Setting Up a Wireless Network

[Squid_uk]

Hey all me again!

Recently i have been trying to help a friend set up a wireless network and basically we haven't had much luck, so i was hoping you guys would be able to help me once again,

What we are looking to do is have a computer hosting the wireless modem and then 2 laptop connecting on that network to share the internet,

The systems include: 1 E-Machine 1.30ghz, Intel celeron, 128 SDRAM, 20gb HD (if possible this will be the host), 1 Sony Vaio with Centrino tech (not sure of specs) and also another Sony Laptop with a D-Link DWL-G650+ Wireless card and finally a 3Com Office Connect ADSL Wireless 11g Firewall Router.

At the moment the Vaio is used to access the internet thorough a USB Based modem which plugs in to the phone line then into the Laptop,

What we ideally be looking to do is use the internet for all systems but not having to have them all on just use one (if that makes sense)

Can you guys please help?

[mats.hogberg]

The FW/Router box has 2 nic's. One connected to the modem ("outside" nic), one to a hub ("inside" nic).
I'm running a Linux box as FW/Router, but I imagine a Windows box with internet connection sharing will work as well (and will up to a point be easier to set up).
To the hub, I've connected some "client" computers with ethernet cables, and one DLink wireless router. The wireless clients connect the latter.
The downside of this is that FW/Router has to be on for Internet access. The upside is that everything behind it is safe.
If your modem is hooked to the USB port, I suspect that will replace the "outside" nic.

/Mats

[edsmith77]

What you are wanting to do can be done. However, there are some underlying questions.
First, is your ADSL wireless router connected to an Internet provider? I ask because you say you are currently connected via a Phone line which sorta implies a dial up connection. However, you could have an always on connection via the phone line.
Second connect your router to the internet provider then connect one of your computers to the router via a Cat 5 cable bypassing the wireless capability for the time being. This is to verify that you have and can get internet connectivity. And should you need help from your service provider they typically only provide the help to a singly connect computer not multiple computer connected via router.

Once the type of connection is working then disconnect the computer to router cable and connect via the wireless features and you should be good to go if you have the internet properties set correctly on your computers. Depending on your provider you either will have a dynamic IP assigned or a set IP and the internal settings are different for each. You will need this data from your service provider.

[Squid_uk]

mats that diagram is really confusing lol!

edsmith77, i think you're right bout connecting via dial up, how can i find out if it is dial up?

I will also try what you have both said to do and let you know how i get on

[ROF]

@edsmith77

ADSL (or all DSL) is telephone line based connectivity.

First off you are going to want to stop using the USB cable to the old modem(get rid of it entirely) and either wirelessly connect or Cat5 connect to your 3Com ADSL Router/Modem.

1) Turn off your computer and router/modem. (unplug the router if necessary) Unplug any cabling to the router modem.

2) Turn on the router/modem.

3) Plug in your phone line and plug in a cat5 to any LAN port of the router/modem.

4) Plug the other end of the Cat5 cable into your first computer(any of them will do as this is for easy setup purposes).

5) Turn this computer on.

6) You will notice after it boots up that the router will be attempting to assign a network address to this machine.

7) Once a network address is assigned either install the router software or connect to the router configuration as per your routers manual to configure the connection to this router.

8) That's it. For wireless connection you simply need to install the software for the NIC. The router will assign it an address.

Make sure to change the default router password and to setup some form of encryption for the wireless connection via the routers software.

[ebenton]

Assuming your 3Com router has wired ports, connect your modem to it with the appropriate cable and your desktop PC to it with a network cable. Everything else that is wireless should be able to connect to the internet and other PCs on the network (as long as they have shared directories) via the router.
If you have printer(s) connected to the desktop PC, it/they will only be available when the desktop PC is turned on. Otherwise you will need a print server and it will need to be turned on. You will also probably need to install onto your wireless PCs any printer drivers or software that is required by your printer(s).

[jagabo]

The diagram is confusing because the FW/router, hub, and dlink wireless router are all built into the 3Com Router you're using.

Does your ADSL modem have 10/100 ethernet ports? How are you connecting it to the router? Maybe there's a switch to select USB or ethernet.

It might be necessary to use a wired connection from one computer to the router in order to configure it. Once configured you can switch that computer to wireless if necessary.