Subj : Red domestica. To : David Gonzalez From : Stewart Honsberger Date : Fri Sep 07 2001 02:49 am Hello David! Sep 05 2001 19:16, David Gonzalez wrote to Sean Dennis: DG> It's already installed, but the problem is that i can't even make the DG> pcs to answer PING, my local IP is 192.168.200.1 and when i ping DG> myself it replies but when i try 192.168.200.2 no DG> reply is seen, i tried coasxial RG-58 cable using it directly with no DG> terminators at the ends and it didn't work, so i'm trying with RJ-45 DG> cable to see how it goes. Two possible caveats when using muliple connector cards. Firstly, it's possible that the cards are 'soft set' and will require you to boot to a DOS boot disk and run the setup program found on their driver disks to tell the card which connector to use. Some new(er) multi-connector cards have the option to auto-detect the connector and media type used. Next, if you're using coaxial cable you'll need T's and terminators at each end of the string. You can link several computers on one segment of cable, but you will require two terminators at any given time. The 'T' should be installed on the BNC connector on the network card, the cable connected to one end, and the terminator (50 Ohm) to the other end. If you connect the cable directly to the card, much as it may physically fit, you'll have impedence problems on the line and no useable signal will go through. If you're on a coax network, it may look something like this; [ PC1 ] [ PC2 ] | | ['T'- - - - - - - - - - - - - -'T'] ^ ^ Coax cable ^ Terminator | | Terminator (Sorry - I'm not an ASCII artist. :> ) Now, if you add a third computer, you can do so before PC1 or after PC2 on the line, but you'll then have to transplant the terminator from PC1 to the new PC (PC0) (or to the right of PC2 - on PC3). With coaxial cable, you'll be creating a linear network. (All computers are in a straight line). This is known as 'bus topology'. This works quite well for small home LANs without high multi-media and/or filesharing requirements. My previous house was connected with coaxial cable for a 7-8 computer network sharing Rogers@Home for our Internet connection. When we moved, we decided to install CAT-5 cabling for the house which creates a 'star topology', where the hub/switch is in the centre of the star. Now, we'll see if I can draw this out. :> [ PC1 ] | [ PC 2]\ | /[ PC 3 ] \ | / [ FILE SERV ]-----{ HUB }-----[ INTERNET ] / | \ [ PC 4 ]/ | \[ PC 5 ] | [ PRINTER ] Now then; over-complexified as that may be ( :> ), it demonstrates what a star topology can look like. The above configuration would utilize an entire 8-port hub/switch. Now, as to the differences between the two topologies. Bus topology; Pros: Cheap, easy to connect, fewer cables to deal with. Cons: Difficult to upgrade, slower per-computer, difficult to find equipment (coaxial networks are no longer deemed 'worthy of installation' by the network industry leaders, therefore new hardware is almost impossible to come by). Star topology; Pros: Faster per computer, easy to maintain, easy to diagnose problems, easy to upgrade, and you get a device with leet-o nifty blinky lights to put on your desk. Cons: More equipment to purchase, additional power outlet required, limited to 100metres per cable (But who's got a house big enough where that becomes an issue?) In our house, we currently utilize an 'extended star', which means there is a hub connected to a switch, and each of the two devices has a star of devices connected off of it. That's one of the biggest advantages to such a topology at the moment, and the reason why extended star ethernet topologies are the most widely utilized in the world. If you're only going to be using two computers, you're safe to stick with your coaxial cable (so long as it's properly terminated). Either it or a CAT-5 cable will give you 10 megabits per second between cards (unless you've got 10/100 cards, in which case the CAT-5 cable will give you the higher speeds whereas the coax will not - but multi-connector cards tend to be 10BaseT only). If you decide to do away with the coax cable and want to link the computers directly to one-another (without the use of a hub/switch), you'll have to purchase a cross-over ethernet cable. (Shouldn't be too terribly expensive - a couple of dollars, usually). If you decide to use a hub/switch, you'll need a straight-through ethernet cable for each machine you wish to connect to your network. While the hub/switch may allow you the flexibility to upgrade your network in future, it may well wind up being money down the drain if you don't upgrade after all. Hope some of this will be useful to you. Good luck! [Stewart Honsberger] [blackdeath@softhome.net] [http://blackdeath.brad-x.com/] "In /1984/, Huxley added, people are controlled by inflicting pain. In /Brave New World/, they are controlled by inflicting pleasure. In short, Orwell feared that what we hate will ruin us. Huxley feared that what we love will ruin us." -- Neil Postman --- Msged/LNX 6.1.0 * Origin: Stewart's Echomail Node-Holder (1:229/604) .