Home Network with crossover cables

[alvaro]

( The folloing text is a copy of message post in the subject
Re_Home Network-2XP Machines, posted on 9 March 2004)

(...) I have followed the discussion bettween Kyle ans Steve about Home
Network (...) .

MY QUESTION :
Is it possible to add a 3th PC to a 2 PCs LAN (PC1- PC2) using crossover
cables, and having the Internet in the *crazzy* 3th PC (PC3) ?

My Network
PC1 (winxp) PC2 (winxp) PC3 (win2k)
(alone, PC1 and PC2 work pretty well on www, e-mail, newsgroups, file
sharing)

IINTERNET side:
PC1 connected to Internet thru a moded ADSL. IP is dynamic.
Firewall applied.

LAN side:
PC1 with static IP : 192.168.0.1
all the configuration was not touched after the wizzard
PC2 with static IP: 192.168.0.2
all the configuration was not modified, except the IP that was set to
192.168.0.2
Gateway and DNS of PC2 were set to the IP of PC1 (192.168.0.1)

Later i put a crazzy 3th PC (win2k) with a crossover cable connected to PC2.
PC2 and PC3 see each other, using static IPs ou dynamic IP.
for instances:
PC1 : IP 192.168.0.1
PC2 : IP 192.168.0.2 & 192.168.1.2
PC3 : IP 192.168.0.3

BUT, with this "crazy" LAN, most of the time PC2 losses its acess to
Internet althought it keeps seeing PC1.
I have tried too many times to overcome the issue. I have tried to use a
bridge, and the dynamic configuration in the PCs without success.
I guess that Microsft does not allow PC2 to be the gateway for PC3, to
protect the network (PC1-PC2). What is your opinion ?

Thanks
alvaro

 

[Rob Elder, MVP-Networking]

ICS is designed to share over one connection. You'll need to purchase a
switch.

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

( The folloing text is a copy of message post in the subject
Re_Home Network-2XP Machines, posted on 9 March 2004)

(...) I have followed the discussion bettween Kyle ans Steve about Home
Network (...) .

MY QUESTION :
Is it possible to add a 3th PC to a 2 PCs LAN (PC1- PC2) using crossover
cables, and having the Internet in the *crazzy* 3th PC (PC3) ?

My Network
PC1 (winxp) PC2 (winxp) PC3 (win2k)
(alone, PC1 and PC2 work pretty well on www, e-mail, newsgroups, file
sharing)

IINTERNET side:
PC1 connected to Internet thru a moded ADSL. IP is dynamic.
Firewall applied.

LAN side:
PC1 with static IP : 192.168.0.1
all the configuration was not touched after the wizzard
PC2 with static IP: 192.168.0.2
all the configuration was not modified, except the IP that was set to
192.168.0.2
Gateway and DNS of PC2 were set to the IP of PC1 (192.168.0.1)

Later i put a crazzy 3th PC (win2k) with a crossover cable connected to PC2.
PC2 and PC3 see each other, using static IPs ou dynamic IP.
for instances:
PC1 : IP 192.168.0.1
PC2 : IP 192.168.0.2 & 192.168.1.2
PC3 : IP 192.168.0.3

BUT, with this "crazy" LAN, most of the time PC2 losses its acess to
Internet althought it keeps seeing PC1.
I have tried too many times to overcome the issue. I have tried to use a
bridge, and the dynamic configuration in the PCs without success.
I guess that Microsft does not allow PC2 to be the gateway for PC3, to
protect the network (PC1-PC2). What is your opinion ?

Thanks
alvaro

Yes, what you want is possible. All you need to do is create a
network bridge on PC2, joining its two network connections together.
I've written a web page with details:

XP ICS - Network Bridge
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp_ics/networkbridge.htm

I recommend NOT assigning a static IP address to the network bridge.
Let it get its TCP/IP configuration from PC1. If you do assign a
static IP address to the network bridge, assign the default gateway
and DNS server addresses, too.

I think that your setup is overly complex. Here are two simpler (and
probably more reliable) alternatives:

1. Get a network switch to connect all three PCs together. PC2 will
only need one network adapter.

2. Get a broadband router, connect the DSL modem to its WAN port, and
connect all of the computers to its LAN ports. Disable ICS on PC1.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[alvaro]

Thank you very much for your advices.

alvaro