MN-700 + wired machines on LAN question

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.broadbandnet.hardware (More info?)

I'm not 100% sure of what you're asking, but I'll take a stab at it.

If you mean "can I somehow plug the router in to the network jack in the
wall and have everything access it", the answer is "no".

Here's why: all points on a network have to converge on a single point. You
might work at a place that has a "server room". In this room, you'll not
only find the company's main file and email servers, but also all their
network resources. Every CAT-5 cable connected to a PC or server in the
building will end here, usually in something called a "patch panel", in
which the ends of the CAT-5 cables are wired to a large board that has many
plugs in it. Shorter CAT-5 cables are run from the patch panel to a large
switch, which allows all the computers to communicate internally. The
company would then have a some sort of Internet access (cable, DSL, Tx,
etc.), with a CAT-5 cable connecting the cable modem to a router and yet
another cable connecting the router to the switch - and thus, you have
Internet access on all the PCs and servers.

To create a wired connection to your existing router, you would need to run
cables from the rooms in question to the room where your router currently
resides. At that point, you'd simply plug them into the router just like
you are (apparently) doing with 2 existing machines. If you need additional
ports, you can buy a switch and connect all the PCs and the router to the
new switch.

At my former job, I sometimes set up something just like this for some fancy
(6000+ square feet) houses. Every room had a network jack on at least one
wall, and each cable went from that room to the basement. Each cable was
then wired to a small patch panel that was attached to a piece of pegboard.
Attached to the peg board were the cable modem, a switch and a router (as
well as all their cable and telephone equipment).

Unfortunately, network traffic won't work in the way I think you want it to.
This is a limitation of Ethernet and not a problem particular to Microsoft
or Linksys or what have you. Also, buying a new router means that the two
"new" PCs will have to be on a different subnet (network) than your existing
machines, so you won't be able to share Internet connections or
files\printers with the 2 existing machines.

Forgive me if I didn't explain this well. But as I said earlier, the
probably answer is "no". If you would elaborate on your current setup, I
could give you more advice though.

Cheers!

Jim



"mike tholfsen" <mtholfsen@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:ad4401c4d712$4471d330$a601280a@phx.gbl...
> Currently, I haved a working MN-700 wireless network set
> up with 2 machines and a Cable modem. The router and
> cabel modem are in my home office. What I'm trying to do
> is add 2 wired machines (CAT-5 wiring throughout the
> house) from different rooms to my home network.
>
> My question is can I hardwire my MN-700 into the home
> office port and then link my other 2 machines from the
> other rooms in my house, or do I need a separate router
> for the wired machines?
>
> thanks
> -mike

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.broadbandnet.hardware (More info?)

The 700 has 4 network ports (i.e. you can plug in 4
devices), each PC needs to have its own cat5 cable to the
700. Or, you can use a network hub, plug both PCs into
that and then run 1 cat5 cable back to your 700. Or, you
can buy some wireless NICs for the PCs and not run any
cat5 cables. The options are many.



>-----Original Message-----
>Currently, I haved a working MN-700 wireless network set
>up with 2 machines and a Cable modem. The router and
>cabel modem are in my home office. What I'm trying to do
>is add 2 wired machines (CAT-5 wiring throughout the
>house) from different rooms to my home network.
>
>My question is can I hardwire my MN-700 into the home
>office port and then link my other 2 machines from the
>other rooms in my house, or do I need a separate router
>for the wired machines?
>
>thanks
>-mike
>.
>