Thanks for all the clarification about switches and hubs, but could anyone give me any words of wisdom on the heart of my earlier post? I would sure appreciate your help on any of the rest of it.
Thanks, Mikee ========Please Note: This is a Duplicate of my first post========= I'm not as experienced as most of you, but I set up a simple network with a full T-1 coming through the Intel Express 8220 Router (vs. a Cisco...it was only $700 new, has the CSU/DSU built in, and a slick "Device View" menu interface) to a 650 Athlon w/ 256 RAM running Win2k Server (not Advanced Server) with 2 NIC's. I put the higher quality 3Com Etherlink Server (3CR990SV97 model) as the LAN NIC, and set this up with "Client for MS Networks," "File and Print Sharing" and "TCP/IP" protocols with the settings Manuel had also said below. I then use the 3Com "3C905C-TX-M" NIC for the WAN, but only have "TCP/IP" enabled (no Client for MS Networks or File/Print Sharing) to protect the Server PC and insulate the LAN. I also run BID & NAV on both the Server and LAN PC. These are all networked to a 10/100 SMC switch (I heard that a switch is faster than a HUB...but am still confused about what the differences and indications of Hubs vs. Switches is), where the router CAT cable connects into. =======Note: Now I'm glad I chose a switch!!=================== Because I know that Win2k Server has much faster, and allows more simultaneous connections, I put my HLDS on the Win2k Server box, and running it with a custom user profile. I also Ghosted and image in case it gets hacked. I can restore it back from the 3 CD's (I have lots of maps!) pretty quick. I have nothing else on the Win2k Server PC. How does this setup sound to you? The pings for people are superb....a lot are getting pings under 50! I am also now running a second HLDS, both running as shortcuts..not as services. So far the most people I have had connected to both games running is about 35...and no crashes or other problems have come up running this for about a week straight (have not had to reboot, or restart, etc.). Sorry this is so long...I'm getting to the heart of my question, but another thought I had was at some point to get another (a third) dedicated (used) PC box from someone, and use that as a dedicated game server, running Win2k Pro, put 2 NIC's in it, also plug them both into the switch, and then configure one NIC to directly connect to the Internet (only using TCP/IP) with another one of the block of public IP's. Then have the 2nd NIC connect in to the LAN so I could have configuring access from the network. If I did that I would also likely get one of those keyboard/mouse/monitor A/B switches so I didn't have to put up another monitor. I guess my real question is: Is there anything wrong with having the Win2k Server box that is also the gateway NAT routing PC run the HLDS games if that's all I have on it? People are getting excellent pings, with many under 50! I understand that the Server PC will get a bit more "stressed" if I do file transfers, surfing, emailing, play HL as client, etc. from the LAN PC I have now...but I thought that most all of these LAN requests just get passed right through the Win2K Server box out to the Internet. Is there any point to setting up a third PC as a dedicated game server which would have a less powerful OS on it? Again, my apologies for this being so long, and many thanks for any feedback. ==============End of Previously posted note==================== _______________________________________________ To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list archives, please visit: http://list.valvesoftware.com/mailman/listinfo/hlds
