Running LAN and DSL

[tsiebert]

Hi,

We have a LAN with 6 FMP client iMacs and one G4 running filemaker server. We recently upgraded from dial-up to DSL. Is it possible to run this network with DHCP service? . The problem we have run in to is that whenever a user accesses the internet the IP address of the server is changed and we lose the ability to access our FM files. Do we need a static IP? Is it possible to set the server to have a static IP without actually paying for one from our ISP? I know this is a simple problem. I know nothing about configuring ports (5003?) etc. What do I need to do to make this work? We are not interested in serving our database online - all we need is the ability to check email and not bring down the system.

Thanks

[Garry Claridge]

Have a look at using a Netgear gateway; e.g RT311 This device, or similar, will connect your LAN to the Internet and all computers on the LAN can keep their IPs.

All the best.

Garry

[LiveOak]

I personally like the Linksys. I have a client who finally threw away his Netgear router. He was never able to set it up after hours on the phone with tech support. The linksys router sells for about $60 at Best Buy. I've installed a half dozen of them, they are bullet proof.

You may or may not need a static IP address. If you can, definitely get one. DHCP to your ISP isn't bad. Absolutely avoid PPPoE (mostly offered in residential areas, not for business), it basically logs you off every few minutes, just like a dial-up.

The minimum number of IP address is 4, with one usable. The other three are needed for overhead purposes (the router address, network address, and broadcast address, I think). Likewise, 8 addresses gives you 5 usable, 16 gives 13 usable, etc.

You can run FM Server on an all Mac network while not having static IP addresses (TCP/IP control panel set to DHCP), but you must set the FM network protocol to AppleTalk. If you want to use TCP/IP for FM, you can assign addresses from either the 192.168.1.1 or 10.10.10.10 subnets to machines on your network. Most routers come setup as 192.168.1.1 on the LAN side. If you setup these "non-routable" IP addresses for machines on the LAN, you will also need to manually specify the Router Address, Subnet Mask, and the Primary & Secondary Domain Name Servers in the TCP/IP control panel. If you use DHCP, these are retrieved for you.

How many IP addresses you purchase depends upon how accessible you need machines on the LAN to be from the Internet. To say, Timbuktu to each of your machines directly from the Internet (WAN), you will need 7 static IP addresses, which means a block of 16 (13 usable) addresses. To just web browse and router WAN FM access to your server, you will only need 4 (1 usable).

Hope this is of some help.

-bd

[Garry Claridge]

Here is a good Linksys gateway/router; BEFSR11

http://www.linksys.com/Products/product.asp?prid=142&grid=23

You should not have to change anything with your ISP. The gateway/router will login, through your current DSL modem, and accept the changing external IP address. The gateway/router will also connect to your hub/switch and use an internal IP; this becomes the Gateway address for each of the LAN computers.

All of the LAN computers can keep their static IP address; no need for DHCP. I don't recommend using Appletalk for FM communications.

Hope this helps.

Garry