Hello!
Any help with my situation would be greatly appreciated. I will give you all the info that I can, so everyone will better understand my situation.
I live in the country and can't get cable or dsl. Yet my two boys and I do plenty of gaming at a low 28K (torture). So I am spending some hard earned bucks to get ISDN 128k (2 bus.
lines = $). I purchased a 3com ISDN lan Modem 3C892 (4 port).
This high speed modem has it's own router and hub. And on my main computer I am on windows XP. I hope to run a total of 3 (= +2) computers on a LAN using my XP software networking capabilities. And I will be using ccat 5 cable between the computers with ethernet PCI 10/100 cards . My phone company (ISDN IP) and the modem maker 3com don't offer much help as to networking or gaming.
I just leaned today from a 3com tech that my goal of 2-3 computers being able to online game and sometimes even in the same actual game together will be a problem. Because, their 3c892 modem can't do port redirection etc. Next, rather than using my IPS common dynamic address system, the tech said the only idea would be if: I could buy several public addresses 1 for the lan and one more for each of the computers = 4 addresses. I then called my IP and confirmed in fact they can provide me with a block of 8 static address but for a charge of $14.00 per month. I guess I may have to pay this additional cost, I am so far into this project already, with phone company installing lines and ISDN May 1st. Anyway, then as I understand things I will setup the network by turning off the Windows NAT and should consider using a firewall software for some protection. Then setup = m,y need to configure whatever firewall software I use by setting up within the software exactly what ports etc., each computer will accept communicationms from, I assume meaning from the gaming sites etc.
QUESTION IS: I hear XP has it's own firewall. What is it called? And will it have the capability for me set up each computer with it's own static address? Or do I need to purchase some other firewall software? I am not real technical. So any replys must be presented to me in very simple details and any instructions need be step-by-step.
Also, anyone know what I need to do to get into games like Everquest, Diablo, Broodwar etc., with 2-3 of us isometimes in the very same game? I have read on the internet games that often the most common home lan problems are due to firewalls and/or people with lans who want two players to partisipate but the gaming site sees only specific IP address for both players etc.
I really appreciate anyone taking the time. I only ask because I really need to do all this hardware and software myself in order to have the money to take on such a project. I just can't afford to pay someone to come out to my gouse and do this work. But I am getting a bit confused. And getting worried that I may all this time and money only to find in the end that we we have a system goal that won't work for gaming etc.
Thanks!
Dennis
Any help with my situation would be greatly appreciated. I will give you all the info that I can, so everyone will better understand my situation.
I live in the country and can't get cable or dsl. Yet my two boys and I do plenty of gaming at a low 28K (torture). So I am spending some hard earned bucks to get ISDN 128k (2 bus.
lines = $). I purchased a 3com ISDN lan Modem 3C892 (4 port).
This high speed modem has it's own router and hub. And on my main computer I am on windows XP. I hope to run a total of 3 (= +2) computers on a LAN using my XP software networking capabilities. And I will be using ccat 5 cable between the computers with ethernet PCI 10/100 cards . My phone company (ISDN IP) and the modem maker 3com don't offer much help as to networking or gaming.
I just leaned today from a 3com tech that my goal of 2-3 computers being able to online game and sometimes even in the same actual game together will be a problem. Because, their 3c892 modem can't do port redirection etc. Next, rather than using my IPS common dynamic address system, the tech said the only idea would be if: I could buy several public addresses 1 for the lan and one more for each of the computers = 4 addresses. I then called my IP and confirmed in fact they can provide me with a block of 8 static address but for a charge of $14.00 per month. I guess I may have to pay this additional cost, I am so far into this project already, with phone company installing lines and ISDN May 1st. Anyway, then as I understand things I will setup the network by turning off the Windows NAT and should consider using a firewall software for some protection. Then setup = m,y need to configure whatever firewall software I use by setting up within the software exactly what ports etc., each computer will accept communicationms from, I assume meaning from the gaming sites etc.
QUESTION IS: I hear XP has it's own firewall. What is it called? And will it have the capability for me set up each computer with it's own static address? Or do I need to purchase some other firewall software? I am not real technical. So any replys must be presented to me in very simple details and any instructions need be step-by-step.
Also, anyone know what I need to do to get into games like Everquest, Diablo, Broodwar etc., with 2-3 of us isometimes in the very same game? I have read on the internet games that often the most common home lan problems are due to firewalls and/or people with lans who want two players to partisipate but the gaming site sees only specific IP address for both players etc.
I really appreciate anyone taking the time. I only ask because I really need to do all this hardware and software myself in order to have the money to take on such a project. I just can't afford to pay someone to come out to my gouse and do this work. But I am getting a bit confused. And getting worried that I may all this time and money only to find in the end that we we have a system goal that won't work for gaming etc.
Thanks!
Dennis