Any comments on this setup? Will it work?

[no-mbr]

I need to setup a six client network. The internet access will be provided by a cable/dsl signal. (single port, ethernet modem)

I want to connect the cable modem to the uplink of a Linksys 4 port hub.
Two clients will connect directly to this hub.

I want to connect one port from the Linksys hub to another wireless Linksys hub, the (uplink hopefully).... Four clients will connect to the wireless Linksys hub through USB wireless NICs.

Will the Linksys wireless hub accept a NAT address from the Linksys hub?
Will the wireless hub then provide NAT for the wireless clients?

I'm figuring all Linksys and all XP home for the network....

Anyone see a web page describing uplinking "consumer-style" hubs?

Thanks.

[aussieolie2]

a router that assigns IPs may be more appropriate. Especially if you are connecting directly to an ISP, rather than a local proxy.
a wireless hub that connects to this may work (depends what router you get, and if it has uplink support for wireless...i cannot see why not).

Good Luck,

Olie

[hiredgoonz]

As aussie pointed out, you're going to need a router to do what you're describing.

Becasue of the way that cable companies provide internet access, you can generally only have one "computer" hooked to the modem for authentication purposes.

The linksys etherfast cable/dsl routers are available for about $50 now, usually after a rebate, and will do exactly what you're after.

You connect the modem to the WAN port on the router, then connect one of the regular ports on the router to the uplink port on your wireless access point.

At this point, the wireless access point should act just like a regular hub connected to the router and the router should provide the wireless pcs with IPs etc...

I just accomplished something similar, refer to:

http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18591

for more info...

[no-mbr]

Yeah, I read the thread. That's why I reposted.

Cable/dsl routers are cheap. I don't know what I was thinking.

Okay. So I get a "regular" DSL hub/router/switch, whatever. Connect it's uplink to the DSL line. Leave it set to NAT. Connect the wireless hub to one of it's ports and then it use NAT to address the wireless clients.

I guess what I am asking exactly is: Can a wireless hub be configured to accept a NAT IP and then still use NAT to configure it's clients.

And will it do it without being buggy??

I couldn't tell from the previous thread whether this is the case...

[hiredgoonz]

The nat function will be provided by the router with the wireless access point acting like a simple hub.

I don't even think the wireless access point requires an IP, but yes, it will/should work.

If the access point just acts like a hub, then the router should provide addressing for computers that connect to it.

Worst case scenario is that you will have to assign the AP an IP and disable any dhcp functionality it has.

After that you should be good.

The alternative to what you've come up with would be to buy a wireless access point with a built-in router. Linksys makes these and this is what I just bought.

This device has 4 wired ports built into it and can support up to 32 wireless clients.

If you go this way, you won't even need two devices since the 4 ports will allow you to connect wired computers and the wireless functionality should exceed your requirements.

This is definitely something to consider...

[aussieolie2]

If you cannot auto assign IPs (via DHCP), you could just manually assign IPs on all the PC's.

Good Luck,

Olie

[no-mbr]

I'll check the linksys site, that dual/wired/wirelese hub sounds like the answer.

Now that I've thought about it, I'm wondering if assiging addresses will lessen any chance of address renewal failures if machines are turned off and on at the same time, (or some other buginess)

Another plus, might be that going with static addressing sets up well with configurung security. (no unintended clients)

Thanks....

[hiredgoonz]

Another advantage of assigning static IPs is that you can use the advanced features of the router such as port forwarding (in case you want to run an FTP server, etc.) and demilitarized zone which is necessary for certain game and web functions...

As far as the router goes, it's just the Linksys Wireless Access Point + 4 port Router:

http://linksys.com/Products/product.asp?grid=23&prid=415

I absolutely love the thing...now that I have it working :)

The only problem I have had is that Windows XP likes to default to WEP enabled settings on the client side (laptop with wireless card) even after you disable it and this prevents connectivity.

[no-mbr]

Yeah, I didn't think they had a modem built in to a router.

I still need an Cable/DSL/Ethernet modem, but that's okay....

Thanks for the link...