hosting a LAN

[lord ezekiel]

I know there is tons of info on the net but a lot is conflicting so I am asking you guys.

We will be doing a LAN gaming day this weekend and I would like to have a step by step for dummies guide on how to set it up. here is the info

we will be 10 players
we will have 4 d-link wired routers (will plug each router together if I can)
everyone uses xp
no ones knows crap about lan set up
all i know is that everyone has internet connection so i guess that they have a network card

can anyone please tell me exactly how to set this up. i would be extremely greatful. please remember I usually simply connect on the net and play. I dont know anything about setting up lans. Thanks and hoep to have a quick response

[Lucio]

The easiest way to set this up would be as follows

1) Turn off DHCP on all but one of your routers.
2) Assign an IP address manually to the remaining routers that's within the range granted by the DHCP settings of your primary router and for ease, plug them all into the primary router.
3) Plug your host computer directly into the primary router and in Windows, give it an easy to remember IP address within the range of the DHCP
4) Plug the rest of the computers into the secondary routers and they should be able to connect automatically to the network.
5) Start up the game of your choice on your host computer and hopefully the rest of the network will be able to see it or connect to it's IP address. If you run into problems, it's likely to be a firewall issue, so depending on who'se coming to the LAN, either read up on your firewall and poke open the correct ports or just turn off the firewall.

[lord ezekiel]

The easiest way to set this up would be as follows

1) Turn off DHCP on all but one of your routers.
2) Assign an IP address manually to the remaining routers that's within the range granted by the DHCP settings of your primary router and for ease, plug them all into the primary router.
3) Plug your host computer directly into the primary router and in Windows, give it an easy to remember IP address within the range of the DHCP
4) Plug the rest of the computers into the secondary routers and they should be able to connect automatically to the network.
5) Start up the game of your choice on your host computer and hopefully the rest of the network will be able to see it or connect to it's IP address. If you run into problems, it's likely to be a firewall issue, so depending on who'se coming to the LAN, either read up on your firewall and poke open the correct ports or just turn off the firewall.

thanks for the reply it will help. one question though I do I know whats the DHCP range of the primary routers? also for every computer I just let the DHCP on? Do i also let it on for the computer acting as our server?
thanks buddy

[lord ezekiel]

sorry another question... is it a lot easier and efficient/fast if i do the following:

buy a switch (the following .cendirect.com/main_en/tech_specs_JOG78323.html)

then connect my host computer in one router and everyone else in the switch?
if so can u please guide me through how to do this. thanks again

[dave87]

yea, buying a 16 port switch and plugging it into the router would be the easiest option, no problems with routing then...

[[GSV]Trig]

2 posts with the same thing?
maybe a mod should merge the two...?

[Lucio]

Checking the DHCP is really simple, log onto your router's IP address (check the manual if this is the first time you've done this, it'll give the default). Depending on the router, you're looking for something *like* LAN settings or similar.

You should be able to set the router's IP address (remember this setting, you'll need to do this on all the secondary routers and they have to be unique).

The DHCP setting should be on this page and give you an on/off option, plus a starting and ending IP address.

For example: Starting 192.168.2.2 Ending 192.168.2.10 is what I use (you'll have to set it slightly larger). The router itself is given 192.168.2.1

If you wanna get "clever" set the range from say 192.168.2.10 to 192.168.2.50 and then that leaves you 192.168.2.2 through to 192.168.2.9 for the secondary routers with no chance of any system clashing.


A 16 port switch might help, but TBH it doesn't change the fact you have to configure your primary router correctly and make sure the DHCP is setup properly.