Help - second home network

[stingraysix]

I have a beginner's question - I really don't know where to look for. Most searches only lead to how to set up first network.

I have a 2WIRE network set up properly that connects all my computers to internet. But I would like to set up a second home network that is secure and fast, and only for use of transferring files between PCs (No internet). I don't mind spending some money getting a completely separate set of N router and adapters. But I am just totally clueless on how. It seems very straightforward.

Thanks in advance for any advise.

[boarder428]

I have a beginner's question - I really don't know where to look for. Most searches only lead to how to set up first network.

I have a 2WIRE network set up properly that connects all my computers to internet. But I would like to set up a second home network that is secure and fast, and only for use of transferring files between PCs (No internet). I don't mind spending some money getting a completely separate set of N router and adapters. But I am just totally clueless on how. It seems very straightforward.

Thanks in advance for any advise.

I guess I don't understand your question. If your wondering what you need? That would be the N router, gigabit network card(s) per PC and cat 5e or 6 cable to connect your PC's to the router.

If your wondering how to hook it up and make it work? that would be dependent upon your pc's and operating systems.

[cszeto]

"Logical" approach...

http://forums.practicallynetworked.com/showthread.php?t=5633

"Physical" (and some "Logical" setup) approach(es)...

http://forums.practicallynetworked.com/showthread.php?t=3389
http://forums.practicallynetworked.com/showthread.php?t=4433

[stingraysix]

I guess I don't understand your question. If your wondering what you need? That would be the N router, gigabit network card(s) per PC and cat 5e or 6 cable to connect your PC's to the router.

If your wondering how to hook it up and make it work? that would be dependent upon your pc's and operating systems.

Thanks for getting back to me. Sorry I did not make it clear. I am planning to get a wireless N router or use existing G router, and I am not sure if I need to get another NIC for each computer I have, or I can use existing G nic to connect to two separate networks (Internet and New network) without security issue. Basically I want all my computers interconnected and share files, while they can also access Internet on a separate network. I have different firewall installed on each computer, which will make it more difficult. (We have 2 PCs and 2 HTPC at home, and 2 laptops from work)

I only have one license to ultimate vista, which is installed on my main computer, all others are running xp pro (or I can boot some to linux). All my PCs are home-made, and my laptops are HP/Dell work basic stuff.

I am a beginner to these network setups. Again, thanks for any help.

[stingraysix]

"Logical" approach...

http://forums.practicallynetworked.com/showthread.php?t=5633

"Physical" (and some "Logical" setup) approach(es)...

http://forums.practicallynetworked.com/showthread.php?t=3389
http://forums.practicallynetworked.com/showthread.php?t=4433

Thanks for getting back to me. Article 4433 is similar to my case, but not completely. I'd like to do two completely independent networks at home. Perhaps it's a little excessive, but it's also fun to see it work. Unfortunately I don't have enough knowledge with network setup, so I have to ask novice questions, and learn it the hard way.

After I put all hardware in place, is there a guide in how to set up two network properly in Windows? I have looked through books and blogs, they all teach how to set up a single network with Internet connection. How do I set up TCP/IP bind to each card individually?

Again, thanks for any help!

[cszeto]

No, because it is not a supported configuration based on what the SOHO networking products are designed for generally, including Windows in most client/workstation configurations. If you are interested in "learning" on your own (with very little 3rd party support), then you might look up "dual-homing" or "multi-homing" where most of that information is geared at setting up servers not clients/workstations. Not something that gets discussed across most forums.

[stingraysix]

No, because it is not a supported configuration based on what the SOHO networking products are designed for generally, including Windows in most client/workstation configurations. If you are interested in "learning" on your own (with very little 3rd party support), then you might look up "dual-homing" or "multi-homing" where most of that information is geared at setting up servers not clients/workstations. Not something that gets discussed across most forums.

Thanks again for your response. Sorry for stupid questions. :) Dual-homing sounds very difficult to do.

If I use only one NIC card in each computer, and only select which network I will connect to - I hope it will be easier this way.

Can my main computer connect to a router from my ethernet card, while also connects to the internet to do other things through my wireless card? I guess in worst scenario, I can dig out an old computer to be used as a dedicated server to serve files.

[cszeto]

What is your actual requirement for a separate network from Internet access versus file/print sharing? Most configurations can accomplish both across a single network securely as the SOHO NAT router will not expose the file and printer shares across it to the Internet.

[stingraysix]

What is your actual requirement for a separate network from Internet access versus file/print sharing? Most configurations can accomplish both across a single network securely as the SOHO NAT router will not expose the file and printer shares across it to the Internet.

Thanks for your response - please keep in mind that I am on a beginner level. I am trying to stream audio or video across my home network, but some of those are family video that I do not wish to be hacked to Internet. So I have stored them in separate drives and try to limit access with firewall. Streaming video also eat into bandwidth of Internet wireless-G router. So set up a separate home network seems a logical choice.

I have connected a DI-624 router to my main computer MB ethernet port trying to serve files to my other PCs. As soon as I hooked it up, I can no longer access Internet because "There is more than one active network on your computer." How can I set this up properly?

[cszeto]

"SOHO NAT router will not expose the file and printer shares across it to the Internet"

This includes internal video/audio streaming servers too.

802.11G = 54 mbps (roughly 30 to 40 is usable in most cases)
Internet Access < 10 mbps total in most cases

You have not identified any situation which would normally exceed the typical SOHO network, which is what these forums are focused around.

[Greenstead]

It is an interesting challenge and increasingly of interest to many people.

I have a home network connected to the internet by a router. I have two Media centre PCs (recording from Sky+ boxes) on my network. I transfer the files to a Windows Home Server overnight. I do not use separate networks/routers to protect intrusion. I play them back as wanted to any PC over LAN or wireless on my network. (I don't stream, just access as any other file and play back with windows media player).

There is no significant risk (as far as I know) of external intrusion.

I don't see a major problem here and would caution the desire to over-engineer against a problem which may not exist.

[cszeto]

Part of the challenge here is "walking before running" where setting up a basic network first is in order. That will provide a majority of the information needed in setting up a parallel network, if it is indeed needed, otherwise there is a big risk that the overall effort nose dives into something less than functional.

Over-the-network system backups are pretty much the one "application" that will consistently "sap" all available network capacity, but then it also does the same for all the available I/O interface technologies too (Fiber, USB, etc.).