Re: I am in networking hell.

Regarding the DSL circuits, I'd drop one unless there's another reason for
it (redundant Internet access through another provider, for instance).
However, in that case you're going to have to provide some sort of failover
from the primary, which I don't believe Linksys provides. Otherwise, I'd
drop the circuit, and put the money toward getting a static IP address on
the other DSL line.

If a static IP is not possible, sign up with someone like no-ip.com for your
external DNS. They're about US$20/year. With them, you download a small
program that every so often (mine is every 30 minutes, which is
configurable), checks the dynamic IP you get, and updates the DNS records.
The reason I suggest this is for the VPN you mention. With this, you can
configure a laptop so that the salesdrone only needs to do two things:

1) Sign on to a local Internet connection (you can set this up for her).
This way, if she's in Chicago, she clicks on the 'Chicago' icon. VPN
software comes built in on both Win2k Pro and XP Pro, so make sure her
laptop has one of those. For this kind of thing, you can get a dialup
account with a national ISP like Earthlink. Find out what her territory is,
and then set up local dial-up connections for her. This way, she only has to
know what city she's in.
2) Click on the "Company VPN" connection, which initializes the VPN to go
out and connect through DNS. This is why you need either a static IP or the
dynamic DNS through no-ip.

Test this out for her, then type out instructions. Use small words and
screenshots with circles and arrows, include it in the laptop, and keep a
copy for when she loses it. This way, you can fax it to her hotel. Include
notes on how to modify the dialing codes for the hotel ("If you must dial 9
for an outside line, click here and type this...") if necessary. Be
prepared to be yelled at when she screws up your instructions.

With the hubs, see if you can get rid of them and get switches instead, with
the money from the spare DSL connection. 24 port Linksys 10/100 switches are
not that expensive (around US$115 locally). The reason is bandwidth, and you
explain it to the boss and the beancounter like this:

A hub funnels all the traffic through one connection, like compressing eight
lanes of rush hour traffic through one tollbooth. A switch, on the other
hand, is like having those other seven tollbooths open, you have much more
efficient flow through those tollbooths. Since you're paying US$100/month
for that second DSL line (local cost here), one month savings pays for a
switch, and happier users.

Hope this helps!
Kara

"Baelzar" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> I'm a networking amateur. Please consider that if you plan on making
> suggestions. I can follow directions, and am not afraid to break things
> (believe me), but you'll have to be specific.
>
> Here's the stuff:
> -Two separate DSL lines, no static IPs. The old DSL uses a Cisco 720(?),
> the new an Actiontek 1520 Gateway, with 4 ports.
> -8 workstations running Windows 2000 Pro.
> -1 print server, slow as hell and running Windows 98SE. Had to do this
> because all the printers are in one room.
> -Two Linksys 8-port routers, no dedicated uplink port.
> -Two 3-com hubs.
> -One Nortel Contivity 100 VPN Switch. Has 8 ports, I believe.
>
> My Utopia: To have the bandwidth from both DSLs shared (to some degree) on
a
> single network with all the workstations, and with the printserver alone
> going through the Nortel switch.
>
> My Current Situation: The network is running. I have the Cisco 720 DSL
> line running into one of the Linksys routers, and the second Linksys
router
> connected via a crossover cable. All of the computers see each other, and
> all are sharing the Cisco DSL bandwidth. The only configuration I've done
> is changed one of the Linksys LAN IP addys from the factory 192.168.1.1 to
> 192.168.1.2.
>
> The printserver is a problem. I cannot run the provided software firewall
> (Checkpoint) because the required configuration needs a static IP address
on
> the print server. The Nortel box was provided to solve that. I just
don't
> know how to fit it in.
>
> Caveats: Can't spend a lot of money. Try to think of it like the Apollo
13
> mission; gotta build an air filter out of the parts on hand.
>
> I've hit a wall, and I'm likely not seeing something due to lack of
> experience/education. I'd appreciate any help you can give me.
>
>