Setting Up A Lan
RustySpoon
Join Date: 2003-07-10 Member: 18069Members
Join Date: 2003-07-10 Member: 18069Members
in Off-Topic
So me and a few friends, (newbs all of us) decided to put together a little LAN party.
We got no idea how to do it though. So we get a hub, some ethernet and plug it all in?
Can I get some step-by-step detailed instructions on this?
I also heard there's two different kinds of ethernet? Clarification?
And what "precautions" should I take. Do I need software? Are some hubs worse than others? What games are fun? <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Thanks
We got no idea how to do it though. So we get a hub, some ethernet and plug it all in?
Can I get some step-by-step detailed instructions on this?
I also heard there's two different kinds of ethernet? Clarification?
And what "precautions" should I take. Do I need software? Are some hubs worse than others? What games are fun? <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Thanks
Comments
I know a little, you get 10MBPs, 100MBPs and 10/100 ethernet cards, 1 needed in each PC plus a hub to connect them all to via RJ45 cables i think...
The 10/100 cards are capable of communicating with both the other types, while a 10MBPs cannot communicate with a 100MBPs cards and vice versa.
For gaming i think the 10/100 or 100 cards are advised.
Thats about the extent of what i know and thats from years ago lol, most likely all wrong any way.
It's a no-brainer, really.
It's a no-brainer, really. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
So just the standard network card everyone has?
Am I gonna have to do a lot of configuring?
It's a no-brainer, really. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
So just the standard network card everyone has?
Am I gonna have to do a lot of configuring? <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
If you have XP no.
Internet Modem -> <u>Router</u> -> Computers
Use CAT5 networking cable. Modem ethernet cable goes into the WAN port, then use network cables to put the router to the other computers (it should have numbers on the back). Linksys routers are the best IMHO. I once had a D-Link, and it didn't work with my ISP <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/confused-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
A HUB isn't the way to go if you want to use a single internet connection. A HUB will connect every computer individually, thus requiring a seperate internet account/IP address (ISP's charge extra for this) for each computer.
Get cheap NIC's for the computers, and a cheap wired Linksys router.
192.168.1.1 - The key to any network. Remember this and you can truly call yourself "1337" or "t3h pwnz0r".
Internet Modem -> <u>Router</u> -> Computers
Use CAT5 networking cable. Modem ethernet cable goes into the WAN port, then use network cables to put the router to the other computers (it should have numbers on the back). Linksys routers are the best IMHO. I once had a D-Link, and it didn't work with my ISP <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/confused-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
A HUB isn't the way to go if you want to use a single internet connection. A HUB will connect every computer individually, thus requiring a seperate internet account/IP address (ISP's charge extra for this) for each computer.
Get cheap NIC's for the computers, and a cheap wired Linksys router.
192.168.1.1 - The key to any network. Remember this and you can truly call yourself "1337" or "t3h pwnz0r". <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Quoted for truth.
Okay, some misinformation, some good. Here's where it seperates.
To set up a LAN, you will need:
-Hub (or preferably, switch)
-NICs (One for each computer)
-LAN cable (CAT5 preferred)
-'Home router' (Netgear, DLink, 3Com, Linksys) <Optional, see below>
And now here's why.
A hub and a switch do basically the same thing... act as a kind of 'roundhouse' for cabling. The difference is, with a hub.. there's only one send, and one receive line. It essentially ties them all together. A switch intelligently takes each packet and routes it to the specific cable leading to the computer that the packet is meant for.
This is better as it cuts down on collisions, almost entirely. (A collision is what happens when two computers try to send packets at the same time on a non-switched network... they 'collide', mixing the signals and making them garbage).
NICs.. network interface cards. 10BaseT (10B-T) runs at 10Mbit/s. 100BaseT (100B-T) runs at 100Mbit/s. Much faster. You can go into gigabit (1000B-T), but for gaming it's not needed, and almost nobody has the card unless it came with their computer. As noted previously, there are 10/100 cards for sale (very common) that will talk to each other. But a straight 10B-T cannot talk to a 100B-T.
Also, make SURE your hub/switch is rated for whatever speed... there are also 10/100 switches.
Since you're laying out cash already, I'd go 10/100 all around.
LAN cable... you aren't going over 100B-T, so you can probably get away with CAT3. I would recommend CAT5 or CAT5e though. Um... just make sure you don't have any cables over 300 feet long. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo--> Line attenuation will screw you over. I doubt you'll run into it though, unless you have a big-**** house, or are LANning between two houses.
You may want to turn on the DHCP server in XP... will allow all the other computers that hook up to the network to configure themselves based on what you put in. Makes it easy for friends to bring their crap over, plug in and go.
Internet connectivity. This one... can be tricky.
First, a hub normally will not connect directly to a modem. Nor will it assign multiple IP addresses. A hub is a dumb junction. Some broadband modems do have an ethernet port on them (yay!)... do not plug this into a hub. Unless you have it set up with your ISP to have multiple accounts and IP addresses, or they'll get rather irritable. Either it goes to your computer, or into a masquerading box.
This can be a Linux server running IPMasq, or an embedded solution (which usually still use Linux invisibly) like Netgear, DLink, 3Com, and (shudder) Linksys provide, labelling themselves as a 'home router'. Which couldn't be further from the truth, but that's Networking 102, down the hall and to the left. All you need to know for now is that it's gonna soak you about $60 or so. This also 'hides' all machines behind it from your ISP, so it looks like there's only one machine there. This means it's less likely you'll get charged for multiple computer access.
And if it wasn't clear, I feel that Linksys 'routers' are utter, total, complete, steaming crap. They cause nothing but problems for me at work, when some pinhead brings one in and hides it under his desk. They don't just break themselves, they can break anything on the same hardlines as them. So that BDC on two that stopped talking to the outside world is because Joe in Accounting (on five) wanted to plug in his laptop without unplugging his desktop. DOOOOOOM!!!
Internet Modem -> <u>Router</u> -> Computers
Use CAT5 networking cable. Modem ethernet cable goes into the WAN port, then use network cables to put the router to the other computers (it should have numbers on the back). Linksys routers are the best IMHO. I once had a D-Link, and it didn't work with my ISP <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/confused-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
A HUB isn't the way to go if you want to use a single internet connection. A HUB will connect every computer individually, thus requiring a seperate internet account/IP address (ISP's charge extra for this) for each computer.
Get cheap NIC's for the computers, and a cheap wired Linksys router.
192.168.1.1 - The key to any network. Remember this and you can truly call yourself "1337" or "t3h pwnz0r". <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
<3
Pretend I said the same as Talesin, just I got here too late. Oh, and to be picky at both Talesin AND Rusty....
192.168.0.0/16, kthx. <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
- Shockwave
why are you having such trouble with the lynksis routers? It almost sounds like the people who use them are doing something skrewey with their setups (trying to use them like a dhcp server or something).
For home use, their not too bad. They do MAC address cloning (essential for some ISP's) and can do port forwarding. Plus, they are relativly inexpensive now. There directions are decent for someone just getting into networking (setting up a new home network).
Other than that, everything you said is spot on <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Just speaking from experience, friend didn't check his computer, infected all of us, which led to a full reformat. Lovely lesson.
We got no idea how to do it though. So we get a hub, some ethernet and plug it all in?
Can I get some step-by-step detailed instructions on this?
I also heard there's two different kinds of ethernet? Clarification?
And what "precautions" should I take. Do I need software? Are some hubs worse than others? What games are fun? <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Thanks <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Switches are better than hubs. Less hassle too. All you need is 1 straight-through cable per computer, 1 lan card each.
Aye, 'tis a Network address. I was pointing out the whole range, as you each mentioned two different host addresses of the RFC1918 Class B. I didn't intend to mean you would use it.
- Shockeh
why are you having such trouble with the lynksis routers? It almost sounds like the people who use them are doing something skrewey with their setups (trying to use them like a dhcp server or something).
For home use, their not too bad. They do MAC address cloning (essential for some ISP's) and can do port forwarding. Plus, they are relativly inexpensive now. There directions are decent for someone just getting into networking (setting up a new home network).
Other than that, everything you said is spot on <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
There's the classic Rogue DHCP problem (the Linksys gets the request before the ACTUAL DHCP server, and assigns them an IP.. which does not work with the LAN setup, and since the request has been filled, the 'good' IP from the actual DHCP server is ignored), but that isn't the biggest difficulty.
The biggest problems I have with them are that:
1) They're flaky. They'll spontaneously just stop working, without reason or rhyme. A power cycle will fix them, but if I have a portion of a LAN set up, I want it to KEEP working, with zero attention from me.
2) Compounding this flakiness, they will occasionally go into all I can describe as a Linksys-Supremacist mode. If they are not on a Linksys-homogenous network, they will flat-out REFUSE to work at all. As well as 'poisoning' an entire subsection of the network... sometimes completely, sometimes scattershot. So you'll get five people who cannot get online at all, even though their physical media is good and showing link, their network settings are correct, and everything SHOULD be working. As soon as the Linksys is unplugged, they work just fine.
For the wide-spread problem, multiply by ten to a hundred users, all coming in and demanding to know why the network is down. They are a headache... fine if you just need a cheap piece of junk that will occasionally work right, but it's honestly worth spending the extra $20 to get a GOOD piece of hardware. Doesn't stop rogue DHCP, but does stop unexplained outages.
hear hear! hubs just broadcast (spam?) every network package of everyone around the network so they can be sniffed (watching someone his msn messages anyone?)
switches really deliver only from A to B
so:
No intarweb?
every PC 1 NIC (Network Interface Card) of 100Mbit
1 Switch (100 Mbit and enough ports for the # of PC's)
kabels! for every connected PC ofcourse.
IP's 192.168.1.1 - 192.168.1.200
With intarweb
same as above only you use a modemrouter instead of a switch
and the ip's well... if you set up your router to use DHCP it should all go well <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
else just use 192.168.1.1 - 192.168.1.200 (should be enough <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->)
pictars!
<img src='http://img217.exs.cx/img217/7224/intarweb4dx.gif' border='0' alt='user posted image' />