Replace Computer with Linksys WAG54GS?

J

Judy

Currently my ADSL service runs from a wall outlet via a splitter to
the phone and to a D-Link Wireless ADSL 2+ router (G684T). An ethernet
connection runs from the router to an old Windows XP PC. I use this PC
for nothing else but to service the router. I connect to the Internet
using a wireless laptop, which I can move from place to place in the
apartment.

Suddenly the old PC is playing up, signalling a hard disk failure on 2
out of 3 boots. I figured I needed to replace the hard disk or the
computer, but a sales person told me to throw out the computer and
replace it with a Linksys WAG54GS ADSL Gateway. Will this really work
without using a computer to set it up?
 
S

Sooner Al [MVP]

Judy said:
Currently my ADSL service runs from a wall outlet via a splitter to
the phone and to a D-Link Wireless ADSL 2+ router (G684T). An ethernet
connection runs from the router to an old Windows XP PC. I use this PC
for nothing else but to service the router. I connect to the Internet
using a wireless laptop, which I can move from place to place in the
apartment.

Suddenly the old PC is playing up, signalling a hard disk failure on 2
out of 3 boots. I figured I needed to replace the hard disk or the
computer, but a sales person told me to throw out the computer and
replace it with a Linksys WAG54GS ADSL Gateway. Will this really work
without using a computer to set it up?

Well, does your laptop have an Ethernet port? If so and since your already
connected to the internet there is absolutely no reason to purchase another
router. You can still configure the router using an Ethernet link between
your laptop and the router. Just disable wireless on the laptop when you do
that.

--

Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the
mutual benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights...
 
J

Judy

Well, does your laptop have an Ethernet port? If so and since your already
connected to the internet there is absolutely no reason to purchase another
router. You can still configure the router using an Ethernet link between
your laptop and the router. Just disable wireless on the laptop when you do
that.

--

Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the
mutual benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program -http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights...

Looks like I've explained things badly. Please allow for my extreme
naivete.
I use the wireless laptop from various places in the apartment. It
connects via the D-Link Wireless ADSL 2+ router (G684T) which is
physically connected to the PC and phone line.
Can I throw out the PC and D-Link and instead use the Linksys WAG54GS
as a replacement for them?
 
S

Sooner Al [MVP]

Judy said:
Looks like I've explained things badly. Please allow for my extreme
naivete.
I use the wireless laptop from various places in the apartment. It
connects via the D-Link Wireless ADSL 2+ router (G684T) which is
physically connected to the PC and phone line.
Can I throw out the PC and D-Link and instead use the Linksys WAG54GS
as a replacement for them?

Yes you can but since it appears to be a one-for-one replacement of the
D-Link device why do it?

Good luck...

--

Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the
mutual benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights...
 
J

Jim

Judy said:
Looks like I've explained things badly. Please allow for my extreme
naivete.
I use the wireless laptop from various places in the apartment. It
connects via the D-Link Wireless ADSL 2+ router (G684T) which is
physically connected to the PC and phone line.
Can I throw out the PC and D-Link and instead use the Linksys WAG54GS
as a replacement for them?
The Linksys router only replaces the D-Link router. By no stretch of the
imagination does it replace the PC.

Is it possible to manage the D-Link router via wireless?
The Linksys can be so managed, and mine was like that for some time.
However, for security reasons, I have disabled wireless remote management of
the router.

As Sooner Al said, you can always connect the laptop to the router via an
ethernet cable, if the laptop has an ethernet port, for management purposes.
When done, just remove the ethernet cable, and resume wireless.

Jim
 
L

Lem

Judy said:
Looks like I've explained things badly. Please allow for my extreme
naivete.
I use the wireless laptop from various places in the apartment. It
connects via the D-Link Wireless ADSL 2+ router (G684T) which is
physically connected to the PC and phone line.
Can I throw out the PC and D-Link and instead use the Linksys WAG54GS
as a replacement for them?

Your original question was prompted by the imminent demise of the PC
that you said you use "for nothing else but to service the router." The
point that Al is making is that you do not need this PC to service the
router (either your existing D-Link router or a new Linksys WAG54GS).

You do not have to have ANY computer that is ALWAYS connected to your
router. The router -- either your current D-Link or a new Linksys --
will work just fine on its own.

You can "service" the router (i.e., make configuration changes as may be
needed from time to time) by *temporarily* connecting ANY computer
(including your laptop) to it using an Ethernet cable.

As Jim said, you *could* "service the router" via a wireless connection,
but this generally is not recommended.

So the answer to your question is: Yes, throw out the dying PC, but
there is no good reason to also replace the D-Link device with the
Linksys device.
 
J

Judy

Your original question was prompted by the imminent demise of the PC
that you said you use "for nothing else but to service the router." The
point that Al is making is that you do not need this PC to service the
router (either your existing D-Link router or a new Linksys WAG54GS).

You do not have to have ANY computer that is ALWAYS connected to your
router. The router -- either your current D-Link or a new Linksys --
will work just fine on its own.

You can "service" the router (i.e., make configuration changes as may be
needed from time to time) by *temporarily* connecting ANY computer
(including your laptop) to it using an Ethernet cable.

As Jim said, you *could* "service the router" via a wireless connection,
but this generally is not recommended.

So the answer to your question is: Yes, throw out the dying PC, but
there is no good reason to also replace the D-Link device with the
Linksys device.

--
Lem MS MVP -- Networking

To the moon and back with 64 Kbits of RAM and 512 Kbits of ROM.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Thanks for sticking with me. Now I get the picture. Simpler than I
imagined. So now I'll get down to it. Thanks for saving me the extra
expense.
 
S

Sooner Al [MVP]

Judy said:
Thanks for sticking with me. Now I get the picture. Simpler than I
imagined. So now I'll get down to it. Thanks for saving me the extra
expense.

Glad we all could help... Its always nice to save a few $$$$...:)

--

Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the
mutual benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights...
 

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