home network multihoming (newbie)

Hi,
I need some help getting starting with this. Here's my
goal: I want to use one of my computers as a file server
on my home network. This computer (A) has ATA RAID. I'm
going to install a 2nd NIC in it -- gigabit.

I have another (faster CPU) computer that I use for my
work. This computer (B) has 2 NICs already, and one is
gigabit. I want to connect B and A over gigabit (probably
using a crossover cable) so that when B needs to use A as
a file server, it is really fast. I'm hoping file access
will be almost as fast as local disks.

The part I don't understand yet is how to define the
required routing info -- because I already have a LAN set
up and these 2 computers are on it along with several
more computers, a wireless access point, printers, etc.
All computers on the LAN (including A and B) have
internet access via a cable modem. Currently, everything
works perfectly. The network has no problems that I know
of.

The basic existing setup is like this:

My cable modem connects to a Netgear FVS-318 which is a
firewall/router/DHCP server. It is at 192.168.x.251. It
also acts as the default gateway and DNS server.

Behind this firewall/router is a 24 port 10-100 switch.
All computers connect to the switch. All are given IP
addresses via the FVS-318 DHCP server. The addresses are
in the range of 192.168.x.x with a subnet mask of
255.255.255.0. Obviously, this is all standard stuff. I
basically don't have to make any special settings at all
to put a computer on my home network.

As I said, A and B are on this network and can connect to
the internet (as well as any computer on the LAN).

My goal is to let A also function as a file server
because it has such a nice RAID setup with mirroring and
a lot of free space. I want computer B to connect to A
over gigabit for most of its file access. For now I'll
probably use a direct crossover cable connection between
A and B. A is running Win2K Pro. B is running XP Pro.

I do not know anything about adding routes, defining
default gateways, etc. I barely know which utilities to
use to look at windows network settings.

If anyone can give me some directions I will be most
appreciative. The more detailed, the better, obviously,
because I haven't done any routing stuff before.

Thanks!
Mountain
Email = (E-Mail Removed)

Where x is "godownfaster" (as in 'down the mountain')

On Sat, 18 Sep 2004 11:09:06 -0700, "Down Mountain"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>I need some help getting starting with this. Here's my
>goal: I want to use one of my computers as a file server
>on my home network. This computer (A) has ATA RAID. I'm
>going to install a 2nd NIC in it -- gigabit.
>
>I have another (faster CPU) computer that I use for my
>work. This computer (B) has 2 NICs already, and one is
>gigabit. I want to connect B and A over gigabit (probably
>using a crossover cable) so that when B needs to use A as
>a file server, it is really fast. I'm hoping file access
>will be almost as fast as local disks.
>
>The part I don't understand yet is how to define the
>required routing info

There is no routing info. You won't be routing. The second NIC gets
an IP in a different subnet (you used x's in your network addresses so
I can't tell you a good one to use), as does the system connected to
it. They use that to communicate.

Better though would be to leave the network as is, skip the gigabit
card and network them the same way you do now. You won't notice a
speed difference in your situation. If you really want the speed,
you'll need to have gigabit cards on both sides, and you might as well
change to a gigabit switch and plug everything in. those with gigabit
will communicate at the higher speeds.

Jeff

> -- because I already have a LAN set
>up and these 2 computers are on it along with several
>more computers, a wireless access point, printers, etc.
>All computers on the LAN (including A and B) have
>internet access via a cable modem. Currently, everything
>works perfectly. The network has no problems that I know
>of.
>
>The basic existing setup is like this:
>
>My cable modem connects to a Netgear FVS-318 which is a
>firewall/router/DHCP server. It is at 192.168.x.251. It
>also acts as the default gateway and DNS server.
>
>Behind this firewall/router is a 24 port 10-100 switch.
>All computers connect to the switch. All are given IP
>addresses via the FVS-318 DHCP server. The addresses are
>in the range of 192.168.x.x with a subnet mask of
>255.255.255.0. Obviously, this is all standard stuff. I
>basically don't have to make any special settings at all
>to put a computer on my home network.
>
>As I said, A and B are on this network and can connect to
>the internet (as well as any computer on the LAN).
>
>My goal is to let A also function as a file server
>because it has such a nice RAID setup with mirroring and
>a lot of free space. I want computer B to connect to A
>over gigabit for most of its file access. For now I'll
>probably use a direct crossover cable connection between
>A and B. A is running Win2K Pro. B is running XP Pro.
>
>I do not know anything about adding routes, defining
>default gateways, etc. I barely know which utilities to
>use to look at windows network settings.
>
>If anyone can give me some directions I will be most
>appreciative. The more detailed, the better, obviously,
>because I haven't done any routing stuff before.
>
>Thanks!
>Mountain
>Email = (E-Mail Removed)
>
>Where x is "godownfaster" (as in 'down the mountain')

>-----Original Message-----
>On Sat, 18 Sep 2004 11:09:06 -0700, "Down Mountain"
><(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>>I need some help getting starting with this. Here's my
>>goal: I want to use one of my computers as a file server
>>on my home network. This computer (A) has ATA RAID. I'm
>>going to install a 2nd NIC in it -- gigabit.
>>
>>I have another (faster CPU) computer that I use for my
>>work. This computer (B) has 2 NICs already, and one is
>>gigabit. I want to connect B and A over gigabit
(probably
>>using a crossover cable) so that when B needs to use A
as
>>a file server, it is really fast. I'm hoping file access
>>will be almost as fast as local disks.
>>
>>The part I don't understand yet is how to define the
>>required routing info
>
>There is no routing info. You won't be routing. The
second NIC gets
>an IP in a different subnet (you used x's in your network
addresses so
>I can't tell you a good one to use), as does the system
connected to
>it. They use that to communicate.
>
>Better though would be to leave the network as is, skip
the gigabit
>card and network them the same way you do now. You won't
notice a
>speed difference in your situation.

I think there must be a misunderstanding. I will have 2
computers, both with gigabit NIC's, connected directly via
a crossover cable. Surely I'll see a speed improvement for
file access over 100Mb connections thru a hub, right?


If you really want the speed,
>you'll need to have gigabit cards on both sides,

I will have 2 gigabit cards.

and you might as well
>change to a gigabit switch and plug everything in.

The whole reason for doing this is to avoid having to
purchase a gigabit switch (and the secondary effect being
the possible small speed increase that will come from a
direct connection).

>those with gigabit
>will communicate at the higher speeds.
>
>Jeff

Just to be completely clear, why is there no need for a
route to be added to the table? In computer B I will have
a 100Mb NIC connected to my cable modem thru my 100Mb
switch. I will also have a Gb NIC directly connect to a Gb
switch in Computer A. How will WinXP know to find Computer
A via the Gb NIC if I don't have a static route or some
other information that will tell it where to find the Gb
NIC IP address of computer A? Without this, surely it will
just find the 100Mb NIC of Computer A thru my LAN.

The last thing I need is more misinformation. If my
original post is confusing, I'll make another attempt at
clarifying what I'm trying to do. Thanks.

>

Assign static IPs to the extra GB card in each PCs, make one a 10.1.1.1
address, mask 255.255.255.0, and make the other a 10.1.1.2 address, mask
255.255.255.0. This way you should be up and running. they will only route
traffic to each other. You will not need to configure any special routing
table entries. The other NIC in each PC set at a 192.168.x.x address will
be used for all other network communications in your local LAN.

--
Todd J Heron, MCSE
Windows 2003/2000/NT


<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:29bd01c49ebb$c898da30$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> >-----Original Message-----
> >On Sat, 18 Sep 2004 11:09:06 -0700, "Down Mountain"
> ><(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> >
> >>I need some help getting starting with this. Here's my
> >>goal: I want to use one of my computers as a file server
> >>on my home network. This computer (A) has ATA RAID. I'm
> >>going to install a 2nd NIC in it -- gigabit.
> >>
> >>I have another (faster CPU) computer that I use for my
> >>work. This computer (B) has 2 NICs already, and one is
> >>gigabit. I want to connect B and A over gigabit
> (probably
> >>using a crossover cable) so that when B needs to use A
> as
> >>a file server, it is really fast. I'm hoping file access
> >>will be almost as fast as local disks.
> >>
> >>The part I don't understand yet is how to define the
> >>required routing info
> >
> >There is no routing info. You won't be routing. The
> second NIC gets
> >an IP in a different subnet (you used x's in your network
> addresses so
> >I can't tell you a good one to use), as does the system
> connected to
> >it. They use that to communicate.
> >
> >Better though would be to leave the network as is, skip
> the gigabit
> >card and network them the same way you do now. You won't
> notice a
> >speed difference in your situation.
>
> I think there must be a misunderstanding. I will have 2
> computers, both with gigabit NIC's, connected directly via
> a crossover cable. Surely I'll see a speed improvement for
> file access over 100Mb connections thru a hub, right?
>
>
> If you really want the speed,
> >you'll need to have gigabit cards on both sides,
>
> I will have 2 gigabit cards.
>
> and you might as well
> >change to a gigabit switch and plug everything in.
>
> The whole reason for doing this is to avoid having to
> purchase a gigabit switch (and the secondary effect being
> the possible small speed increase that will come from a
> direct connection).
>
> >those with gigabit
> >will communicate at the higher speeds.
> >
> >Jeff
>
> Just to be completely clear, why is there no need for a
> route to be added to the table? In computer B I will have
> a 100Mb NIC connected to my cable modem thru my 100Mb
> switch. I will also have a Gb NIC directly connect to a Gb
> switch in Computer A. How will WinXP know to find Computer
> A via the Gb NIC if I don't have a static route or some
> other information that will tell it where to find the Gb
> NIC IP address of computer A? Without this, surely it will
> just find the 100Mb NIC of Computer A thru my LAN.
>
> The last thing I need is more misinformation. If my
> original post is confusing, I'll make another attempt at
> clarifying what I'm trying to do. Thanks.
>
> >

It isn't going to work like you think. Paths are followed based on the
routing table and the IP#s used to discover the "route" are based on what
the machine's name resolves to. Machines will *not* resolve to two IP# at
the same time. So which ever IP# the name resolves to will always be the
same route it follows no matter what.

175767 - Expected Behavior of Multiple Adapters on Same Network
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;EN-US;175767

157025 - Default Gateway Configuration for Multihomed Computers
http://support.microsoft.com/default...roduct=win2000

272294 - Active Directory Communication Fails on Multihomed Domain
Controllers
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;272294

191611 - Symptoms of Multihomed Browsers
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;EN-US;191611

Microsoft Windows XP - Multihoming Considerations
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/d..._tcp_qpzj.asp?


--

Phillip Windell [MCP, MVP, CCNA]
www.wandtv.com



<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:29bd01c49ebb$c898da30$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> >-----Original Message-----
> >On Sat, 18 Sep 2004 11:09:06 -0700, "Down Mountain"
> ><(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> >
> >>I need some help getting starting with this. Here's my
> >>goal: I want to use one of my computers as a file server
> >>on my home network. This computer (A) has ATA RAID. I'm
> >>going to install a 2nd NIC in it -- gigabit.
> >>
> >>I have another (faster CPU) computer that I use for my
> >>work. This computer (B) has 2 NICs already, and one is
> >>gigabit. I want to connect B and A over gigabit
> (probably
> >>using a crossover cable) so that when B needs to use A
> as
> >>a file server, it is really fast. I'm hoping file access
> >>will be almost as fast as local disks.
> >>
> >>The part I don't understand yet is how to define the
> >>required routing info
> >
> >There is no routing info. You won't be routing. The
> second NIC gets
> >an IP in a different subnet (you used x's in your network
> addresses so
> >I can't tell you a good one to use), as does the system
> connected to
> >it. They use that to communicate.
> >
> >Better though would be to leave the network as is, skip
> the gigabit
> >card and network them the same way you do now. You won't
> notice a
> >speed difference in your situation.
>
> I think there must be a misunderstanding. I will have 2
> computers, both with gigabit NIC's, connected directly via
> a crossover cable. Surely I'll see a speed improvement for
> file access over 100Mb connections thru a hub, right?
>
>
> If you really want the speed,
> >you'll need to have gigabit cards on both sides,
>
> I will have 2 gigabit cards.
>
> and you might as well
> >change to a gigabit switch and plug everything in.
>
> The whole reason for doing this is to avoid having to
> purchase a gigabit switch (and the secondary effect being
> the possible small speed increase that will come from a
> direct connection).
>
> >those with gigabit
> >will communicate at the higher speeds.
> >
> >Jeff
>
> Just to be completely clear, why is there no need for a
> route to be added to the table? In computer B I will have
> a 100Mb NIC connected to my cable modem thru my 100Mb
> switch. I will also have a Gb NIC directly connect to a Gb
> switch in Computer A. How will WinXP know to find Computer
> A via the Gb NIC if I don't have a static route or some
> other information that will tell it where to find the Gb
> NIC IP address of computer A? Without this, surely it will
> just find the 100Mb NIC of Computer A thru my LAN.
>
> The last thing I need is more misinformation. If my
> original post is confusing, I'll make another attempt at
> clarifying what I'm trying to do. Thanks.
>
> >