How to get a PC work as a hub or switch ?

[RJ]

Hello all, I've got a problem:

On Saturday we (two friends of mine and me) plan to make a little networking session and play games etc. We've done this quite often, but this time one guy can't. And unfortunately he's the only one of us that has a switch.

So we have to get 3 computers networked, but this time without a switch. As far as I know it is possible to make a PC work as a switch (or hub), but I don't know how.

The most powerful machine that I can use for this is a Pentium 133, with 12 MB of EDO RAM, some hundreds megs of HDD space (I could get a bigger hard drive if it's really needed) and a pci nic, currently running Windows 95 original.
I think this should be sufficient for its role as a hub or switch, plz correct me if I'm wrong here and give your suggestion.

I think that I need 3 nics in order to get the 3 puters networked. It is possible to mix isa and pci nics ? And how's it done at all ? Please help.

RJ

[Dave22]

3 machines with no hub or switch?

Hmmm.... I'm not aware of any "bridging" software for Win 95 so here goes:

You could try this solution since you have Win 95 which doesn't have native routing capability like NT - Load up a "routing" program such as WinRoute Lite (http://www.winroute.com) and have ONE PC with 2 NICs be the router with the other two PCs connected via crossover cables to each NIC. Don't know how that would work with your games, but theoretically it should do fine.

..and yes, you can mix ISA and PCI NICs as long as you have enough IRQs to go around! :)

[RJ]

Thanks for your reply.
One thing: If the P133 will be the server with 2 nics then I can only connect 2 PCs, but I need to connect 3.
The P133 doesn't belong to them. There are PIII800 with Win98SE, PIII1000 with WinME and Duron700 with Win98SE machines to be networked, and the P133 just the role of a hub or switch.

BTW, I also have WinNT 4.0 and if it's better then I can put NT on the P133.
How will it work with NT ?

RJ

[mbossman2]

With the low cost of entry level hubs/switches, instead of doing all of this, just buy a "throw-a-way" hub/switch....$40(US) or so and you're set to go

[Dave22]

Originally posted by mbossman2
With the low cost of entry level hubs/switches, instead of doing all of this, just buy a "throw-a-way" hub/switch....$40(US) or so and you're set to go

mbossman2 has a point. Heck, you can probably find a cheapie 4 port hub on Ebay or something.

But I ask you... Where's the CHALLENGE in that?? :p

Oh, anyway - I guess I didn't read correctly. I thought you only needed to connect two computers. I suppose you could put a third NIC in there but I've never used an NT or 95 box to route 3 networks (I know WinRoute will accomodate that). Although at that point, you're better off w/ a basic hub.

[Xayd]

Originally posted by Dave22




But I ask you... Where's the CHALLENGE in that?? :p


lol, exactly!

Get a buncha cheapo ISA nics, and a Linux Router distro, such as Coyote (http://www.coyotelinux.com) or Freesco (http://www.freesco.org), they should do you nicely.

[RJ]

If it were only two PCs to be networked then there would be no problem since all I need would be a cross over cable.

Umm, what if I put a second nic into my PC and network each one of the others to one nic of mine. Would this work with games ? OS are Win98SE (2x) and WinME (1x).

And I'm not gonna spend $40 for a hub or switch. That would be 80 DM. . .it's too expensive. So how long does it take on ebay ? I need that thing running tomorrow at 10 o'clock german time. Not it's 14:39 (2:39 pm), that would mean. . 17 hours and 21 minutes to go.
Maybe I find a cheap one anyway, who knows. . but if I don't I'd like to know if it's possible with either

1.) my pc with 2 nics and 2 pcs connected to it. OS is Win98SE
or
2.) an extra pc with 3 nics (as a hub) and all 3 pcs connected to it.
Os can be Win95 original or WinNT 4.0. How would it work best and how ?

RJ

[Dave22]

Try option #1 which is what I detailed in my first solution (WinRoute). Here's a quick example of the IP addressing scheme:

PC#1:
-----
IP - 192.168.1.1
Subnet Mask - 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway - 192.168.1.2

Router PC
----------
NIC 1 (Connected to PC#1):
IP - 192.168.1.2
Subnet Mask - 255.255.255.0
NIC 2 (Connected to PC#2):
IP - 192.168.2.2
Subnet Mask - 255.255.255.0

PC#2:
-----
IP - 192.168.2.1
Subnet Mask - 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway - 192.168.2.2

[RJ]

Thank you Dave, I'm gonna prepair my PC now and tomorrow I'll see how it works. . .13 hours and 17 minutes to go.

RJ

[glc]

I tried this once - no workee. I put 2 nics into "PC1" and hooked them with crossover cables to "PC2" and "PC3", and PC2 cannot see PC3. Dave's idea with Winroute may work though.

You really should try to find an el cheapo 4 port hub though.

[RJ]

Same here. PC1 and Router PC had no problems seeing each other (also in games), but PC2 could not see Router PC, but Router PC was able to see PC2. Unfortunately games did not work.
So first we played with 2 PCs, and later the guy with the switch found time to join our session. With the switch there wasn't a problem anymore.

Anyway you're right, I've got to find an el cheapo hub now to avoid troubles in the future.

RJ