Networks New to networking...help please?

OK...I have my required networking kit (well almost all, still waiting on a couple of parts).

I have:
- a PCI NIC for each of my machines
- an ADSL Modem/Router jobby
- some cat5e cabling
- and 2 computers, with more to come

I know how to install the NICs and everything...it's just the software side of things that bugs me...i.e. what networking settings/protocols do I need?

If any of you could give me a quick overview on what I need to do to get it all working I would be most grateful. The router has a web-based control panel that can be accessed via a local IP so getting me up to the point where I can access that would be great...I should be able to survive on my own from there...

Thanks in advance!

-Sam

 

Just plug your adsl/cable line into your router, then run a straight-through cabled to each computer. Im assuming your router will have built in dhcp, if so, in each of your machines you need to go to [assuming XP here, will differ from OS to OS] Control Panel > Network Connections > Local Local Area Connection x [x = 1,2,3 etc] then go to Properties > Double click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and set each section to "Obtain an IP address automatically." This means your router will dish out an ip address to each machine when its connected, meaning you dont have to set ip addresses to each machine.

You should be able to set the dhcp settings in the router config page (just point a browser to the ip address of the router (usually 192.168.0.1))

 

Thanks a lot, just what I was looking for.

And yes, the router does have DHCP on it.

Thanks again!

 

No problem, hope it all goes well