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Thread ID: 89475	2008-05-01 09:58:00	Network help	Tukapa (62)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
664678	2008-05-01 09:58:00	Hi all Looking for a bit of help setting up a network. Got 2 x Vista laptops, a Maxtor Shared Storage II drive, a laser printer and an ethernet switch. What I was planning on doing was running ethernet cable from each laptop into the switch and also from the shared drive into the switch. This theoretically should allow both laptops to access the shared drive - shouldn't it? The shared drive also has 2 x USB 2.0 ports on it so I was planning having the laser printer plugged into the shared drive via USB 2.0. This theoretically should allow both laptops to also access the printer - shouldn't it? The printer also has an ethernet plug. Would I be better to plug the printer directly into the switch and do away with the USB connection totally? Now I presume I have to make sure all the IP addresses and subnet masks etc are all compatible so all of these devices can talk to each other? As you can tell I haven't done this sort of thing before! At the moment when I do an ipconfig on the two laptops I get two different IP addresses (the first two sets of digits are the same but the last two sets are completely different) and both have a subnet mask of 255.255.0.0 The shared drive has an IP address which has the first two sets of numbers the same but the last two sets completely different and has a workgroup name of MSHOME. Do I need workgroup names on the laptops to be MSHOME as well? And if I need to change all these settings will the printer have IP addresses etc to sort out as well? Phew - if anyone can point me in the direction of a good tutorial I would be appreciative of that. I have googled some but the ones I have read haven't really helped me so far. Otherwise if anyone can point me in the right direction re IP addresses, subnet masks, workgroup names and suggested solutions for these I would be extremely grateful to give anything a try. Cheers.	Tukapa (62)
664679	2008-05-01 10:39:00	The "switch" you mention, is it simply a 5/8 port switch or a Router ? If its a router, setting up Vista is quite easy, switch is a different matter.	wainuitech (129)
664680	2008-05-01 10:49:00	It's a simple switch.	Tukapa (62)
664681	2008-05-01 11:04:00	How are the Laptops currently connecting to the internet? If it were a router, then the router issues the IP addresses to the PC's /Laptops, while a switch can join the two, its not really doing the same job, something has to issue a IP address. With the Maxtor Shared Storage II drive, (never used that particular one) is This what you have (www.maxtorsolutions.com) If it is then you should be able to connect the printers to its USB ports and the drive will allow other PC's / Laptops to print to it. Thats of course unless the printer(s) are network capable and have their own Ethernet connections, then they could plug into a router directly. Every device on a network has to have a separate IP address, either issued by a router, or like some printers & NAS devices, have their own dedicated IP address. Every device/PC/Lap top/ Printer is simply whats called a Node, and can be seen by others on a LAN.	wainuitech (129)
664682	2008-05-01 11:13:00	Laptops are currently connected to the net wirelessly. The wireless modem is acros sthe other side of the building and can't be moved due to access to telephone line. That is the shared drive you have linked to except I have an older 320GB version. Everything else appears to be the same though.	Tukapa (62)
664683	2008-05-01 22:03:00	Sounds like you'll have to set up a separate subnet for the wired part of your LAN, i.e. keep it isolated from the internet connection, as only the laptops can see that. Basically, that means manually setting up the IP addresses of your laptops' wired ports, the Maxtor, and your printer (I would definitely recommend you use the direct network connection for that). You just have to use an IP range that is different to the ones your laptops are getting automatically via their wireless connections. Say your wireless IP's are in the range 192.168.1.x, you then set all the wired devices up to, say, 192.168.2.x. Not sure how difficult that would be for your drive, though - it possibly assumes that it's getting its IP automatically. Plus you have the hassle of setting up hosts files so that your laptops can use names rather than numbers for accessing the printer/drive. OR Buy a wireless AP, plug it into the switch along with the other stuff & set it up in bridge mode, connected to your router. Not that I've ever done it, but in theory that will allow all the devices to automatically get their IP's from your remote router.	MushHead (10626)
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