OT-Computer networking

claviusb.b · 2005-03-09T18:54:01+00:00

OK this is 99 and 44/100% OT, but you guys know everything. The place I work has an IT department straight out of aDilbert cartoon. For a department of 15, we have been allowed1 (!) internet computer, located in the far corner of our area.Major nusiance. We use this alot, and would like to set upa clandestine sub-network off of our department computer, toget web access to our desks. We asked repeatedly via officalchannels and where refused, with no explaniation. Never a groupto avoid from such a challange, I turn to you for help. Our internet connection is a T1, distributed over an internalnetwork, seperate from the "regular" company network. We originallytried the obvious, which was to plug a hub into where our web computeris and distribute from there, but it won't work. I found out that thesystem is set up to communicate only with the MAC address of thespecific ethernet card in that computer. It ignores any other networkdevice that is plugged into it. Now I understand that it is possible to put 2 network cards in 1computer. Is that true, and would it be possible to do that anduse the second network card to allow "passthrough" (for lack ofa better term) access to the web? What would it take, SW and HW wise? As I am sure you have gathered, I am not any sort of networkingexpert, but maybe know just enough to be dangerous. Any ideas orsuggestions as to the best way to accomplish this? All of these computers are P3's (sad, I know...) running Win98 or98SE.Thanks for any suggestions!

Mar 09, 2005 22 Replies

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Dave Hinz 21 years ago

All of these things you mention fit nicely on a 1 GB USB thumb drive. I've been doing it that way for a while and am pleased with that technique. Saves much time, and if there's an update, I had to download it anyway - so I copy the update to the thumb drive at that time. Saves a LOT of hassle. A bootable CDROM OS (such as a Knoppix Linux) is handy for fixing a scrogged virus-infested windows system, if you're comfortable starting in Linux to fix the Windows stuff.

Exactly. Sometimes, though, sneakernet is even better...

Right. Or you don't get called back, and rightfully so.

Dave Hinz

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nospam.clare.nce 21 years ago

One problem. You don't always know what the problem you are going to is - so you don't know what updates the system MIGHT need - or what driver might be corrupted, etc etc etc. Having the internet as a resource makes life a lot easier. If I'm 50 miles from my office and do not have the particular driver/update/dll file or whatever in my briefcase, who pays for the

100 mile round trip???

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Dave Hinz 21 years ago

Right, but seems they _all_ need AdAware, Spybot, Service Pack 2, and sometimes an antivirus.

Of course, I'm just saying that for the things you know you'll need, carry 'em with you. I'm not the guy who was saying "Tha Intarweb is evul for consultants" or whatever his point was.

Dave Hinz

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