Network advice?

[BobK]

Hello Everyone,

I want to connect two home office machines running WinXP Pro. They sit next
to each other and are used by one person. I want to use the second computer
as a backup and move data from my new computer to my old computer.

I use a cable modem and want the benefit of a hardware firewall for the
machines. My new computer has a Network card but my old machine does not
have one yet.

My guess is Ethernet and an a router. Can someone suggest some good hardware
to do this job?

Thanks,

Bob

 

[Jean]

Hello Everyone,

I want to connect two home office machines running WinXP Pro. They sit next
to each other and are used by one person. I want to use the second computer
as a backup and move data from my new computer to my old computer.

I use a cable modem and want the benefit of a hardware firewall for the
machines. My new computer has a Network card but my old machine does not
have one yet.

My guess is Ethernet and an a router. Can someone suggest some good hardware
to do this job?

If it's only 2 computers, and only for backupping data ... You could also
use a crossover cable ... from Network card PC1 to network card PC2. It's a
cheap way too.
But as you said: you can use a router too.

Cable modem -> router -> 2 PC's
I use an E-tech cable router, with 2 Genius Network Cards ... and everything
works as it should ... Firewall is included in the router.
And I only spent like ?60-65 for the hardware.

J.

 

[Pen]

Take a look at a Linksys BEFSR41, Cable/DSL 4 port
router.
Does what you need and runs about $60.

"BobK" <rk1@usernomics[no spam].com> schreef in bericht

Hello Everyone,

I want to connect two home office machines

running WinXP Pro. They sit
next

to each other and are used by one person. I

want to use the second
computer

as a backup and move data from my new computer to my old computer.

I use a cable modem and want the benefit of a hardware firewall for the
machines. My new computer has a Network card but my old machine does not
have one yet.

My guess is Ethernet and an a router. Can

someone suggest some good
hardware

to do this job?

If it's only 2 computers, and only for

backupping data ... You could also

use a crossover cable ... from Network card PC1 to network card PC2. It's a
cheap way too.
But as you said: you can use a router too.

Cable modem -> router -> 2 PC's
I use an E-tech cable router, with 2 Genius

Network Cards ... and everything

 

[BobK]

Take a look at a Linksys BEFSR41, Cable/DSL 4 port
router.
Does what you need and runs about $60.

"BobK" <rk1@usernomics[no spam].com> schreef in bericht

Hello Everyone,

I want to connect two home office machines

running WinXP Pro. They sit
next

to each other and are used by one person. I

want to use the second
computer

as a backup and move data from my new computer to my old computer.

I use a cable modem and want the benefit of a hardware firewall for the
machines. My new computer has a Network card but my old machine does not
have one yet.

My guess is Ethernet and an a router. Can

someone suggest some good
hardware

to do this job?

If it's only 2 computers, and only for

backupping data ... You could also

use a crossover cable ... from Network card PC1 to network card PC2. It's a
cheap way too.
But as you said: you can use a router too.

Cable modem -> router -> 2 PC's
I use an E-tech cable router, with 2 Genius

Network Cards ... and everything

works as it should ... Firewall is included in the router.
And I only spent like ?60-65 for the hardware.

J.

Thanks guys. Sounds easy enough.

Bob

 

[Juhan Leemet]

I use a cable modem and want the benefit of a hardware firewall for the
machines. My new computer has a Network card but my old machine does not
have one yet.

Get a 10/100 ethernet card for that old machine. I think they're available
really cheap, and any reputable brand (LinkSys, D-Link, etc.) should do.

(See my other post for comments on firewall/router)

 

[DaveW]

Best product on the market for what you want to do: Linksys BEFSR41 4-port
router. $59. Easy to set up and probably the best selling unit with its
capabilities in the USA.

 

[Chris Martin]

Hello Everyone,

I want to connect two home office machines running WinXP Pro. They sit next
to each other and are used by one person. I want to use the second computer
as a backup and move data from my new computer to my old computer.

I use a cable modem and want the benefit of a hardware firewall for the
machines. My new computer has a Network card but my old machine does not
have one yet.

My guess is Ethernet and an a router. Can someone suggest some good hardware
to do this job?

Thanks,

Bob

One step further, someone else said that if you were just wanting to backup
data, buy a PCI network card and a crossover cable.. well, you could just
buy a USB crossover cable, if both of the computers have USB. Pretty simple
to use, and cheap.

 

[kony]

One step further, someone else said that if you were just wanting to backup
data, buy a PCI network card and a crossover cable.. well, you could just
buy a USB crossover cable, if both of the computers have USB. Pretty simple
to use, and cheap.

But less flexible later, possibly not any cheaper, and certainly a lot
slower.

 

[Chris Martin]

But less flexible later, possibly not any cheaper, and certainly a lot
slower.

Depends on what you mean by flexible.. throw the cord in a drawer and use it
again whenever you want.. pretty flexible =). As far as being able to be
used for other things, USB crossover's can be used for a few other things..
you can actually play games and things between them. I certainly agree with
you that the NIC and router have many advantages over the USB crossover
cable, though. But for pure simplicity of transfering files.. plug in the
cable, select all the files you want to transfer, drag them over.. goto bed.

 

[kony]

Depends on what you mean by flexible.. throw the cord in a drawer and use it
again whenever you want.. pretty flexible =). As far as being able to be
used for other things, USB crossover's can be used for a few other things..
you can actually play games and things between them. I certainly agree with
you that the NIC and router have many advantages over the USB crossover
cable, though. But for pure simplicity of transfering files.. plug in the
cable, select all the files you want to transfer, drag them over.. goto bed.

I'd call that easy, but not flexible. Flexible as-in, you're building a
small network with either device, but the USB cord won't allow expanding
the network, nor connecting other system without disconnecting one of
them. That is, unless you get the USB type that converts to ethernet
cable, two of 'em, instead of the straight USB cable with just the bridge
chip. Plus USB is so much slower than 100Mbit, but these days it may be
more reasonable to compare USB2 to GbE, so either may be acceptible
solution. I haven't seen (or looked for) any USB2 bridge cables though.

 

[BobK]

I'd call that easy, but not flexible. Flexible as-in, you're building a
small network with either device, but the USB cord won't allow expanding
the network, nor connecting other system without disconnecting one of
them. That is, unless you get the USB type that converts to ethernet
cable, two of 'em, instead of the straight USB cable with just the bridge
chip. Plus USB is so much slower than 100Mbit, but these days it may be
more reasonable to compare USB2 to GbE, so either may be acceptible
solution. I haven't seen (or looked for) any USB2 bridge cables though.

I was thinking that you don't get a firewall or dual connectivity with a
crossover bridge.

Bob

 

[kony]

I was thinking that you don't get a firewall or dual connectivity with a
crossover bridge.

In what application?
Using a switch or hub in a LAN you wouldn't have firewall either, and if
considering internet sharing then with both you'd need a NAT, proxy, or
multiple IP number account from ISP, unless you had a router. Then again,
you could still use a hardware router/firewall, connected to only the
*first* sharing PC, running the NAT or proxy software on it and using
either the NICs or USB sharing bridge cable to connect the 2nd system.

 

[BobK]

In what application?
Using a switch or hub in a LAN you wouldn't have firewall either, and if
considering internet sharing then with both you'd need a NAT, proxy, or
multiple IP number account from ISP, unless you had a router. Then again,
you could still use a hardware router/firewall, connected to only the
*first* sharing PC, running the NAT or proxy software on it and using
either the NICs or USB sharing bridge cable to connect the 2nd system.

Yes, my idea is to buy a Linksys BEFSX41
http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?prid=433&scid=29 . I think this
should work. Do you agree?

Bob

 

[Trent©]

Hello Everyone,

I want to connect two home office machines running WinXP Pro. They sit next
to each other and are used by one person. I want to use the second computer
as a backup and move data from my new computer to my old computer.

If that's ALL yer gonna use it for, consider just getting a spare hard
drive...and put it in a pull-out tray in the main machine.

Then sell the other machine for the cost (or more) of the new drive.


Have a nice week...

Trent©

Follow Joan Rivers' example --- get pre-embalmed!

 

[kony]

Yes, my idea is to buy a Linksys BEFSX41
http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?prid=433&scid=29 . I think this
should work. Do you agree?

.... looks like the typical consumer-grade router, should work fine but
today I'd be thinking about one that has wireless, 802.11G support.
There's not much more expensive, offer all the features of the
non-wireless versions including routing, swtich and wired ports, plus
ability to add 802.11G devices in the future.

Personally, today I'd get one the D-Link models with the "X2" support for
108 mbps with D-Link's X2 supportive cards.... don't remember the model
numbers though, maybe I'm thinking of one of these:
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=33-127-028&depa=0

 

[BobK]

If that's ALL yer gonna use it for, consider just getting a spare hard
drive...and put it in a pull-out tray in the main machine.

Then sell the other machine for the cost (or more) of the new drive.


Have a nice week...

Trent©

Follow Joan Rivers' example --- get pre-embalmed!

Well, I want the second machine as a backup so if my first machine goes down
for some reason, I am not out of business.

However, I do have a pull-out drive in the new computer. Given that, I plan
to dump everything from the new computer to the old. The operating system is
on HD0 which is internal but the second drive with all my data and programs
is a pull-out. I also have a second pull-out but it is empty right now. They
guy that I bought the machine from said that the motherboard would only
support two drives so the third pull-out remains empty.

Is there a way to make use of a third drive under these circumstances? There
does not seem to be a way to get data from the pull-out HD1 to a second
pull-out HD2.

Thanks,

Bob

 

[Trent©]

Well, I want the second machine as a backup so if my first machine goes down
for some reason, I am not out of business.

However, I do have a pull-out drive in the new computer. Given that, I plan
to dump everything from the new computer to the old. The operating system is
on HD0 which is internal but the second drive with all my data and programs
is a pull-out. I also have a second pull-out but it is empty right now. They
guy that I bought the machine from said that the motherboard would only
support two drives so the third pull-out remains empty.

One controller will only support 2 drives at the same TIME. For
instance, you could get an IDE cable with 3 or more connections...and
have them all hooked up at the same time to the trays. Then you could
control which drives you'd be using by simply turning the 'on' key in
the front of the tray.

Is there a way to make use of a third drive under these circumstances?

Yes...depending on what you want to do.

There
does not seem to be a way to get data from the pull-out HD1 to a second
pull-out HD2.

We'd have to know more about your setup, Bob. But getting the data
from 1 to 2 shouldn't be a major problem.

If you want to pursue this, we need to know how the drives are hooked
up...on each controller. It may be necessary to install another
controller. But you should be able to do what you want by booting
into the clone-program disk...after you've turned on the drives you
want to use.

Good luck.


Have a nice week...

Trent©

Follow Joan Rivers' example --- get pre-embalmed!

 

[BobK]

One controller will only support 2 drives at the same TIME. For
instance, you could get an IDE cable with 3 or more connections...and
have them all hooked up at the same time to the trays. Then you could
control which drives you'd be using by simply turning the 'on' key in
the front of the tray.


Yes...depending on what you want to do.


We'd have to know more about your setup, Bob. But getting the data
from 1 to 2 shouldn't be a major problem.

If you want to pursue this, we need to know how the drives are hooked
up...on each controller. It may be necessary to install another
controller. But you should be able to do what you want by booting
into the clone-program disk...after you've turned on the drives you
want to use.

Good luck.


Have a nice week...

Trent©

Follow Joan Rivers' example --- get pre-embalmed!

I believe that there is only one controler with HD0 primary and HD1 slave. I
can go from HD0 to HD1 with no problem. But if I wanted to backup the whole
system on a third drive in that removable empty tray, I don't think I can do
it. I could go from HD0 to a new HD2 but not from HD2 to HD3 because there
would be no operating system.

Does that sound right? I may need a new controller to do that as you said.

Thanks a lot,

Bob

 

[Trent©]

I believe that there is only one controler with HD0 primary and HD1 slave. I
can go from HD0 to HD1 with no problem. But if I wanted to backup the whole
system on a third drive in that removable empty tray, I don't think I can do
it. I could go from HD0 to a new HD2 but not from HD2 to HD3 because there
would be no operating system.

Does that sound right?

No. The OS would be on your boot disk.

'Believing' is nice in church...but its not gonna help you here. You
need to pull the cover and see what you ACTUALLY have inside.


Have a nice week...

Trent©

Follow Joan Rivers' example --- get pre-embalmed!