[LAN] ICS vs.VPN vs.Remote Desktop Conn

[PROBLEMCHYLD]

I'm going to add many more computers 2 my network and

trying 2 find the best solution for addin 98SE/ME/NT4/2000/XP

computers to my router network.

Please I neeeed ur feedback.

File sharing and gaming will be the sole purpose for this NETWORK.

Edited May 12, 2006 by Gouki

[Guest]

How will you be connecting them? Are they all close enough to connect through the same router, or do they need to connect to each other through the internet?

If you're linking together a clan with distant members for competition then I think you'd be best served renting a Linux server with remote access. Then you'd have a central file repository for maps/mods and more consistent pings in-game for everyone. If everyone in the clan pitches in it should be pretty cheap.

If you're just talking about hosting LAN parties then create a Network Wizard floppy for others to use when they visit. That should make things pretty simple and will work for all Windows operating systems and still allow for file sharing.

[rendrag]

well, based on the previous thread that prompted this one, I still would have to go w/ VPN as the best option, however you'd have to do your research to see if the VPN clients for the router you'd use would work on win98 since OpenVPN doesn't work on Win98.

Since the remote PCs are on dialup (IIRC), Remote desktop might be too slow, especially for gaming, unless that game is solitaire

ICS assumes PC_A has a direct physical connection to PC_B, and PC_B would act as the gateway(or router for simplicity's sake) to the internet. If your systems are outside the router's network, the presence of that physical connection is probably non-existent.

For the sake of those here who want to help, but have no idea about your setup, please spell out the network layout you have presently, and we'll do the best we can. Given your description in your initial post, it's too vague to offer any real guidance.

[PROBLEMCHYLD]

@ 5eraph

Some computers are a great distance and some are in a near by radius.

@ rendrag

I already have 6 computers on the network with a Linsys WRT54G Router

and it has support for VPN. now the other computers I want to add all uses modems

except 2 that uses dial up and thats a XP and a 98se.I was leanin towards the VPN

but the 98 computers that uses modems don't have the software i need.So i was thinking

maybe ICS.

I hope this is detail enuff.

[Guest]

I'm guessing this thread is a continuation of the one you started here:

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=67172

I would say it would be most efficient to separate this into two separate problems, file-sharing and gaming, since not all of your computers have broadband access. The added overhead for Remote Desktop or creating a VPN will make doing just about anything pointless. ICS is only for creating a LAN, it will not help you connect computers that aren't all at one location.

For file-sharing I'd recommend setting up an FTP server on your broadband connection for your remote computers to access. It's very bandwidth efficient and there are plenty of freeware apps you can use to get it done. FileZilla, from what I've read, comes highly recommended. Cerberus is free for personal use and has worked well for me in the past.

For gaming, set up your systems for internet play serving from your broadband connection and open the requisite game-specific ports. This is the only way to assure you'll get decent pings!

Edited May 13, 2006 by 5eraph