connecting two networks by windows xp bridge

[Loshmi]

i have a router with 4 cable entrance, so i canot connect more than 4
computers, i need to connect 5to it...so i wneed to connect 4 to a router and
i want to connect fift PC to the PC on the router that has 2 lan cards...and
make another network..
i want to bridge those networks within the PC that has two lan cards...(all
PCs have win xp sp2 on them) router has dhcp enabled..what ip configuration i
should use on my netowkrs so it works.
i have cable internet modem that connects my router to internet..i need to
have all 5 computer able to connect...
what ip configuration should i use?
should i disable dhcp on router?

 

[John B]

Your two segments must share a common IP network address...i.e, subnet
address. Yet each DEVICE (i.e, host) must have a unique address on said
network.
Don't disable DHCP. But take notice of the range of addresses it will
allocate...typically 192.168.1.100 through 192.168.1.149.
You must set the IP address of all hosts on the "far" segment statically.
That, of course, means a minimum of two addresses: one for the LAN card in
the bridging computer; the other for the 5th computer.
Use addresses that will not possibly conflict with addresses allocated by
the DHCP server: suggestion: 192.168.1.60, 192.168.1.61.
Subnet masks must be identical everywhere.
Gateway must be identical everywhere: probably 192.168.1.1.

This is a bridge you are erecting, not a router; hence the common default
gateway.

 

[Steve Winograd]

i have a router with 4 cable entrance, so i canot connect more than 4
computers, i need to connect 5to it...so i wneed to connect 4 to a router and
i want to connect fift PC to the PC on the router that has 2 lan cards...and
make another network..
i want to bridge those networks within the PC that has two lan cards...(all
PCs have win xp sp2 on them) router has dhcp enabled..what ip configuration i
should use on my netowkrs so it works.
i have cable internet modem that connects my router to internet..i need to
have all 5 computer able to connect...
what ip configuration should i use?
should i disable dhcp on router?

Just create a network bridge between the two network cards. You don't
need to do anything with IP addresses or DHCP. All of the computers
will get their network configuration from the router's DHCP server.

I've written a web page with more information:

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

However, there's a better solution than using two network cards and a
network bridge. Get a network switch (not a router) and connect the
switch to one of your router's LAN ports. You can then connect
additional computers to the switch ports.
--
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

 

[Steve Winograd]

Your two segments must share a common IP network address...i.e, subnet
address. Yet each DEVICE (i.e, host) must have a unique address on said
network.
Don't disable DHCP. But take notice of the range of addresses it will
allocate...typically 192.168.1.100 through 192.168.1.149.
You must set the IP address of all hosts on the "far" segment statically.
That, of course, means a minimum of two addresses: one for the LAN card in
the bridging computer; the other for the 5th computer.
Use addresses that will not possibly conflict with addresses allocated by
the DHCP server: suggestion: 192.168.1.60, 192.168.1.61.
Subnet masks must be identical everywhere.
Gateway must be identical everywhere: probably 192.168.1.1.

This is a bridge you are erecting, not a router; hence the common default
gateway.

There's no need to set static IP addresses on LAN card in the bridging
computer or on the "far" segment. All of the computers, whether
"near" or "far" will get their IP addresses from the router's DHCP
server.

The network bridge combines two distinct physical networks into one
logical network. I've written a web page with details:

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

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

i have a router with 4 cable entrance, so i canot connect more than 4
computers, i need to connect 5to it...so i wneed to connect 4 to a
router and i want to connect fift PC to the PC on the router that has
2 lan cards...and make another network..
i want to bridge those networks within the PC that has two lan
cards...(all PCs have win xp sp2 on them) router has dhcp
enabled..what ip configuration i should use on my netowkrs so it
works.
i have cable internet modem that connects my router to internet..i
need to have all 5 computer able to connect...
what ip configuration should i use?
should i disable dhcp on router?

Just get a simple Ethernet switch (e.g., 4, 5, 8 or 12 port) and connect it
to your router. These are inexpensive nowadays. There's no need to do
anything with Windows at all, and I wouldn't recommend mucking around with
that.

 

[John B]

Recall that one computer in a small collection of computers is double-homed.
If a "far segment" connects the second NIC of that double-homed computer
with one single-homed computer, in such a bridge situation, should that
"far" cable be a crossover cable?

I know that a crossover cable IS appropriate where that far segment has an
IP network address that is DIFFERENT from the "near ip network."

 

[Steve Winograd]

Recall that one computer in a small collection of computers is double-homed.
If a "far segment" connects the second NIC of that double-homed computer
with one single-homed computer, in such a bridge situation, should that
"far" cable be a crossover cable?

I know that a crossover cable IS appropriate where that far segment has an
IP network address that is DIFFERENT from the "near ip network."

With most NICs, a computer-to-computer connection requires a crossover
cable. Many recent 100 Mb NICs, and all 1000 Mb NICs, automatically
sense the connection type and can use a regular cable or a crossover
cable.

Bridging or not bridging makes no difference. IP addressing makes no
difference.
--
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

 

[Loshmi]

Wow guys, thank You for Your feedback, i've gotten so much info from You, i
wish i conntacted You earlier(not wasting so much time trying to figure it
out myself)
The thing is i already had two lan cards, and i didn't want to buy a switch
At first i just connected everything and it worked...with DHCP ip
assigned...but later on...my network started loosing connectivity...( i think
my router looses its DHCP functionality from time to time, i know i should
have just restarted it, but i didnt want to take the risk of 5 people loosing
their internet because of the router issue)
so finally i disabled dhcp and used 192.168.0.1 ip for the router, and so
on for all the PCs, even the fifth PC had one of the 192.169.0.x Ip, and
everything started working flawlessly...
thanks again, you are great!

 

[Steve Winograd]

Wow guys, thank You for Your feedback, i've gotten so much info from You, i
wish i conntacted You earlier(not wasting so much time trying to figure it
out myself)
The thing is i already had two lan cards, and i didn't want to buy a switch
At first i just connected everything and it worked...with DHCP ip
assigned...but later on...my network started loosing connectivity...( i think
my router looses its DHCP functionality from time to time, i know i should
have just restarted it, but i didnt want to take the risk of 5 people loosing
their internet because of the router issue)
so finally i disabled dhcp and used 192.168.0.1 ip for the router, and so
on for all the PCs, even the fifth PC had one of the 192.169.0.x Ip, and
everything started working flawlessly...
thanks again, you are great!

You're welcome. I'm glad that my suggestions helped you get
everything to work. The IP addresses that you assigned are fine.
--
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