Setting up a home network

Posts: 2 · New Forum Member Joined: Oct 30, 2005 Posts: 2

Hello all:
I have three computers, two that are permanently connected and a laptop that is on and off the LAN. I recently came into a situation in which I could have used file transfer between two computers but was not able to set the LAN properly. If any one here could help me with step by step instructions I would be greatly appreciative. Here is the setup:
fom internet(COMCAST) to MODEM(Motorola) to Voip Router(Linksys) from Vonage to phone/ computers.
first computer is running windoze 98se, second is running winxp pro and the laptop is running Xandros(Linux) 3.1

I have no connectivity problems to the internet. I just haven't set my network and my computers can't see each other.

I'd also like to play games between computers but that is just icing on the cake.

Thanks a bunch.
Daddy0h

Posts: 11 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Jun 15, 2004 Posts: 11

Quote:

recently came into a situation in which I could have used file transfer between two computers but was not able to set the LAN properly.

What do you mean that you could not set the LAN properly? Some questions:

1) Have you set up the computers with fixed IP addresses or do they acquire their addresses from the router?
2) Have you tried to ping the computers to see if basic connectivity is working?
3) Have you opened the Network Neighborhood on the windows machines to see if the other computers are seen?

Posts: 1424 · Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2005 9:35 am Post subject:

One method of sharing files is to enable file and printer sharing on your windows computers. You will then, I believe, need to install samba on your Linux machine. Leaving file and printer sharing on can cause security issues with machines that are connected to the Internet.

A second option would be to temporarily enable an FTP server on one of your machines and use FTP clients to share the files.

If all your machines are accessing the Internet currently then you shouldn't have issues gaming between the machines.

Posts: 55 · Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2005 12:17 pm Post subject:

If you're getting to the Internet, sounds like the IP addresses are coming from DHCP.

The "Trick" to getting Windoz computers to "see" each other is 1) same network addressing (should be ok) 2) same workgroup (set the same on each PC) and 3) File and Print sharing enabled.

Make sure TCPIP is the only protocol in use on 98 - XP doesn't have the archaic ones (read: NetBEUI) out of the box.

As scerruti posted, for Windows to see linux, you're need Samba running or use a file transfer application like FTP or SCP (if you have SSH running).

Posts: 2 · New Forum Member Joined: Oct 30, 2005 Posts: 2

ok... answers to these questions:
What do you mean that you could not set the LAN properly?
-- I didn't know if I needed to change the workgroup or not. I did. Also it was asking me if i was part of a domain... beats me.

1) Have you set up the computers with fixed IP addresses or do they acquire their addresses from the router?
---they are DHCP
2) Have you tried to ping the computers to see if basic connectivity is working?
--yes... all are pingable(???)... or were. Because i couln't see them i made changes and now i cannot ping them
3) Have you opened the Network Neighborhood on the windows machines to see if the other computers are seen?
Yup... they were, not now.

More info... I ended up reformating my WinXP machine so it has a clean slate now to try anew.

Now... reading between the lines and putting all the answers together along with what I knew... me thinks i need to do this:

Use the WinXP disk to set the home networking deal automatically.
Then run it in the Win98 machine. Then... Enable Samba?
Do I need to give my machines all their own addresses or can I leave it DHCP?

Thanks.