:confused:

Hello guys,

The company I work for is planning on setting up a LAN in order to share resources from a file server (Dell PowerEdge 2600). Currently, we have about 15 computers (Win XP Home) connected to a wired hub (3Com OfficeConnect 16) which is in turn connected to a DSL router (Cisco 857) for internet connection.

The plan is to install wireless network cards (probably from D-Link) on some of our computers and use a wireless hub (D-Link DI-624) to connect it to the DSL router, and then use the wired hub to make another separate network to connect some other computers to the server. The thing is that we want some of these computers to be connected to the server and to the internet at the same time without exposing our internal LAN to the internet.

What would be the right configuration in order to achieve this, so that Internet Explorer knows which connection to use to access the internet and still have access to the server through the other programs and systems? Do we need more special hardware or is it just enough to play with the IP addresses? What would be the right procedure for this?

If you need any more info, please let me know.

Thank you for your help. :D

I can help with some of this. For the wireless part, what you need is Wireless Access Point. This will connect to your router and provide access to the wireless devices. Also I would replace the 16 port hub with a switch. A switch will give better performance than a hub.

Unless, you are planning on running a WEB server (I wouldn't recommend it), then there is no reason to worry about exposing your LAN. Just make sure you have a firewall in place on your PCs and may one between the router and the LAN and you should be OK.

Thanks ScottGem, isn't the DI-624 a wireless acces point? I thought so.

You talked about using a switch instead of a hub, can you recommend one?

I have no problem with using the Internet and the server in the same network, but to my boss (who worries about this issue) it's not a good idea. So I would like to try our plan first and see if we can get somewhere with it.

I appreciate your assistance.

The DI-624 is a wireless router as well as a WAP. You don't need the router features (unless you are replacing your current router). You will have to disable those features if you connect the DI-624 to your current router.

There are loads of companies making SOHO switches. Linksys, NetGear, D-Link 3-Com and several others.

I'm not sure what the boss is thinking here. He already has the Internet connected through the Cisco router. Is he worried about someone sitting outside your offices with a wireless laptop and connecting to your network? If so, Make sure the WAP is secure. Use MAC filtering to prevent non listed PCs from connecting via the WAP. Make sure you use encryption on it.

We already have software firewalls installed in every PC, but you mentioned placing a firewall between the router and the LAN, what do we need to implement that?

You can get a hardware firewall or a router with built in firewall. You can place that between the router and your switch and the WAP.

Ok, I'll give this information to my boss and talk about it with him. If anything else comes up, I'll post again.

Thank you!