Help me set up my home network!

C

cranky

Herald
Hi,

I am reaching the point of frustration because of the sheer number of requirements I have from PCs, and a constant struggle to upgrade my inventory. To make things worse, I need access to similar files (my music collection, for example) across all my PCs and I end up copying identical files across all the hard drives. I therefore am planning to set up a small network for my house, and will appreciate the help I get. I've never hooked up anything to a network before, and all my browsing through 'easy-to-use' websites is fruitless, I still can't understand 'domains' and usergroups and that kind of stuff.

I can outline my needs very accurately though, and they are:

1. A shared NAS - about 2TB should do. This should be wireless, or if too pricey, something that can keep drives cool.

2. The ability to hook up 5 PCs. I currently have 3 (Gaming, music and browser/downloader), adding a 4th (recording), and I want to keep some provision for a spare. I need at least 3 of these to be wireless, some connections can be wired (preferably GigE) for high transfer speed. The NAS box can be kept close to the router so on second thought, can be wired.

3. I do NOT need internet access for all machines. I have a specialised download rig, and only that (and sometimes, the gaming rig) need to connect to the 'net. The music machine should have selective ability to connect, I'm thinking of buying a player software that comes with a key checker. I wouldn't mind if I had the browsing machine connect to the 'net and to the router, and then everything uses the router to connect. This machine is always on. If that's not possible, then the 'net can connect to the

4. I would like Wireless adapters for all the machines, USB will do but I really prefer using the Ethernet port. My music and recording rigs need lowest possible system latency, and usually any network connection increases it unacceptably. This is why I'm not yet netwroked. My much loved K8Ne-deluxe delivers 9us under XP with no connection, but this increases to 150us with enabled and functioning LAN. With a USB device connected, it is 200us. Theoretically up to 500us is fine, but these levels degrade audio performance. Something removable would be great.

5. Finally, the protection - I'm paranoid about my files. It would take me about 10 days to rip all my CDs again. I want this to be as safe as possible (I may have a secondary backup story somewhere) so what kind of hardware/software works the best?

6. Last of all, advice and walkthrough. How do I even start setting it up? I spent half an hour with my IT head and came up totally confused about setting it up - he's talking about DHCP, proxy servers and other stuff I can't even remember.

TIA for all your help!
 
Hi Sangram,

Do you presently own a wifi router ? if yes which one.

Hoping that you will be keeping the download/browsing rig 24/7 online, would you be ok with a shared folder through this pc ?

Most of the wifi routers come with 4 lan ports, you may hook 3-4 PCs wired and others connected through wi-fi. For better speed you may consider a gigabit switch or a Draft-N router with gigabit lan ports.
 
Hi

I have no networking hardware, beyond the LAN built into the machines. I was looking at getting an N-class router with 4 10/100 wired ports (gigE version is almost 2.5x the cost), which can also be set up for DHCP.

I am willing to share out the browsing rig. I'm a little paranoid about some of the data, but I transfer every day or so to main storage. But what would I gain from such a thing?
 
See that's my problem - I only understood what you said right now.

So this is the second option, to use the 'always on' PC as the server. I'll need to get a second network card for it, and a new case (to be able fit all the HDDs in, the current one can only take 2). This drops the need for the NAS device, right?

I was vacillating between wireless and wired now. I could run a wired network for 3 of the PCs, which actually reside in one room. Anyone care to add to my thoughts?

1. Wireless interference - I have a lot of musical instruments and won't like nasties. They're really sensitive to interference.

2. Initial cost - A quick calculation puts the cost of a draft-n setup from Linksys at >25K, wired will be less than a quarter of that.

3. Portability - I live in rented houses, so on the next move I'll need to rewire everything. Plus I can't shove stuff into the wall.

4. Cable clutter!

5. Future standard (802.11n), so is it advisable to buy draft-n

6. Overall performance - 802.11n>10/100 wired.
 
ok...

connect your net connection to router which is a hub... now connect to it a file server where your data will reside... if you use raid 1 (better option) then this can also be your download rig, else you have to power on everytime you want to share anything...

conenct all other pcs to router.... if files are audio files streamed or copied in small bulks then wifi else use wired connections....
this way you have.... 1 always connected to internet ownlaod rig, and all other rigs can request data and net connection as and when required from that rig...

although can help out with which product to use... i would be setting up my own home network later this year...

regards
neo
 
Thanks for the helpful post.

I was now thinking of a fully wired network, my annual incentive had a big slice carved out in the form of tax, and I need to accommodate my music needs as well.

So, I was thinking of moving my download rig into a cabinet that could take 5 hard disks and keep them cool. I'll be running a JBOD setup with 2 640Gb and one 750GB, or may have three independent drives. I don't know yet. A second LAN card would connect the rig to the router or switch. This rig becomes the home server, fileserver and net server along with being the download and browsing rig. I'm hoping the underclocked X2 4000+ will be enough to keep all this chugging along.

The other machines only need the server for file access. Net access is selective, or may not be required at all. Can this setup work? I think this is the way my IT guy is looking at it, as opposed to bringing the incoming connection on to the router and then distributing it.

Edit: The RAID 1 on a NAS seems to be the most failsafe method for now, if not exactly the cheapest. I won't be losing data when my motherboards decide to take a crap, and if and when they do I won't be floundering without any connection at all. That's what I hope for. Any other thoughts?
 
Good previews, but where is the shipping software? I'm not much a fan of picking up a new MS OS. I moved to XP in 2005 (4 years after the launch) and am still not on Vista due to hardware incompatibility. In general, I find Microsft generally overpromises and underdelivers, specially on the first versions of their software. I'm not keen to experiment with my data, and would rather look at a time-tested solution.
 
sangram said:
Good previews, but where is the shipping software? I'm not much a fan of picking up a new MS OS. I moved to XP in 2005 (4 years after the launch) and am still not on Vista due to hardware incompatibility. In general, I find Microsft generally overpromises and underdelivers, specially on the first versions of their software. I'm not keen to experiment with my data, and would rather look at a time-tested solution.
Click to expand...

Currently there is Trial Offer going on in which you get 2months license to try this for Free. there is a thread in Operating systems section. maybe you should have a look.

Alternatively, you could use Cent Os + squid proxy.

backups, you should opt a incremental backup regime via dd(data dumps).

for file server, smb is the right choice.
 
Sangram its pretty simple

What you need a quality wireless router with lan ports.,And some cable..

wireless router should come with 4 lan ports..
So hook up 4with the lan, 1 with wifi(the download rig)
install antivirus on each..
The router requirement can be done in another thread..You just need something tht gives good speeds at wifi-g specification cause getting usb-n dongles will be hard and costly..
You wont hav to do anything..Just assign each of them ip addresses..

Thats abt it..
For the internet part, connect your download rig to your download rig(which should be on 24/7), and enable internet connection sharing..

For the server see superczars guide in the tutorials..It has pretty much all that you could do with a server..

Last but not the least, Dont get overwhelmed:)
Its pretty easy..
 
Thanks, that's real reassuring.

I'm sorted on the hardware, I think I'm shifting to a wired network with a switch finally, my house is not wi-fi friendly due to the many walls. It's two brick walls between living room and bedroom, so a repeater will be required. Thanks for the clarification between N- and G-.

I guess it'd be easy once I actually got down to it when my drive comes back from RMA. No sense rushing to finish it before that.
 
Party Monger said:
For the internet part, connect your download rig to your download rig(which should be on 24/7), and enable internet connection sharing..

For the server see superczars guide in the tutorials..It has pretty much all that you could do with a server..

Last but not the least, Dont get overwhelmed:)

Its pretty easy..
Click to expand...

All wifi routers have a WAN port. internet sharing thru WAN port works with tata indicom, just login thru the page from one comp, net starts working on all comps. personla experience here.

i'd suggest a USB dongle for the recording rig, you can just remove it while recording and not worry about latencies
 
Yeah, my IT guys went a step ahead and said the best thing would be to disable the LAN from system tray, and re-enable it once I needed the connection. That machine doesn't really need the network, it can be off-net.

So will one machine as the DHCP server and the rest connected through switches work as well as using a wifi router with a WAN port.

Oh yeah, what about security? I heard someone was using their neighbor's wifi connection, how do I secure it?
 
two walls is not a big issue. my wireless G router can be detected by my card 2 walls and a ceiling away

Do you want DHCP? I run mine on static ip

DHCP = your router decides the adresses, you just give your different rigs different names

Static IP = you set different IP's manually for each system. both have their merits
 
SunnyBoi said:
All wifi routers have a WAN port. internet sharing thru WAN port works with tata indicom, just login thru the page from one comp, net starts working on all comps. personla experience here.
i'd suggest a USB dongle for the recording rig, you can just remove it while recording and not worry about latencies
Click to expand...
Oh okie.. no experience with tata indicom..:ashamed:
Actually the cost will be very moderate...If i had to predict, id say below 5k easily..
2k for the router(one of those buffalo's everyone swears by) and wiring expenses say 1k(depends on the flat..)
usb Wifi say u need 2 for 1k each-2k..
2+1+2..And you wont need a switch or anything..and all your comps will be in network..
As for coverage, i hav a bsnl router, its kept in one corner of my flat, and the signal reached til the diagonally opposite corner,area around 1100sq..So rest assured the likes of buffalo will cover your whole area even if its bigger..
 
@greenie, what are the tradeoffs between DHCP and static IP?

@Party Monger: You're extremely helpful, thanks so much. I'm more worried about the principles than the brands and models of hardware. I just have to roll up my sleeves and do it now...
 
Not to spoil the things up there but I saw in ur earlier posts,Sangram that u want full Gigabit connectivity between ur machines. Well dude, WiFi ain't gonna give it and normal wired LAN ain't gonna cut it with standard cables, u'll need special LAN cables for Gigabit network. :cool2:
 
Back
Top