife to trip over []

 

[freeek]

i got a router, 2 pc's with 1.winxp 2.linux rh 9 wireless internet connection
easy to setup. runs lovely. ur p1 will serve as the router.

..- dot dot dash

 

[bb_matt]

Check my Smoothwall / Mywireless HOWTO.

http://www.myadsl.co.za/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2387

You'll need a MyWireless Ethernet cable for it tho, but it's a dead easy setup otherwise.

As for a switch, you should be able to pick one up for under R220 if you shop around - I got an 8 port from Cablelink in Strijdom park (jhb) for R180 if I remember correctly. Additional NICS are under R100.