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Need help connecting to DSL and Network

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by shawn.carney 1 view

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I am running two machines, one is Windows NT and one Windows 98SE. Both are client machines.

Each need to be able to connect concurrently to both our company network, which runs both Novell and NT through an ethernet connection (currently this isthe only connection that these machines have), and to an additional DSL line, also through an ethernet connection. The DSL line will be primarily for FTP use so as not to clog up our network bandwidth.

The network properties will be different for each connection configuration (including a static ip address for the DSL and a DHCP assigned address for the network, separate gateways, separate wins and dns info, etc), so there will need to be either two boot modes (which would be time consumingand the least preferred solution) or a switching program will need to be used that will switch between the two sets of necessary network information.

I'm not sure if this is even possible and if it is, if there is software or hardware capable of handling it and/or whether or not the operating systems themselves could handle it.

We can install two nics in each machine (one for Novell/NT and one for DSL) and put the separate network information into the properties for each card, but how toget the machine to know which option to connect to at any given time? Or could it connect to both at once? If so, how would you tell the computer which information would be sent to which connection?

Another option, if such a thing exists, is to use a CAT 5 switching box that would allow a simultaneous connection to both the network and the dsl and also store the information for both connections and route outgoing and incoming data accordingly.

Anyone have any information? Thanks in advance.

3 replies

by stillatit

Put in two NICs, with the correct properties for each. As your "normal" operations are through your LAN, make sure that everything works on that side. Unless you are in a security environment and need physical disconnection, you should not worry about a switch solution.

Set NO default gateway on your DSL connection. (Since there is nothing on its segment but the router at the ISP, this effectively disables it for normal use.)

Make sure IP routing is turned off! You do not want to create aback door to your LAN!

When you want to force a particular connection to go out the DSL connection, go to a command (DOS) prompt, and type a ROUTE command, telling your system that you want traffic to a particular IP address or network going in aparticular direction.

Example:
Your DSL: w.x.y.z
ISP router: w.x.y.r
You want to ftp to a.b.c.d, which is a class C address.

To force the one address
ROUTE ADD a.b.c.d MASK 255.255.255.255 w.x.y.r

To force the whole target network:
ROUTE ADD a.b.c.0 MASK 255.255.255.0 w.x.y.r

If for some idiot reason your box still thinks it is more efficient to use your lan, you can be more explicit. From your command window, do a ROUTE PRINT and get the interface number of the card going to the DSL
(probably 2 or 3). Assume 3 for this example. The commands become:
ROUTE ADD a.b.c.d MASK 255.255.255.255 w.x.y.r METRIC 2 IF 3
and
ROUTE ADD a.b.c.0 MASK 255.255.255.0 w.x.y.r METRIC 2 IF 3

ROUTE HELP gives you command explanations.
Good luck.

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