5 computer XP network / DSL not seeing each other?

Question

Here's my setup:
4 Computers, all running Windows XP (workstations)
Linksys 8 port 10/100 switch
1 computer connected to DSL through a USB cable (server)

Switch says all computers are connected, with 3 solid lights.

I ran the XP Network Wizard on the computer with the DSL line, then used that info to setup the other computers with a thumb drive. (file / printer sharing enabled)

Not one of the computers can see another.

I ran a ping on each system, which can see it's own IP, but none of the others.

Bad switch?

Answer 1

Couple possibilities



1) Your best bet is to get a firewall/router like Linksys WRT54G or something similar. These will run you about $50 to $100 and sometimes even less. But to use a router/firewall, you will need a DSL cablemodem that has Ethernet rather than USB. These routers will also give you a DHCP server. Here I am assuming that all 5 computers need Internet access. This is a best practice solution.



2) If you are ok with proxy Internet access, assign static IP addresses like 192.168.1.11, 192.168.1.12, 192.168.1.13 etc to the computers and make sure that they belong to the same "workgroup" (CntrlPnl -> System -> Computer Name -> Network ID). Here, you will have to make sure that you have some Internet Proxy software or sharing of Internet Connection enabled. This is not a best practice solution.



In both cases, make sure that WXPs have "Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP" checked in the "Local Area Connections"->Properties ->TCP/IP Properties ->Advanced ->WINS. This setting will force the computers to "announce" their presence to the network and thus the other computers.



Additional Note: It would be better to put an Ethernet-capable DSL modem near the router by extending the telephone line.



{DSL}=//=[Eth-Mdm]-[Router]-[switch]-{multiple computers}



Generally the routers have four ports on it and with wireless capability, you can add more computers and possibly remove the switch from the middle.

Answer 2

Could be, anything is possible, but you have alot more to do then just what you have said above.



First to make a network you will have to put all the computers on the same IP range (Example: 192.168.0.100, 192.168.0.101 and so on)

Then you need to put them on all the same Subnet (Example: 255.255.255.100)

Then go in and put all the computers in the same Workgroup (Any name you want to call your network)



That should get everything connected to the switch networked together



This will not allow you to share your internet connection though. Unfortunatly yo make it hard by connecting to your router using USB instead of ethernet. If it was connected to your computer using ethernet you would only have to bridge the two connections in the computer by right click on it and picking Bridge Connections.



Since you are using a USB connection you will have to use a third party proxy software package to have everyone connect to the internet. I once used one called WinGate. It worked good, but you must always have the main computer connected to the internet and on for it to work.

Just for your info, if you went and purchased a new DSL modem that had an ethernet connection and a router, all would cost about 100.00, you would have such a faster and easier to manage network.







You cant use a switch like that. You need a router....

Answer 3

You can't just have a switch. You need a DHCP server as well. This can be achieved by a router or a program running on your server, but you need something to manage the packet movement, a switch only extends an existing DHCP network.