Pls Help Me Setup My 1st Network

[imdeemvp]

This is my first shot a creating a network by myself. Networking is my weak area when it comes to computers. He is my scenario.

1. 2 desktop and one laptop
2. 1 Hawkins HUB and 4 cables (I want to learn the wire method first)
3. No ROUTER (in the future)
4. 1 DSL modem connected to main desktop
4. Had a network in the past but was setup by a friend.

I want to start my setup up BY using desktop as HOST and laptop as CLIENT. I connected all cables to the HUB and the lights are ON. Where do I start in LINUX and will the procedure for LINUX is similiar to windows XP? Thanks for all your suggestions.

[Jman]

The main desktop is to be the router? How is the modem connected to it? If through ethernet you will need at least 2 network cards. The problem with this is that the main desktop is directly connected to the Internet and may be compromised; you need a firewall on it.

Which OS on the machines?

Firestarter on Linux has some NAT Internet sharing capability.

My limited experience with home networks is that a basic router helps. You can connect the modem to it, it acts as a switch, and usually it gives out IP numbers with DHCP and it has it's own firewall.

[imdeemvp]

Ok the desktop will be the HOST and 2nd pc and laptop will act as clients. I want to share printer and internet.

I have a regular DSL modem connected to the phone line and from the MODEM I have a cable connected to the pc's nic. The main deskttop and laptop has dual boot (fc3 and xp) and 1pc is all windows xp (kids).

[jarifed]

This means the main desk top needs to be on all the time for the other user to access the internet and for printersharing.
For the second NIC I suggest to give a static IP adress of 192.168.0.1 and a netmask of 255.255.255.0
For the other PC and laptop 192.168.0.2 and 192.168.0.3 and a netmask 255.255.255.0

You can install Firestarter as Jman suggested and enable internetsharing.

You have to do the same setup in windows for the main PC and use the same IP adress and enable internet sharing.

I do recommend to use a router but as you write

"The greater the struggle THE greater the achievment."
go for it and have fun

[imdeemvp]

jarifed:

For the second NIC I suggest to give a static IP adress of 192.168.0.1 and a netmask of 255.255.255.0

I only have ONE nic in the main desktop. Are you saying I need to add a second nic? Or the present nic can be "static IP adress of 192.168.0.1 and a netmask of 255.255.255.0" and do this for 2nd pc and laptop:

For the other PC and laptop 192.168.0.2 and 192.168.0.3 and a netmask 255.255.255.0

I do have firestarter instaledl in both pc running fedora. Am I to add this ip address at the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) under properties. Under use the following IP address? and what about Default Gateway?

[jarifed]

Yes you need to add a second NIC. One NIC is conected to the internet and other (new nic) will have to go the HUB. )
There's no need to change or anything on your present NIC.

[imdeemvp]

jarifed, I added a 2nd nic....now take a loot at the screenshot I provide and tell me exactly where to add these ip address:

For the second NIC I suggest to give a static IP adress of 192.168.0.1 and a netmask of 255.255.255.0
For the other PC and laptop 192.168.0.2 and 192.168.0.3 and a netmask 255.255.255.0

for the moment lets assume I am on both windoz boxes...and another thing I named my workgroup HOMENET but under local area connection 3 it says mshome.net and why I know have an ! mark?? see my issue I am so confused but determine to learn.

ALSO under screenshot 3 you see DSL connection WAN Miniport PPP0E what numbers do I add the....just live blank as screenshot 1?

[jarifed]

For the first thumbnail
for the main PC
select Use the following IP address 192.168.0.1
Subnetmask 255.255.255.0

For the second PC and laptop use 192.168.0.2 and 192.168.0.3.
Subnetmask 255.255.255.0
Default gateway 192.168.0.1

You might have to adjust zone alarm security to allow the PC's on the local net to have access.
I don't have zone alarm installed on my PC but I see if I can find out anything.

Are you having zone alarms on both PC's and laptop.

Make sure the second PC or laptop is connected to the hub and the hub is connected to the 2nd nic.

If this is so try in the windows command line from the main pc ping
192.168.0.2
and see if you get a response.

Try this also from the other PC and see if works.

[jarifed]

some more information

Windows XP
In my network places
select setup a home or small office connection

Go through the network setup wizard
through this
next next
ensure that
"This computer connects directly to the internet the other computers on my network connects to the internet through this computer"
is selected.

Just complete the wizard no need to make disks

2 View network connections
right mouse click tabblad support will give you information on IP addresses etc

[imdeemvp]

Ok i was able to ping my laptop but not able to share internet with laptop....i get these error message.....see screenshots and the messages are from the laptop:

edited i was able to ping desktop too!

[jarifed]

Well that's good news.

1
maybe this was not clear enough but for the laptop and 2nd PC
in windows XP ensure that
"This computer connects to the internet through a residential gateway etc "
is selected.

In this case the main computer which is our gateway

2 from the laptop see if you can ping 192.168.0.1 (OK)
3 from the laptop see if you can ping the IP address of the NIC that connects to the internet. If it does we're going in the right direction.
Find out the IP address
View network connections
right mouse click tabblad support will give you information on IP addresses etc

4 if that works see if you can ping 67.15.84.69 that's the address of the fedoraforum.

Pls give the version of zone alarm just in case we have some blocking issues of the firewal.

From the screenshots I need to know which one it is.

Good luck

[imdeemvp]

OK i can ping from the laptop to NIC the has the dsl connection and same applies to 2nd nic that goes the the HUB but I am not able to share DSL connection

NOW from the screenshot #2 and #3 it is my laptop trying to connect I also set zonle alarm to share by network and it recognized and works ok so I know is not a firewall issue So as you can see in screenshot #2 and #3 it is the laptop with the problem

[imdeemvp]

After Many Hours Of Trying And Messing With Ips And Other Share Folders And Network Stuff I Am Typing This Post From Laptop As Pc Is Also Connect To Dsl! Thanks For The Help!

[jarifed]

Great !! You're an expert now

Now you can do FC2

[imdeemvp]

Originally Posted by jarifed

Great !! You're an expert now

Now you can do FC2

Yes that is the next step......i hope it will be easier.... but the question is where do I start in fc3?