HELP!! Wiring advanced home network?

Question

Hello everyone. Well let me give you some specs of my network, I have 2 laptops running off of a WAP (Wireless Access Point). Two desktop computers running off of a Router, and a Compaq Proliant 6000 server running Windows Server 2003 with 1 gigabit ethernet card and 2 10/100 ehternet cards.

Right now, the way everything is hooked up, I only get about 3.0mbps transfer on ftp inside the network.

I need to get it at least to the 80mbps range inside the network.
Currently im using a netgear wireless router, and two Linksys NR041 routers.

i have forwarded everything correctly on the routers. All access to the server is correct, nothing is blocked except what should be. Can anyone give me a good idea as to how I can set this up well enough to at least get to 20mbps transfer rate. Remember, this is internally, not going out the internet connection, I want this speed inside my network.

If anyone can give me some hints or even draw me a diagram and tell me what I should buy..
Thanks!

The wireless router is the main router. From there, a cable runs 25 ft to a Linksys NR041, from there, it runs another 25ft to another Linksys NR041.

2 wireless and one wired connect to the first router.

I am using the second router as a hub, but I can easily connect anything to it.

The third goes to my room, where the server is.

The reason im using routers instead of actually switches or hubs is because I already had these devices, and I cant waste much money. (Im a high school student)

I am running Cat5e, My firewalls are all configured to allow file sharing and to all complete freedom between the computers on the internal network. My router only allows computers with pre-registered mac addresses to connect and get an IP. The first router is running as the DHCP server, and it is 192.168.1.1

the second is 192.168.1.2

the third is 192.168.1.3

DHCP is turned off on the last 2 routers.

My server is running FTP and file sharing.

hope this helps a bit more

Btw, im running abg on my wireless router. All computers including the server are running Windows XP and one is vista. The server is Windows Server 2003 and will eventually be either Server 2007 or FreeBSD

Answer 1

You started off great and then went down hill from there. You not only need to tell us what you have connectede but how its connected. You say your using a WAP, but then you say you have a wireless router.

We need to know exactly how you have everything wired and what model of everything you have inbetween and what lengths of ethernet cable you are using and so on. Cat5e or Cat 6 cable?

Also what OS's are you using on the computers? What FTP software are you using? Freeware or full paid version? DO you have firewalls? Anti Virus Software?

What services are being supplied by your server? DHCP? or is this ran by the router?

EDIT
I sent you an email but Ill post it here also.

Hi Pedro,

This is how I would connect everything if I was you.

First make sure all the 10/100 ethernet cards you have are forced to use 100Mbs and make sure your router supports 100Mb/s.

Second Dont use the Gigabit ethernet port in your server. If your router and other computers dont have gigabit ethernet ports then it could interfere with data transmission.

Connect the Server 2003 PC to your Router.
Connect PC1 to Router using ethernet cable
Connect PC2 to Router using ethernet cable
Connect WAP to Router using ethernet cable

Set Your Wireless Security if you want it. Remember Wireless security will really slow your transfer speeds over the wireless portion of your network.

Connect your Wireless Computer to WAP.

Now make sure your Firewalls are set to allow File and Printer sharing and make sure your Virus Scanning and Spyware Software is set to not scan downloading files.

Also some FTP software, especially Trial, will cripple your transfer speeds so you will buy the full version.

Now if you wanted to add Internet to this network later you have two options.
1) Connect it to the router.
2) Connect it to your server PC and share internet through it. This option will allow you to view Internet access logs and control bandwidth to each computer.

Answer 2

Are you running firewalls on everything? Virus scans? If so, this may be the culprit. If you're not connected to the internet, then you can shut those down and see if the speed increases.

Also, on your router, WAP, and wireless laptops, which 802.11 protocol? B, G, N? It seems that I've read that the slowest point will determine the overall speed...could be wrong on that one but might be worthy of some research.

Is the router the only device routing? If any of these systems are running linux/unix, they may be routing..something to check and disable if so.

I'm only guessing on this one, but you've 3 routers. Is one routing and the others not? Master/slave relationship between the routers? If not, then perhaps some congestion.

Good luck!

Answer 3

You have stated that you have a modem and the Desktop is Cabled and the Laptop is Wifi. All you need now is to get a router to run your home network. Hope this helps.