Calling All Networking Gurus - I Need Some Help Please

[sfxwe]

Ok, let me see if I can explain this properly:

I have a small network, the computers on this small network are all connected via a router, and the router of course is connected to a cable modem via the WAN port for access to the internet.

I have a totally separate 2nd cable modem connected directly to a single standalone computer, that I would like to turn into a small personal internet server, this standalone computer has 2 NICs in it.

My question is this:

I need to know if this is possible and if so how can I do it, or where can I read up on how to do something as this……..

I would like to make a connection from my router (that is connected, to my small network), to the free 2nd NIC port on my small personal server. This way I would be able to transfer data (at A LOT higher rate) from my small network computers to my personal server. But yet still be able to access my server from the internet, on its own cable modem, therefore freeing up my 1st cable modem to use for surfing etc….Example, if someone in my family from another state, wanted to say, download some family pictures off my server, they would not mess up my surfing etc by tying up my precious and very limited bandwidth on my 1st cable modem that is connect to my small home network.

I have tried connecting my computers together as I stated above but it seems Windows XP Pro, which BTW is running on all my computers, seems to get confused. My problem when I connect them this way is I can’t access the internet or my small network. I need to be able to tell WinXP that NIC 1 is used for internet / server, and NIC 2 is there for use on my side of the network for file transfers to and from the server. I should be able to do this, but must be missing something in the settings. Any suggestions / ideas / or tips. I would luv to be able to fully utilize both cable modems but with out having to buy a dual WAN router.

I hope this makes sense, if not let me know and maybe I can map it out on paper and post it, or try to explain better in some way.

TIA

[sterno]

I can tell you that running a server like that is definitely possible, but I don't know how to do it in Windows XP. It's usually called a multihomed server.

You probably need to set up a route on the server machine so that your internal subnet is always run through the internal interface (don't turn on packet forwarding or anything like that). You'll almost certainly have to use a static IP on the internal interface, not DHCP from your router.

[mrtristan]

Did you set up users for the small network? I had a bitch of a time just trying to print from one computer to another. Both are running w2k and both were properly configured and connected. Under the windows explorer, they could see each other, but just would not connect.

The printer was set up to share anonymously, but I could not print until I set up a user login for the non-printing computer and connected. I don't know if that helps any, since you seem like you know more than me about networking, but it worked for me. Might give you some ideas on something you haven't tried yet.

Good luck.

[rlegault]

OK, here is what I would do.

The server would be a PDC (Primary Domain Controler) so I would have a domain. All the User accounts are created on this computer. They login to the network by authenticating on the server. This should work perfect for the "Home" network. BTW make sure you have "file and printer sharing" turned on.

EDIT --- Make sure not to set a default gatway on the Server interface that leads to your lan.

As for the internet access.

Make sure on the server you are NOT sharing the internet connection.
I would set static IPs on all the computers. Make sure NAT is running on the router. They should all be able to get on the internet. Depending on the router you have, it should take care of all the routing almost automaticly.

That should do it. I figure you're going to run an FTP or Web server on the Server machine.

[stiltman]

I have a small network, the computers on this small network are all connected via a router
TIA

What type of router are you using?
Home version Cable/DSL router (i.e. Linksys, Netgear)
Commercial version (cisco 2500 or similar)

You have 2 cable modems connected to one cable?

You want the PCs to connect to the internet via cable modem 1
You want the server to connect to the internet via cable modem 2
You want to connect the 2 networks with out going through the internet
You have a second NIC in the server




Is that about it?

[sfxwe]

stiltman wrote:

What type of router are you using?
Home version Cable/DSL router (i.e. Linksys, Netgear)
Commercial version (cisco 2500 or similar)

You have 2 cable modems connected to one cable?

You want the PCs to connect to the internet via cable modem 1
You want the server to connect to the internet via cable modem 2
You want to connect the 2 networks with out going through the internet
You have a second NIC in the server

Exactly......but when the server sees both NICs none of the networking seems to work. LOL, I wish it was a cisco, but it is a linksys, but i does kick ass for price to performance .

Anyways, yes i want to connect the two networks without going through the internet when I am at home, but still have access to the server via the internet for other family and friends all the time.

Also, yes I have 2 modems via one cable connection and it works kick ass, I guess the absolute best setup would be to buy a nexland 800 pro, but I would really like to do this with out any out of pocket expense.

Any suggestions?

[sfxwe]

LOL, I just noticed your pic, thats EXACTLY it, except on the PC network I have like 3 more computers, but YES thats what I need bro. BTW NICE DIAG.

[stiltman]

I'm assuming static IPs for all PCs and Server
Setup the number 2 NIC in the server with no default gateway
Setup the Sever with a route statement to other network
(i.e. %windir%\system32\drivers\etc\networks (no file ext)
Set server with host info to other network (hosts) file in same dir
Setup PCs with a host entry to server on each PC.
Setup user accounts on the server for the PCs so they can access the resources. I would not make it a PDC, just leave it as a stand alone server

This will get you going, but without a firewall between the 2 networks, there's basically no security to speak of. You can go into the NIC themselves and setup more options, but it would take to much to expain why if you do not really know that much about networking. You can also setup your Linksys to be secure as possible too, just read up on the advance options.

[sfxwe]

@stiltman

I must say although I don't understand what ya meant by:

Setup the Sever with a route statement to other network
(i.e. %windir%\system32\drivers\etc\networks (no file ext)
Set server with host info to other network (hosts) file in same dir
Setup PCs with a host entry to server on each PC.
Setup user accounts on the server for the PCs so they can access the resources. I would not make it a PDC, just leave it as a stand alone server

I do understand the gateway tips, and yes I have all static ips. Anyways I removed the gateway info and dns info on the 2nd NIC on the server which is connected to my PC network, and IT WORKS . I can see all my shares on my server through my PC network and can now use RDP on it . I then enabled the 1st NIC which is connected to the 2nd modem and I now have acces to the internet.

Thanks for your help bro .

I must say this forum just rocks .

[stiltman]

@stiltman

I must say although I don't understand what ya meant by:

Setup the Sever with a route statement to other network
(i.e. %windir%\system32\drivers\etc\networks (no file ext)
Set server with host info to other network (hosts) file in same dir
Setup PCs with a host entry to server on each PC.
Setup user accounts on the server for the PCs so they can access the resources. I would not make it a PDC, just leave it as a stand alone server

I do understand the gateway tips
Thanks for your help bro .

Adding the other info (HOSTS) and (Networks) just speeds up the process so when a PC trys to access the server it doesn't have to do a broadcast to find it.

Anyway, I'm glad you have it working