Help! > the (bad) design of my network...

[M0nkeyb0Y]

My network’s in a state, I’ll put my hands up: I didn’t put enough thought in to it. Now I’d like help in to getting the most out of it.

My setup is:
PC with wireless adapter (WN311B) located away from the network stuff
Laptop

Network stuff (all in ‘cupboard under the stairs):
HP ML115 Prolient server – which I have linux installed on but never really got to grips with and consequently don’t use.
Zyxel Gigabit Switch
Thecus N2100 with 400GB storage
Networked printer
The router (Netgear DG834N), which recently has been giving me duff wireless speeds (on O2 broadband), I’ve tried to fix it but this has failed.

Spare stuff:
The supplied O2 router
A Netgear Wireless Access Point (WNHDE111) which I can’t get working for love nor money (I’ve subsequently been informed it’s half of a bridge and will only connect to an identical model or corresponding router).
The old sky router (DG834G)

• The first thing I want to sort out is to have a decent o2 broadband connection (the signal from the supplied router was rubbish, that's why I changed back to the old one).
  
• The next thing I want to do is maximise the potential of the stuff I've got.

Please help me on this!

[oolon]

Well thats "brown stuff" about the netgear, from the manual page 18 of the pdf, there is a switch on the base, setting the mode, auto, AP or bridge. Your need to set the switch to AP mode. I presume the auto config is broken. The auto of devices uses WPS, where you press buttons on both to join them. Your need to do a manual config of devices, look for the SID NETGEAR-HD and your security pin printed on the device (page 27 2-7) if you wish to change the setting on your AP, check out page 30 (page 3-2), or if you figure out what IP it is on you can brows to it directly.

[Singh400]

I would have the RJ-45 from your router going into the switch. And then all of your other devices connected to the switch as well.

Simples.

So...

Internet --> Netgear Router --> Zyxel Switch

And then

Zyxel Switch --> #1 HP Server / #2 Thecus / #3 Printer (if it supports it, if not just hook it up to the HP server)

I've got pretty much the same setup...

Internet --> BeThere Router --> RJ-45 into Netgear Switch

Netgear Switch --> #1 Desktop PC / #2 Windows Home Server.

Works fine for me, and I haven't noticed anything odd.

[smargh]

Stop using wireless. Wifi sucks.

Either replace the DG834N, or change the firmware (I use DGTeam) and/or replace the capacitors in it with awesome Rubycons from Farnell (free delivery, yay).

I use a Netgear DG834GT in modem-only mode with LLU Be*, with all capacitors replaced with equivalent Rubycons and the power supply is a nice Taiwanese or Norwegian (I don't recall which) Mascot brand power supply from Farnell.

For NAT stuff, firewalling and traffic shaping I use m0n0wall on an Alix 2C3. It's quite good.

Put essential stuff on a nice APC Smart-UPS to clean the power - DSL modem/router, switch, wifi AP, your PC, the Thecus, etc.

If you really must use wifi, get a decent dedicated access point - Cisco or perhaps Proxim, dunno what 3com gear is like - and suitable antenna, but you will still get occasional dropouts, slight packet loss, interference from a nearby microwave, loss of speed, etc. Whether you notice all that or not depends on a combination of your personal tolerance level and what you do online.

[killie99]

Stop using wireless. Wifi sucks.

replace the capacitors in it with awesome Rubycons from Farnell (free delivery, yay).

.

More please? Values, locations etc. I'm presuming this improves the wireless power?

[smargh]

More please? Values, locations etc. I'm presuming this improves the wireless power?

I doubt it. It's basically just a stability & longetivity thing - after 2-3 years, particularly in hot environments, the Teapo-branded capacitors inside start to degrade. After 3+ years they can start to bulge and leak. I've bought three DG834GTs from car boot sales, with one showing very noticeable capacitor degredation and another had most capacitors bulging & leaking. I don't know if the DG834N will be any different.

The values of caps to get can vary slightly depending upon the exact model and revision. For a <2yr old router (not in a hot environment - radiators, windowsills etc) it's probably just poor firmware which is the cause of problems.

[scaryjim]

I would have the RJ-45 from your router going into the switch. ... I've got pretty much the same setup...

+1 to that. I run a ZyXEL P600 series one port router into a 5 port switch then route everything from there (including my dedicated WAP).

Stop using wireless. Wifi sucks.

Bit of an excessive generalisation there!

I'm using a Netgear WG602 and it's been rock solid for the best part of 2 years. That said, I only use wireless where it's absolutely necessary, and I think that's probably a good rule of thumb. If you can conveniently get a wire to where you want your computers (under the floorboards, round doors, under carpets etc.) then I'd recommend it.

[M0nkeyb0Y]

Either replace the DG834N, or change the firmware (I use DGTeam)

I use it too, while it's fine, it hasn't fixed my wireless issues since moving to o2...

and/or replace the capacitors in it with awesome Rubycons from Farnell (free delivery, yay).

not up to the task I'm afraid!

I would have the RJ-45 from your router going into the switch. And then all of your other devices connected to the switch as well.

I didn't explain myself well this is what I have

Simples.

So...

Internet --> Netgear Router --> Zyxel Switch

And then

Zyxel Switch --> #1 HP Server / #2 Thecus / #3 Printer (if it supports it, if not just hook it up to the HP server)

I've got pretty much the same setup...

Internet --> BeThere Router --> RJ-45 into Netgear Switch

Netgear Switch --> #1 Desktop PC / #2 Windows Home Server.

Works fine for me, and I haven't noticed anything odd.

Thanks Singh

Well thats "brown stuff" about the netgear, from the manual page 18 of the pdf, there is a switch on the base, setting the mode, auto, AP or bridge. Your need to set the switch to AP mode. I presume the auto config is broken. The auto of devices uses WPS, where you press buttons on both to join them. Your need to do a manual config of devices, look for the SID NETGEAR-HD and your security pin printed on the device (page 27 2-7) if you wish to change the setting on your AP, check out page 30 (page 3-2), or if you figure out what IP it is on you can brows to it directly.

Thanks oolon - will try this, and contact you if I get in a fix

+1 to that. I run a ZyXEL P600 series one port router into a 5 port switch then route everything from there (including my dedicated WAP).

OK so the consensus seems to be: use the netgear DG834N as a modem only, connect it and everything else to the zyxel switch including the netgear access point which oolon has given me advice on how to get working.

Also - forgot to mention that my PC is right next to the main telephone socket if that gives anyone any ideas?

Last but not least - I'm looking for a suggestion on how best to use the server. I have Ubuntu installed on it, but haven't had much success on that and really don't have the time to learn new things. What do other people use

[smargh]

Last but not least - I'm looking for a suggestion on how best to use the server. I have Ubuntu installed on it, but haven't had much success on that and really don't have the time to learn new things. What do other people use

VMWare vSphere v4. Free. Run lots of different OSes. Can be installed to a USB stick. Works fine on my ML115 G5.

[Jiff Lemon]

Or Hyper-V, Equally free.

[M0nkeyb0Y]

VMWare vSphere v4. Free. Run lots of different OSes. Can be installed to a USB stick. Works fine on my ML115 G5.

Or Hyper-V, Equally free.

Thanks to you both, sorry for sounding ignorant, but I've never heard of either of these.

If I installed either on to my server, with nothing else, could I use them as server software?

[oolon]

Thanks to you both, sorry for sounding ignorant, but I've never heard of either of these.

If I installed either on to my server, with nothing else, could I use them as server software?

They are suggesting running a hypervisor on your server that will allow it run virtual servers allow you to have a linux and a say a windows server on the same machine....

A better question would be what would you like to use your server for?

Some ideas.
1) DHCP
Currently done by your router
2) DNS
Currently done by your ISP
3) NTP (time server)
Your computers probably say the wrong time.
4) File Server
5) Firewall
Currently being done by your router
6) Print server
7) User authenication server (for single sign on). Kerberos and Ldap
8) Mail server SNMP/IMAP/POP/Web mail?
9) Web Server

[M0nkeyb0Y]

They are suggesting running a hypervisor on your server that will allow it run virtual servers allow you to have a linux and a say a windows server on the same machine....

Ahhh, thanks, I don't think I'll need that given that I don't have window server and I'm currently not up to the task of using ubuntu.

A better question would be what would you like to use your server for?

Some ideas.
1) DHCP
Currently done by your router
2) DNS
Currently done by your ISP
3) NTP (time server)
Your computers probably say the wrong time.
4) File Server
5) Firewall
Currently being done by your router
6) Print server
7) User authenication server (for single sign on). Kerberos and Ldap
8) Mail server SNMP/IMAP/POP/Web mail?
9) Web Server

File server - yes
Print server - previously, but no need now as it connects to the switch.
Mail server - slight possibility
Web server - slight possibility

Maybe install a TV card and have it record programs too.

You're going to say linux aren't you?!

[oolon]

You're going to say linux aren't you?!

Well clearly... Considering I am a unix person, however if you just want somewhere to share files, windows works well enough, no need for the server version, you can get apache, php, ruby, perl etc for windows so you could run a web server from that too. Mail server we are moving more into the windows server type setup or your need to learn linux. It really depends what your needs are.

[M0nkeyb0Y]

I'll splash out on Windows 7 professional I think, Just haven't got time to learn something new (as I'm sure you've found out as a new dad). Install media portal too, hopefully it should be pretty straight forward.

[kmac]

Before you "splash out" on anything, here are a s few suggestions:

1) The speed issues with the Netgear could be degraded caps as these types of routers don't last that long due to the heat generated. I recently replaced my Netgear DG834GT with a Draytek 2820Vn. I use to get lots of drops with the Netgear - none with the Draytek. The 2920Vn is probably overkill for your needs (and mine) but you can get the cheaper 2700 series or just a newer Netgear. Why do you need a separate access point?

Before you change the router, try changing DNS servers. The O2 ones used to be terrible about a year ago when i signed up so i switched to OpenDNS. However there are other options such as ones provided by the O2 and Be unofficial forum http://www.beforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=9145

2) If you are connecting your printer to the router, I presume the router is set as a DHCP server and allocating IP addresses to connected kit. In the configuration set-up for the Netgear, allocate a set IP to the printer so it gets the same IP every time you have to re-boot the router or printer.
Then you can connect your PCs to the printer via a local TCP/IP port

3) If all you want to do is use the HP as a file server then I would suggest you use something like FreeNAS for the OS. All you do is download the correct version ( either AMD or Intel) to a working machine and burn an ISO CD. Run the CD in the server with a keyboard and screen connected and it installs FreeNAS. You can tell it to install the OS onto a HDD or a thumb drive or flash memory card. It is really easy to set-up and you don't need a keyboard or screen after it is set-up as you just access via a browser. It will then just run in the background and you can have all you files etc on it. I would suggest that you don't go down the RAID route as you really need hardware redundancy to be sure not to lose data.

Happy to provide more detail instructions on any of the above. I am running:

Internet---> Draytek Router----->Zyxel Gigabit switch
I have 2 desktops, NAS server and printer connected to the Zyxel switch
Laptop connects to Router using Wifi (802.11g)