Securing home network

[chrisc56]

My home network consists of the following:

Cable Modem ( Motorola SB5101 )
Router ( Linksys BEFSX41) with 3 hard wired connections:

Linksys 5 Port Auto sensing Hub with 3 wired connections

D-Link - DNS-120 USB Storage Adapter with 2 USB hard drives
D-Link - DNS-120 USB Storage Adapter with 2 USB hard drives
1 PC with Win XP Pro

Switch ( D-Link) with 4 wired connections
3 PCs with Win XP Pro
1 HP Photosmart C6100

Wireless Access Point (D-Link DIR-635)
There are 2 laptops (Win XP) & I Imac that are connected wirelessly


My questions are as follows:

1. I currently cannot communicate between the wired and the wireless networks (shared files and printers). Any special settings that I need?
2. I just purchased D-Link’s Internet Security Adapter (DSD-150). Is this the best way to secure my network or I need individual firewalls for each PC?
3. Will I be better off to replace my 5 port hub with another switch?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Regards
Chris

[telegramsam]

Run an IPCONFIG on one of your wireless devices and one of the hardwired PC's. (Start, Run, type in CMD. In the command window, type in IPCONFIG.) Copy and paste the results here.

What you are checking for is to see if all of the machines are in the same subnet. You may have two DHCP servers running here.

Please post your results.

[chrisc56]

Thanks for the feedback. I tried the "ipconfig" however it's does not stay on DOS long enough to record the settings. Is there a file that the settings are saved on?
Regards
Chris

[telegramsam]

Go to Start, Run
When that window pops up, type in "cmd"
Then a DOS window will open up.

Then type in "ipconfig"

[chrisc56]

thanks again for your feedback telegramsam.

here is the info:

Wired Wireless
IP Address 192.168.0.104 192.168.0.100
Subnet Mask 255.255.255.0 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway 192.168.1.1 192.168.0.1

regards
Chris

[telegramsam]

Ok, so you're in the same IP scheme, but under different gateways.

Does the wireless access point have any hard wired switch ports on it?

Edit: I found it online--looks like it does have switch ports. That's good. Are you using that just as a range booster, or is providing the wireless signal?

[telegramsam]

Ok, here's the plan:
1) Release the addresses of all of the machines. Go to Start > Run then type in "cmd". In the command window, type in ipconfig /release (there IS a space between ipconfig and the /)

2) Disconnect everything.

3) Reconnect as follows:
Cable Modem to Wireless DIR635.
1 LAN port to DLINK storage device
1 LAN port to DLINK SWITCH (NOT the hub)
1 LAN port to your printer, if that is the interface type
1 LAN port to one of your non-wireless computers.

4) Lan ports on switches to each of the other wired computers

5) Restart your network, starting from the cable modem and working down the chain to each pc. Start printers last. Wait 1 to 2 minutes (until lights quit blinking) before starting up the next device.

You will probably have to run the Network setup wizard on all of the computers to be completely shared.

When you run IPCONFIG, all of the devices need to have the same subnet mask and the same default gateway. Once that happens, you're completely networked.

Try all of that post us back. Good luck!!

[chrisc56]

telegramsam,
thanks again for the feedback. In a couple hrs i will be heading to Europe for a 11 day vacation thus I will try your recommentation as soon as I get back.
thanks again for your help anf happy new year!
Regards
Chris

[telegramsam]

Update us when you get it done--
Have fun in Europe!

[ITlover]

telegram, i hope you won't mind if i share my idea, both wireless and wired networks might not be connected with each other because of which the computers on both of these network are not able to communicate with each other. I see a problem in IP configuration.

[telegramsam]

Of course I don't mind...

I pointed out above that the machines are on different gateways, which leads me to believe they have 2 DHCP servers running. That's why I instructed them to go with one router and switches from there on.