3 Computers, No Router.

[turkster]

At present I have me and my brothers computers networked using no router just a crossover cable and using ICS.
Over the summer I will be going home to my parents where there is no internet (so no Hexus for a few months ) but there is another computer. Now I was wondering is it possible to network 3 computers with the 4 NICs i have?

I dont want to get a router yet because I will probably get a laptop in the autumn r and will get a wireless router etc so there is little point gettin that now when I have little use for it.

This computer (being the most powerful) will probably be the most used so i am not too bothered if it has to be on for the other two to comunicate.

Anyway is it possible and how convenient is it?
thanks

[Paul Adams]

What OS?

You mention 3 computers, 2 of them being linked with a crossover cable, but 4 NICs?

If the Internet is not in this equation and you're just talking LAN connectivity then it's a switch you need anyway, not a router.
You can get bargain 5-port switches here for example.

If you use a switch to connect the 3 PCs then none of them need to be on so the others can communicate, but you'd need 3 patch cables (unless you connect one with the crossover cable to a crossover-enabled port on the switch).

If you mean to have 2 NICs in your main PC and 1 NIC in the other two, then connect them using 2 crossover cables, it might be possible, depending on the OS - personally I'd never do this though.

Later you can then connect your laptop to the switch, plus a router if you get/need one.

[turkster]

Sorry i didnt make it very clear .

At the mo my net connection is on a 100mb ethernet cable so i have two NICs in this computer one for LAN and other for net. The other two computers in question have one NIC apiece.
I dont really want to have to buy a switch or router as they are expensive enough here and it is not worth my while to buy just one small thing over the net . This is only an interim solution anyway.

I was just thinking that i could just connect each of the other computers to the two NICs in this computer via a crossover cable each?
Like this, each "|" being a NIC

PC1|--------CAT5 XOVER----------| PC2 |----------CAT5 XOVER---------|PC3

[Paul Adams]

Okay, then I think this should work:

PC 1 (has 2 NICs):
NIC #1 IP/subnet: 10.0.1.1 / 255.255.255.0
NIC #2 IP/subnet: 10.0.2.1 / 255.255.255.0
No default gateways required

PC 2:
IP/subnet: 10.0.1.2 / 255.255.255.0
Default gateway: 10.0.1.1
Connected via crossover cable to NIC 1 on PC 1

PC 3:
IP/subnet: 10.0.2.2 / 255.255.255.0
Default gateway: 10.0.2.1
Connected via crossover cable to NIC 2 on PC 1


HOSTS file for PC 1:
10.0.1.2 name of PC 2
10.0.2.2 name of PC 3

HOSTS file for PC 2:
10.0.1.1 name of PC 1
10.0.1.2 name of PC 2
10.0.2.2 name of PC 3

HOSTS file for PC 3:
10.0.2.1 name of PC 1
10.0.1.2 name of PC 2
10.0.2.2 name of PC 3


Now, as long as PC 1 allows IP routing, the 3 PCs should be able to communicate whilst this PC is on.
(The HOSTS file lives in SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC btw, edit it with Notepad but make sure you save it as HOSTS and not HOSTS.TXT.)

You could try using just 1 subnet and have PC 1 multi-homed, but I don't honestly know if it would route properly that way.

[turkster]

Thanks mate sounds good

BTW 2 of the systems are XP pro one 98SE will that make a difference?

Thanks anyway

[Lead_Head]

The two Xp's should be fine, although I have known people have real bad problems trying to get XP and 98SE to talk!

[turkster]

Well the two i have networked at the moment, one is XP Pro the other 98SE and i have no problems with them.

Of course two PCs and crossover cable is probably not exactly the most troublesome setup

[RoGuE|SaBeR]

TBH...

Getting a bargin switch is the only way forward for several reasons.

1) No worries about software conflicts as just stick in an IP address and a subnet.
2) The middle computer wont have to be on for the others to work on the network.
3) Drainage on middle PC's resources.
4) Scalabilty, Less hassle.

£11 is a stuipidly small sum of money for a 100mb switch! Only 3 standard Cat-5 none cross over cables required and room for 2 more pcs later on or maybe even stick the router in.

Go with the switch...

[turkster]

Well ill have a look round for a switch here in Cork (as i said cant really buy of internet at mo) and see what the prices are. Youve a point about the crossover cable actually, I dont want to have to buy/mod another one as they arn't much use for anythin else

[RoGuE|SaBeR]

Hexus for sale forum!

[paradidle]

Nice Dodge Rogue...