Multi networking

I have a network system running on TCP/IP and I would like to connect that to a Router/Firewall to connect to a High speed system. I guess what I am getting at is can I run 5 computers off of a 4 port Router? I would like to be able to "uplink" the router into the network.

If this is not possible can I put a second NIC into a computer and run that of the Router and still maintain the network? I guess that would mean running two networks?

All of the machines are running Win98. All are running DHCP.

Thank you for any help.

If you already have a network set up, there must be a hub or a switch already in use, correct?

Connecting it to the router/firewall would be sufficient, either through an uplink port already present or either a regular or crossover RJ45 cable.

If you could post a list of the equipment involved, we could even draw up a "how to" list.

Thank you for your post,

I have a DLink 604 Router/Firewall
The two computers are linked with "Repotec" SOHO Ehternet Hub.

I did notice something this morning. I saw that the Collision light is flashing when I connect the "Uplink" to the router.

Hope this helps somewhat.
Thanks again

Quote:

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Originally posted by Pat Clancy
Thank you for your post,

I have a DLink 604 Router/Firewall
The two computers are linked with "Repotec" SOHO Ehternet Hub.

I did notice something this morning. I saw that the Collision light is flashing when I connect the "Uplink" to the router.

Hope this helps somewhat.
Thanks again

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Is there a switch or a toggle to render this port between standard and crossover? If not, then you may require the use of a specific crossover cable to link them up together.

The simplest solution would be to let the router handle DHCP features on its own and plug both PCs into the router, bypassing the hub entirely and increasing bandwith/speed of both stations (as it acts as a switch also), but it's your call.

Alright, I never thought of the crossover! I will try that as soon as I can get to it.

I am going to try the crossover first and see what happens. I would rather use the router as the hub and I will if I have to but it means I'll have to do some rewiring.

I thank you very much for your help and i'll let you know how I make out tomorrow.

Cheers

Try this: Instead of using the uplink port just plug a straight cable into any port on the hub and any port on the router. This is how I have my network setup. I have a dlink 704p sharing a dialup connection and then I run from port 4 on the router to port 3 on the switch(hub) and use the switches uplink port to connect it to another switch. Anyways it should work. The reason your collision light was lighting up so much is because of how a hub works. where as your router is a switch and it looks at the packets being sent over the network and determines to witch port it is to go to the hub on the other hand broadcasts over ALL the ports each request so say you have 4 computers on the hub they are all hollering at each other and that can cause collisions. Hope that makes sense. Cheers.

Thank you all very much for your ideas. Here's what I ended up doing.

I ran a cat5 from the modem (in separate room) back to the computer in question then I put the Firewall/Router next to the network hub and connected the hub to the router via the uplink. Viola connected to the network and the internet. Once I conncetd the computer in the first room to the router life was once again on an even pace.

Networks still baffle me!:)

Thank you all for your help.

I had an issue at a customer that was down and the crossover cable had gotten me for like 10 minutes. But it was the problem. I make my own cables, so I never had second guessed it, but that was it.