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. 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. From: "Manuel Bermudez III" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: RE: [hlds] CS Server Question Date: Fri, 19 Oct 2001 09:10:18 -0500 Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Well... I have messed with I-share before and really don't like it. If your running win2k server stick with the ICS (internet connection sharing) that comes with it. It seems to route traffic very smoothly and efficiently. I have had no problems (yet). Just make sure that you have two decent 10/100 PCI nic cards installed. Trash the I-share. You don't need it. Don't give yourself more headaches. If you are new to networking... here is some information that will help you out a bit: Share the nic that has the router/dsl/cable connection that is directly connected to it. It will know the other nic is there and create a default subnet of like 255.255.255.0. Then it will make the #2 nic a default gateway access to the rest of your network and assign it a ip address of 192.168.1.1 by default. It will also use the preferred DNS of 127.0.0.1 as well. You have to do nothing. Just make sure all the other computers that need to have internet access are using DHCP by default and it will find an ip of 192.168.1.XXX for itself. Unless you want to give it a specific ip, that is up to you. Then connect them all to your hub (I hope you have one) and connect the server nic #2 to the hub and viola! You have ICS in basic form. Welcome to networking 101! Good luck! Best regards, Manuel Bermudez III Network Implementation Engineer _______________________________________________ To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list archives, please visit: http://list.valvesoftware.com/mailman/listinfo/hlds
