Some easy questions for the networking gurus...

[ddeder]

I currently have 4 computers networked together in my office. I am using an 8 port hub to network these machines together. A local ISP just began to offer wireless internet access which I just subscribed to. They supplied me with a wireless modem and antennae. They also provided me with an IP address, Gateway address and some other numbers (submask or something like that). The wireless modem connects to my network with CAT5 cable. Am I right in assuming that I cannot just plug this cable into an empty port on my hub? If so, I assume that a switch would not help me either and what I would need would be a router. I see routers advertised as "cable routers", "dsl routers", etc... Do I need a special type of router in order to connect wireless internet access to my network or will any router work?

Now to the software...

Would I change the IP address on all of the computers to the one provided by the ISP or just one of the computers? Does the router get an IP address? Currently, all of the computers on the network obtain an IP address automatically. I tried to change the IP address on one of the computers to the IP address provided by the ISP and I immediately got an error which prevented that system from being recognized on the network.

Any help is appreciated!

 

[MWalkden]

I'd research your modem and find out what it can do (make sure it isn't a router too). Ask your wireless provider. If you need a router be sure to check with them about incompatibilities with routers. I'd recommend a NAT router. If your modem is a NAT too, your provider should be able to tell you what to do. If not, the manual you get with the router will tell you how to set it up.

.(MW)

 

[Garion]

If they only gave you one IP, you do indeed need some kind of router or firewall product. One of the standard broadband routers would work quite nicely for you. Linksys, d-link, SMC, etc. There's lots of threads about which is better on this forum - Spend a few hours reading and pick what best meets your needs. I've got a Linksys, it works fine, but most people like the features of the SMC. Once you buy it, just follow the instructions and it should be a walk in the park to setup.

One note - You will be able to connect your existing hub to the router with a crossover cable (or use the built-in uplink port on your hub if it has one). I'd put your high-bandwidth users right on the router, however - It's built-in switch is more efficient than your old hub.

- G

 

[Heisenberg]

Another option if you have a spare computer is to put two NIC's in it and set it up to do IP masquerading.

 

[ViperXX]

Get another NIC for the computer that has the wireless card in it (this computer will be your gateway) and add a 10/100 ethernet card. Set that card up as 192.168.0.1 subnet 255.255.255.0 The other computers will be 192.168.0.2 (use .3 and .4 for other computers) subnet 255.255.255.0 gateway will be 192.168.0.1. Use the DNS from the gateway computer and input the IPs into the client computers DNS settings. You will have to leave the gateway computer on all the time in order for the client computers to connect to the internet. Use this opton if you want to save a little money NIC=$20, Router=$60.
If you decide to go with the router I suggest the Linksys BEFSR41. The router would be setup with the settings your currently using with your wireless NIC. Then set the router to use DHCP it will automatically hand out IP, subnet, gateway and DNS addresses to the client computers. You could continue using that 8 port switch if you plug the Cat5 cable into the switch's uplink port and the other end to one of the ports (1,2,3,4) on the router as long as you don't use the routers uplink port.