Little LAN?

smilodon · September 14, 2005, 03:52:52 PM

I have built a small LAN of two PC's running through a D-Link DSL604 -T modem router. They connect using ethernet cables and the wireless features are turned off.

The Internet connection for both PC's is fine, but the file sharing is very flakey, with one PC often loosing the other.

The only way I can seem to get the thing to work (and not all the time) is to enable Netbios over TCP/IP on both machines. As said, even with this on there are still problems. Windows firewall is off and the modem firewall and NAT is on. I've manually added the IP addresses etc into the TCP/IP properties field as well as leaving them blank and it makes no difference. The D-link firewall is basic as hell and although it's on there are now rules set (i.e. it's allow all)

Should I be able to file share without NetBios? I thought on XP it wasn't needed anymore??

Cheers

Anonymous · September 14, 2005, 04:24:46 PM

You' should be OK as long as:

a. You use name resolution (DNS, hosts files etc)

or

b. share using IP addresses e.g net use e: \\192.168.1.2\pr0n

and you'll also need to ensure that the user accounts on the two PCs match up

smilodon · September 14, 2005, 04:51:25 PM

I'm afraid I'm too dim to understand what that means. I plug my PC's into the router and off we go.

I set up a connection to my IPS and added a coupe of port forward rules and that was about it.

All I didn on the Pc's themselves was to reset the NetBIOS from default to enable in WINS preferences, which made t it all work...sort of.

The two PC's have different names on the network Arthur and Lancelot. Is this wrong?

Anonymous · September 14, 2005, 05:19:28 PM

Nope, nothing wrong.

You can use a file called a hosts file to allow PCs to work out the IP when you use a name if you do not have a DNS server. The file has to go in c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc

NB that it is called hosts not hosts.txt or hosts.cfg just hosts

Here is the contents of mine (without all the blurb at the top showing)

Quote127.0.0.1 localhost

You can add to your file to read as follows:

Quote127.0.0.1 localhost
192.168.1.x lancelot
192.168.1.y arthur

Then place a copy of the file on each pc in the directory I mentioned above. You will now have a basic way of carrying out name resolution on your LAN for IP addresses. NB to replace the IPs I used in the example above with the IPs of the actual machines

On another tack. Did you manually set the IPs or does your router provide DHCP?

smilodon · September 15, 2005, 01:38:30 AM

The router assigns them although I was tolf by someone to add them to the settings in the TCP/IP properties of the Local Area Connection Properties box as well.

I'll alter my hosts file and see if it helps the flakey file sharing.

Thanks

Anonymous · September 15, 2005, 08:36:08 AM

QuoteOriginally posted by smilodon@Sep 15 2005, 12:38 AM
The router assigns them although I was tolf by someone to add them to the settings in the TCP/IP properties of the Local Area Connection Properties box as well.

I'll alter my hosts file and see if it helps the flakey file sharing.

Thanks
[post=94849]Quoted post[/post]
[/b]

If you have them in the local connection then the router is no longer assigning them which may be where the confusion is arising. I suggest you do NOT edit your hosts file and just leave the router to sort things out. Set your Local Connection to get an IP automatically again and see how it goes.

smilodon · September 19, 2005, 06:09:21 PM

Thanks for the info and I've done as you suggest.

Unfortunately I have another problem that has me totally stumped (not hard).

I have used for years, an Alcatel Speedtouch ADSL USB modem. I run a cable from my BT engineer installed socket through to my back room where the PC's are (15m). Everything works without a problem.

Recently as mentioned I bought a D-Link modem router and connected two PC's to it. The basic problem is that when the modem fires up it can take hours to get and hold a connection. What happens is that it establishes a connection to my ISP and then immediately drops it again. This connect and drop cycles round for hours until finally a good connection is made and then the modem stays up indefinately. Once or twice it will drop after several hours and start the connect/sdisconnect merry-go-round again. As soon as I reconnect the USB modem I get an instant connection every time.

I have replaced the ADSl extension cable and connected the modem/router direct to the socket. I've tried a different modem (Westel 6100) and not that itt makes any difference three separate computers. The ADSL line has been checked by my ISP who say it is good. They also confirm that it is my end that drops the connection and not them.

I have no idea what can be wrong. How can I connect with a USB modem but not a router/modem? I'd argue that the settings on the router (which I've rechecked a dozen times) might be wrong. But if so how can I always eventually make a connection?

Any ideas would be greatfully accepted. Thanks

smilodon · September 20, 2005, 10:19:40 PM

you lot are hopeless

Apoc · September 20, 2005, 11:24:19 PM

Tried a different router and ...... ?

smilodon · September 21, 2005, 11:01:37 AM

exactly the same. It's now all over the place. Can connect first time and drop after an hour or take hours to connect and then be fine for days. The only thing I can think of is that I live over a dry cleaner and they have lots of machines down there working away. maybe something is interfering with the router. But if so why does it happen on Sundays when the shop is shut and why to the modem router but not the USB modem.

I'm beyond confused