networking at home and school?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Nathan
  • Start date Start date
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Nathan

I have a laptop that is set up to access my school's
network. The school's network uses a domain. I would also
like to network my laptop at home so I can access the
Internet. At home I have ADSL. I have the ADSL modem
running into a hub/router (not quite sure of the
difference) so I should be able to connect more than one
computer to the Internet. When I connect the laptop to
the hub/router (just like how my desktop computer is) I
am still not able to access the internet. Someone
mentioned that the problem may be domain/workgroup
related. Does the domain/workgroup have to be the same
for my laptop and desktop for them to both access the
Internet. I do not need to share files etc. between the
two computers so I thought this was not necessary. My
laptop is running Windows XP Pro and my desktop Windows
98. Can anyone help?
 
Nathan said:
I have a laptop that is set up to access my school's
network. The school's network uses a domain. I would also
like to network my laptop at home so I can access the
Internet. At home I have ADSL. I have the ADSL modem
running into a hub/router (not quite sure of the
difference) so I should be able to connect more than one
computer to the Internet. When I connect the laptop to
the hub/router (just like how my desktop computer is) I
am still not able to access the internet. Someone
mentioned that the problem may be domain/workgroup
related. Does the domain/workgroup have to be the same
for my laptop and desktop for them to both access the
Internet. I do not need to share files etc. between the
two computers so I thought this was not necessary. My
laptop is running Windows XP Pro and my desktop Windows
98. Can anyone help?
Click to expand...

The tutorial below illustrates the difference between a hub or
switch and a router:

There are three common ways to share an internet connection using a
cable or DSL modem. For a 3-PC setup, these look like:

1. Cable/DSL<==>Modem<==>Hub/Sw<==>PC-1 ; each PC plugs into a
<==>PC-2 ; LAN or downlink port of
<==>PC-3 ; the Hub or Switch, and
; the Modem uses the WAN or
; uplink port

2. Cable/DSL<==>Modem<==>PC-host<==>Hub/Sw<==>PC-client1
<==>PC-client2

3. Cable/DSL<==>Modem<==>Router<==>PC-1 ; each PC plugs into a
<==>PC-2 ; LAN or downlink port of
<==>PC-3 ; the router, and
; the Modem uses the WAN port

(1) gives each PC a direct connection to the 'net, but it requires
the ISP to issue a different IP address to each PC. Many ISPs
charge extra for multiple IPs. Also, those different IPs may
not be in the same subnet, so the PCs may not be able to easily
share files or printers.

(2) requires one PC (PC-host) to perform software routing (using ICS,
which is part of XP, 98SE, and ME) for the client PCs. Free, but
the client PCs cannot get to the 'net unless PC-host is running,
so this configuration is not as robust as (3). If there is only
one client PC, a crossover cable may be used instead of a hub or
switch; a crossover cable is equivalent to a passive two-node hub.
Note that the host PC must have two NICs: one on the WAN-side to
the Modem, and one on the LAN-side to the hub or switch.

(3) uses hardware-routing; a router is cheap but not free. A router
is usually more robust than a solution based on ICS because it
runs a simpler OS than Windows and because it is dedicated instead
of shared with other Windows apps.
 
Thanks for that info Bob but that wasn't really the
purpose of my query. I want to know how I can use my
laptop at both the school network (domain) and at home to
access the internet via the hub or router. Like i said
i'm not quite sure which it is. It is either the first or
third setup you mentioned. If it is a hub are you
suggesting that the problem may be ISP-related. In the
case I think it may be a router because this is what the
ISP suggested and they never mentioned a second IP
address. Any ideas?
 
Nathan said:
Thanks for that info Bob but that wasn't really the
purpose of my query. I want to know how I can use my
laptop at both the school network (domain) and at home to
access the internet via the hub or router. Like i said
i'm not quite sure which it is. It is either the first or
third setup you mentioned. If it is a hub are you
suggesting that the problem may be ISP-related. In the
case I think it may be a router because this is what the
ISP suggested and they never mentioned a second IP
address. Any ideas?




between a hub or


connection using a


into a


downlink port of


Switch, and


uses the WAN or


into a


downlink port of


uses the WAN port


it requires


PC. Many ISPs


different IPs may


able to easily


routing (using ICS,


PCs. Free, but


host is running,


there is only


instead of a hub or


passive two-node hub.


the WAN-side to


free. A router


because it


dedicated instead
Click to expand...

If you have a router, make sure you are using DHCP on the laptop
and that the router is set up as a DHCP server.

If you have a hub, then you need to chat with your ISP about
getting (purchasing?) a 2nd IP address; or, install a 2nd NIC
in your desktop and connect the laptop (via the hub) to the
2nd NIC and run ICS on the desktop.

If you don't know whether your widget is a hub or a router (or
a switch), then look for a label on it which lists the vendor's
name and part number; then look on the vendor's site to find out
what you have.
 
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