Setting up a home network

[zxk105]

I don't know much about networking but I'm trying to learn more by setting up my home network. I have one desktop computer running Windows ME, one desktop computer running XP Pro, and a laptop running XP Home. I'm using a router and a cable modem to get them connected to the Internet.

My main goal is to be able to share files between the computers so I don't have to be copying files from one and moving it to the other etc....

My first question is am I gonna be able to do this without a Network Hub?

I've tried different things such as assigning static IP addresses to each computer in order to connect from one to the other. But it didn't work. Can anyone give me any pointers?

[zxk105]

At first I could access files from one computer to the other, both ways! This was using the static IP addresses.

Then I changed the IP configuration to DHCP and it wasn't working at all. So I went back and changed the IP addresses to static, and now I can access files from Pro to Home, but it won't work from Home to Pro. Strange.....

[NickCoons]

vkaryl,

Just a thought, and I'm sure you've already checked it, but do you have your XP firewall enabled on either machine? The other thing to check (and disable) would be third-party firewalls; like McAfee or Norton Internet Security. All of these pieces of software interfere with a LAN's connectivity.

zxk105,

What does it do when you try to access from Home to Pro?

[zxk105]

XP Pro has only SP1 installed.

XP Home has SP2 installed so I disabled the Windows Firewall.

I have ZoneAlarm Pro on both machines, but what I did was add the static IP address(es) on the 'Trusted Zone' list(s). I'm pretty sure this is why when I changed it to DHCP I was having problems. I can try and turn off ZoneAlarm and see what happens.

As I said at first it was working just fine. Then I changed to DHCP to find out it's not working, and then back to static IPs. Now from XP Pro I can see and access shared files on both computers via the Workgroup. From XP Home it sort of freezes at first and then opens the Workgroup but shows no computers present. It's just a blank folder. Hope this helps.....I'll play around with it some more......

[NickCoons]

zxk105,

The use of ZoneAlarm is kind of redundant (unless you're trying to protect one of your workstations from the other) because you are behind a router. You may want to try removing it altogether and seeing what happens.

[twist]

You can use ZoneAlarm to keep an eye on outgoing data, but the firewall built into your router will block all incoming requests unless you specifically allow it. There is no better incoming security than a hardware firewall and it uses no computer resources, unlike ZA.

[vkaryl]

Nick -

Windows Firewall disabled, both machines. ZoneAlarm firewall enabled only for my net connection. I will eventually do something a bit more "formal" than a simple crossover cable - but that worked fine for the current need, and with NetBEUI reinstalled, I'm good to go for what I need for right now; HOWEVER....

This evening, after being online earlier with no problem, I connected again but couldn't access ANY website - except my bank (NOT BOA! *laughing*) - got errors regarding a non-existant proxy connection.... I had done NOTHING since being online earlier. I had to restore to a few days ago to fix it.... *sigh*. Linux here I come - VERY soon.

[zxk105]

Well it's back to working again! With or without ZA.....It's good enough for me. Thanks for all your help and advices! Merry Christmas!

Z

P.S. The reason I have ZA is because I have a webcam shooting a signal through port 80 out to the internet. So my IP address is easily accessible and I'm just affraid of someone getting through and doing some serious damage. That's all..........since it works we're good to go :)

[NickCoons]

zxk105,

<P.S. The reason I have ZA is because I have a webcam shooting a signal through port 80 out to the internet. So my IP address is easily accessible and I'm just affraid of someone getting through and doing some serious damage.>

Not that I'm recommending changing anything at this point, but just wanted to point this out. If by "shooting a signal through port 80" you mean that your webcam is sending the it's stream to another server through that port, then this kind of activity on your network wouldn't be any different than browsing the web. If you mean that you are running a server and people access your computer directly through port-forwarding on port 80, it would mean that your system is accessible only on the port you've forwarded. In either case, your system is no more or less accessible with or without ZoneAlarm.

[zxk105]

NickCoons, it's the second one. Webcam has it's own little computer and server built into it (I believe). So what I had to do was assign it a static IP address. Then in my router configuration I forwarded the signal thru port 80. Since networking isn't my thing I wasn't sure about the security issues, hence ZA. But it's good to hear that the system is still protected. Thanks for the tip.....

[vkaryl]

Slight update: the error message I was receiving was NOT ANYTHING to do with the networking situation. It's to do with Propel Accelerator, which I subscribe to because my dialup is so slow for downloads. Why it chose JUST this point in time to not load when it should, I couldn't say. It runs as a proxy server on localhost: port 8080, so when it wasn't loading (or as earlier today, decided to just shut itself off for no reason), I was getting the error earlier reported.

So obviously I'll uninstall/reinstall it; then if I keep having the problem, I'll contact the provider....

[twist]

Webcam has it's own little computer and server built into it (I believe). So what I had to do was assign it a static IP address. Then in my router configuration I forwarded the signal thru port 80.

Are you saying that you webcam plugs directly into your switch/hub? Most routers have the option to assign a specific IP port access. Only open up the port for your webcam then you don't have to deal with it being open for everything on your network.

In my 7 years on the internet I have been using a router w/firewall for 5 years and have recieved zero incoming viruses/worms. I have never used any other firewall and have never installed any virus software. The only time I have ever recieved a virus/worm is from using questionable software like Internet Explorer or p2p programs.

[NickCoons]

twist,

<Only open up the port for your webcam then you don't have to deal with it being open for everything on your network.>

I think that's what he's saying that he has done.

[zxk105]

I'm pretty sure that's what I did :)

Port 80 is open specifically for 192.168.0.2 (webcam)

[edited by: rogerd at 10:44 am (utc) on Dec. 27, 2004]
[edit reason] No URLs please... [/edit]

[markis00]

If you just format all the computers to XP Pro, wouldn't it be much easier?

If you have the proper software.

Might be a few hours of work, but it works for me

[vkaryl]

Yes, it would, and I plan to do so - after I get the hols out of the way....

[bcpr123]

this mail is with reference to msg#22.(Nickcoons Plz HELP)
i have two comps ...1 running XP HOME..other running WIN98.I m able to ping from XP to 98 . but the other way is not workin .but i m not able to share files either way . how do i setup NETBEUI protocol in 98 . I m able to enable the option NETBIOS over TCP/IP in 98.But i m able to access internet individually. HW do make the files accessing across my home network

cheers
bcpr

[markis00]

win 98 interfacing with win xp - too many horror stories. but if you want to do it, enable the sharing ability. right click a folder on either computer and hit sharing...then share them. that's the only way to make them show up on the network

you can also share entire drives