router help

[ravenhunter32]

Hey all, I need someone who can walk me through setting up a router for a house with two computers. Please *smiles bright... throws in a few bats of the eye lashes*

[foscadh]

Wireless or ethernet? I set up an ethernet router and the only bug was the router and the modem wanted to use the same IP. Otherwise the directions were pretty good.

[malikity]

Model of the router would be helpful (:

[slidermike]

most routers have pretty good (easy) directions in the box for setup under the most common configurations you will encounter in a home setup.

Also, a google search is useful.

[ravenhunter32]

well as far as the model number I haven't even bought one yet, I was hoping someone would tell me the easiest and perhaps the most bug free wireless.

[slidermike]

i have had good experience with Linksys.
that would be my recommendation.

each person will have a diff experience so you will get several opinions.

[Geo2]

I have been using a wireless Linksys for a couple of years now and am happy with it.

[ravenhunter32]

ok, linksys, sounds good , next question: do y'all have a reccomendation on a model for up to four computers? and do I need to inform my isp about the added pc's? right now there will only be two but if I get my pc up and running I will be connecting it too so that I can come back

[Dan0maN_ATX]

i currently use a linksys wireless-B firewall/router with a 4-port switch built into it. it's worked fine for me for the last 4 years when i bought it until about 4 months ago when the power supply bit it. easy fix though. just went to fry's and bought a $15 multi-adapter.

linksys's web-based software setup is probably the easiest i've seen while still allowing you to be flexible in it's configuration. it will basically allow you to take it out of the box, plug in the power and network cables, and start working. i've seen some really dumbified setups before that wont even allow you to change the private network IP scheme.

if all you need is a firewall/router that supports at least 4 pcs, here's a great solution:
www.mwave.com/mwave/viewspec.hmx?scriteria=1611008
if you have 4 pcs already, you may want to consider getting an 8-port model for future expansion:
www.mwave.com/mwave/viewspec.hmx?scriteria=1161970

if you want/need wireless, there are a few more things to take into consideration like speed, security, and compatibility. also, since cisco bought linksys a while back, they have been slowly re-marketing their product line into more beefy devices. i can't even find my version online anymore. this is the closest thing i could find to it:
www.mwave.com/mwave/viewspec.hmx?scriteria=3800677

the best part of this device is something that most home pc users just don't pay attention to. security. with all of the self-spreading worms out there attacking home computers running microsoft products and turning them into self-spreading drones, firewalls are very very necessary. i still remember in 2001 when i reloaded my friend's MS 2000 server from scratch behind a firewall with port 80 (www) forwarded to it (for testing something before i reloaded it) that got hit with the nimda virus in less than 10 minutes; before i could get the first windows update finished.

as far as needing contact your isp about connecting more pc's, you dont. in fact, if you are currently paying extra for more ip addresses from them, you can save money. most firewall/router devices use a technology called NAT (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_address_translation) to allow multiple computers to appear to be from the same IP address on the internet. the isp will only see 1 device connected to their cable/dsl modem.

hope this helps

[slidermike]

Good write up Dan, thanks.

One more note to remember, if you are planing on running multiple pc's on the same NWN server at the same time for lets say friends to play along at the same time, you will need to make a minor change to a certain file on each pc behind the router.
I won't go into detail here but if you decide to go that route let us know a head of time so we can tell you what to change. Otherwise you will have some weird stuff happen in the online game session and it messes up the server too.

[ravenhunter32]

Wow, thanks guys , thats a big help. I would be the only one going in game from the network, and thats only if I get it up and running and don't find my own place before then. If I do find my own place it won't be long before I'm back *bites her lip knowing she's said that before*

[nossyla]

If you have multiple computers behind a firewall and you want to play multiplayer with 2 or more of them at the same time, you must ensure the Client Port setting for each computer is set to a different value.

You will find this entry in the file nwnplayer.ini Simply double click on it to open it, and look for the Client Port= line in the [Profile] section. Change this from the default value of 5120 on each machine.

You must to stay in a certain range, so use numbers like 5121, 5122, 5123, etc.

[dama]

I glanced at the rest of the comments, so if this ground has been covered oh well. :)

I recommend getting a router with a printer port, even if you don't use the printer that much it is really nice to be able to use the one & only printer from any computer.

I have heard there are 2 basic options in router brands; Linksys & 3COM, everything else uses their ways of doing things. Go with one of those 2.

Wireless is a lot slower than ethernet (running CAT cables from the router to the computers). I have a wireless 3COM & noticed the signal strength (think quality of reception) changes all the time even though I was doing nothing to cause these changes. Wireless costs more too. But, wireless is a lot easier to live with - you don't have to worry about tripping over cables or clipping cables to the wall. With Wireless it is good to have line of sight between the router & the computer.