Help with ways to connect client to server machine (1 Viewer)

[Zorg]

Hi,

I'm using last version MP and TVServer in an HTPC with Windows 7. I'm thinking of building a new machine and using it as client.

The HTPC is in the lounge, connected into a port of a 4 ports router, and the other 3 ports are already used by other PCs of family members that are in different rooms.

I would like to place a new PC in the lounge and use it as client. Both client and server must be in the lounge, because the TV and the connexions to TDT and satellite are placed there. But there I only have one connexion to the router port used by the HTPC.

Is there a way to connect this new machine to the HTPC, "outside" of the router? Using the same IP? I have no idea of how I could do that.

I would appreciate very much some help.
Thank you in advance

 

[joystick]

AW: Help with ways to connect client to server machine

Hi,

honestly, I don't understand your problem completely, wouldn't a switch/hub directly connected to the port on your router solve your issue?

cheers

joystick

 

[Zorg]

Thanks for answering.

The thing is I don't have much experience in these things.
I have a port connexion of the router on the wall next to the TV. This port is now connected to the HTPC server. Do you mean to connect a switch/hub on that port and connect both server and client to the hub?

As you can see, I don't have idea of what a switch/ hub is. Could I share the same IP for both computers, client and server, with a hub? Could you recommend a specific one?

Thank you in advance.

 

[Nogge69]

Hi Zorg

I would add another Ethernet card to the Server and Brige them together under "Network Adapter Setings" (Check your server first to see if it might already have two ehernet connectors.)
Then you connect your client to the server, with a crossed ethernet cable, to one of the cards, and connect the other card in the server to the router, and your'e done.

I have one server with three Ethernet cards, and it works great.

 

[joystick]

AW: Help with ways to connect client to server machine

why would you do that? Simply using an ethernet Switch (cost 20€/5 Port Swich) is simple and cheap to implement...
Even though, maybe wlan would be an alternative? I the router supports it?

 

[Nogge69]

Re: AW: Help with ways to connect client to server machine

why would you do that? Simply using an ethernet Switch (cost 20€/5 Port Swich) is simple and cheap to implement...
Even though, maybe wlan would be an alternative? I the router supports it?

Not having an extra box in the livingroom would be reason good enough for me
Also I guess you can find a 10/100 card at 5-10€... but i totally agree, that a extra router is prob. the easyest to set up.

 

[ryan20021982]

+1 for a switch I have a router with a 16 port switch and everything is connected to the switch, just 1 cable from the router to the switch.

Add a 5 port switch and it will work fine and give you 4 more ports

 

[Zorg]

Hi Zorg

I would add another Ethernet card to the Server and Brige them together under "Network Adapter Setings" (Check your server first to see if it might already have two ehernet connectors.)
Then you connect your client to the server, with a crossed ethernet cable, to one of the cards, and connect the other card in the server to the router, and your'e done.

I have one server with three Ethernet cards, and it works great.

Thank you for that suggestion.

I've just finished (5 a.m. in Spain) to mount server an client and connect them through another ethernet card I put in the server. That works great, but now I have a problem that may be is easy to sort out, I don't know.

The server machine is connected through the router to the home lan where I have other computers in other rooms. In these PCs I have films and pictures I would like to see in TV using the client machine. But, for the moment, the client can only see the server machine, because they are connected each other through this second net I created with that ethernet card I added.

What could I do, without buying a switch or something, to reach the other computers from the client?

 

[Nogge69]

Hi

To connect the client to the rest of the network, through the server with the two ethhernet cards, you only have to go into the Network adapter settings on the server. Select both ethernet cards, right click, and select Bridge connections.
(I guess you got all the network cabels in place)

Here's a couple of links which is a bit more detailed.

Setting Up Network Bridge in Windows XP
Bridge Network Connections in Windows 7

You might have a look into the firewall settings of the server. (Dont't think you need too)

 

[Zorg]

Thank you a lot!

That was easy. As a matter of fact, I remember now that I had to set up a bridge once, to prevent the scheduled MP recordings from failing when the home lan was off.
I mean, when I disconnected the router at nights, for example, the scheduled recordings of the HTPC failed, and I had to use that trick of the bridge.
I don't know if I'll have now to set up another bridge (over the actual bridge) to be able to disconnect the lan without ruining the scheduled recordings.