Set up a fileserver?

797 Views 25 Replies 9 Participants Last post by LiNERROR, Mar 15, 2009

Arbiter419

Discussion Starter · Mar 15, 2009

Hello everyone,

I dug out my old Dell 3000 desktop, and decided that it would be a nice little file server for my room. Problem is, I know very little about networking. They're linked via ethernet cable, and they seem to be communicating or something, but it says limited connectivity.

I kind of know about file sharing, but what I really want to do is get this thing to show up as a network drive on my sig rig.

This is good, because I want to learn moar about networking.

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LiNERROR

· #2 · Mar 15, 2009

you can't just plug two machines together with a regular ethernet cable and expect them to work. you need more than a physical layer...

you will need to plug that machine into a router with a dhcp server or configure static IPs on both NICs so the machines can talk to each other...

What OS is the dell and do you have any other machines besides your sig on your network? do you have a router? is the dell just plugged into your sig rig or what?

farmboy30

· #3 · Mar 15, 2009

Are they connected together directly?

If so, and the computer is old enough, you will need a crossover ethernet cable

then, set the ip address of the card you are connecting the file server to to 192,168.0.1, with a subnet of 255.255.255.0

then set the fileserver ip address to 192.168.0.2, same subnet, and the default gateway as 192.168.0.1

make sure they are in the same workgroup

then you're set!

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DennisC

· #4 · Mar 15, 2009

I also have my old Dell dimension 3000 and it would be great to store some extra files on it. I think I should connect both to my network and use file sharing correct?

Arbiter419

Discussion Starter · #5 · Mar 15, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by LiNERROR

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you can't just plug two machines together with a regular ethernet cable and expect them to work. you need more than a physical layer...

you will need to plug that machine into a router with a dhcp server or configure static IPs on both NICs so the machines can talk to each other...

What OS is the dell and do you have any other machines besides your sig on your network? do you have a router? is the dell just plugged into your sig rig or what?

Aw crap..No router...

I have XP on it, and they're the only two machines in my "network."

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justarealguy

· #6 · Mar 15, 2009

You could, then, get a crossover cable and simply share the files. It's a real PITA to set up though.

identitycrisis

· #7 · Mar 15, 2009

use a crossover cable, and set static ips then use the ip of the file server to connect to it

Arbiter419

Discussion Starter · #8 · Mar 15, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by farmboy30

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Are they connected together directly?

If so, and the computer is old enough, you will need a crossover ethernet cable

then, set the ip address of the card you are connecting the file server to to 192,168.0.1, with a subnet of 255.255.255.0

then set the fileserver ip address to 192.168.0.2, same subnet, and the default gateway as 192.168.0.1

make sure they are in the same workgroup

then you're set!

I don't know how to do any of that.

I don't even know if the cable I'm using is crossover. I got it with the Xbox 360 Pro.

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farmboy30

· #9 · Mar 15, 2009

In windows xp, to edit the ip address, you just go to network connections, find the card you are using, right click -> properties, then select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and hit the properties button...from there you can put in the numbers i mentioned

Darkknight512

· #10 · Mar 15, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arbiter419

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I don't know how to do any of that.

I don't even know if the cable I'm using is crossover. I got it with the Xbox 360 Pro.

Its not a crossover cable then.

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2

LiNERROR

· #11 · Mar 15, 2009

he doesn't need a crossover cable... the Realtek 8111B chipset on his motherboard is auto mdi/mdi-x...

how is your internet connected if your using your onboard ethernet for a link to your dell system?

This is a crossover cable... which you won't need anyways...

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JTD92

· #12 · Mar 15, 2009

Look at both ends of the ethernet cables. If the band of colors or exactly identical (the placement) then its not a crossover cable.

Metalstorm

· #13 · Mar 15, 2009

If you want it to show up as a drive letter then use the net use command.

net use \\\\machinename\\share \\volume

You should have a user name and password account set up on the server machine the same as your pc.

Optimally, you have a switch or a router with extra ports to use.

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Arbiter419

Discussion Starter · #14 · Mar 15, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by LiNERROR

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he doesn't need a crossover cable... the Realtek 8111B chipset on his motherboard is auto mdi/mdi-x...

how is your internet connected if your using your onboard ethernet for a link to your dell system?

Well..I'm..uhh...on..dialup..

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Arbiter419

Discussion Starter · #15 · Mar 15, 2009

Also, both workgroups are set to "WORKGROUP."

LiNERROR

· #16 · Mar 15, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arbiter419

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Well..I'm..uhh...on..dialup..

Great, all you'll need to do is setup your IPs on both machines... go ahead and set your desktop's Network card to IP 192.168.1.2 with a subnet of 255.255.255.0 and set the dell to 192.168.1.3 & 255.255.255.0

for your Dell box, start with Step 5.
http://portforward.com/networking/static-xp.htm

for your machine, start with Step 5.
http://portforward.com/networking/static-vista.htm

if your machines are in the same workgroup you should be able to see each machine in Network Places.

you can also put \\\\192.168.1.2 or \\\\192.168.1.3 in the address bar to access the other machine. public shares will show up there, you will need to create user accounts with passwords if you want to access anything. would be best to create an account with the same name and password on both machines and use that account when sharing or connecting to resources.

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Arbiter419

Discussion Starter · #17 · Mar 15, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by LiNERROR

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Great, all you'll need to do is setup your IPs on both machines... go ahead and set your desktop's Network card to IP 192.168.1.2 with a subnet of 255.255.255.0 and set the dell to 192.168.1.3 & 255.255.255.0

for your Dell box, start with Step 5.
http://portforward.com/networking/static-xp.htm

for your machine, start with Step 5.
http://portforward.com/networking/static-vista.htm

if your machines are in the same workgroup you should be able to see each machine in Network Places.

you can also put \\192.168.1.2 or \\192.168.1.3 in the address bar to access the other machine. public shares will show up there, you will need to create user accounts with passwords if you want to access anything. would be best to create an account with the same name and password on both machines and use that account when sharing or connecting to resources.

Wow, very good information.

How do I assign IPs to my different network cards?

They're both integrated.

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LiNERROR

· #18 · Mar 15, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arbiter419

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Wow, very good information.

How do I assign IPs to my different network cards?

They're both integrated.

perhaps you should try following the directions i've already given you...

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Metalstorm

· #19 · Mar 15, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arbiter419

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Wow, very good information.

How do I assign IPs to my different network cards?

They're both integrated.

Control Panel, right click your local area connection. Scroll to Internet Protocol. Click properties. Then manually set the IP address and subnet mask. You wont need a gateway if you aren't accessing the internet with the machines.

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farmboy30

· #20 · Mar 15, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by LiNERROR

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perhaps you should try following the directions i've already given you...

i gave him directions as well, and were stated again within the thread....

he's overlooking good info

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