Need help creating TCP/IP Network with Windows 7

[bhollis]

Hello all,

I am new to the forum and I want to thank you all for taking the time to read this and for any help you may be able to provide. I consider myself fairly computer savvy, but I will be the first to admit, I know little about creating networks. I will provide the most details I can and see where this goes.

I am in need of creating a small business network for 4 computers and 3 printers. All systems are running some form of Windows 7. We have specific software that we are required to use to operate our business, and in need of using this software on at least 2, but ideally 3 of the computers that will be connected to this network. The internet source is cable internet from our local cable provider, CassComm. The internet CAT6 ethernet cable comes into the building and goes into a Netgear N300 Wifi Router. It then splits two two different computers, but I will be adding two additional computers to it soon, along with an iPad. All connections, with the exception of the iPad, will be wired connections. I already have the cables in place and have a Netgear switch on the way from Amazon.com. Again, excuse my lack of knowledge, but I assume I need to make one of these computers a "server". The newest computer is the one I would like to be the server and to store the database that this software requires. The software we are running is Martech Systems WinFair Management. Their website address is Blue Ribbon Software According to their instructions, we have to have a TCP/IP network configured for this software to function properly across multiple systems. This is where I get lost. I understand that it is easy to create homegroups in Windows 7 for file and printer sharing, but I have no idea what I'm doing in regard to setting up the TCP/IP network. I know that with some assistance I can make it happen, because I feel that I have enough computer knowledge to navigate instructions. I will attach the blurb from the software company in regard to a network below, in hopes that it will answer any other questions you may have. Again, I greatly appreciate any help you can provide!



In order to operate MarTech Systems, Inc software in a multiuser network mode, the following
items are required:
• You must have an operational TCP/IP local area network already in place. An
operational TCP/IP LAN is defined as when you are able to ping the IP addresses
and DNS names of other systems on your network. If you do not have the expertise
yourself to configure a Microsoft network and map network drives, you must find
someone locally to assist you with this. This is not a task that can be accomplished
easily over the telephone. If you need extended assistance from our Help Desk to
physically connect the network, it will be a billable call and must be pre-scheduled
to be completed during business hours.
• In order to properly install and maintain the software, the user must have
administrative access to their desktop to install the software as a local user. To
operate the software in a networked environment, the user must also have
administrative access to the network resources that will be used to define the shared
storage area on the network where the databases will be maintained. If you do not
have those rights to your computer, you must find the person within your office that
has those rights. That person will be able to install your software and set the BDE
properly.

 

[townsbg]

If you have a router then you likely are already using a tcp/ip network because that is the default. As for setting up specialized software you should work with their tech support.

 

[bhollis]

Well can anyone give me guidance as to setting up the computers with one as a server? I need help with that too please.

 

[townsbg]

That is specialized software so what we can do is limited since we don't know what it requires. According to their website there is documentation and staff to provide you support.

Superior documentation. All of our software systems come complete with extensive printed user documentation and integrated on-line help. We also supply our manuals in a fully searchable Adobe Acrobat .PDF format so you can print out extra copies at your convenience. A full line of training videos are also available
Service and support. When you purchase the system you get one full year of unlimited support. During the summer and fall months, staff is on hand seven days a week to answer you questions. While other companies have you talk to an answering service, MarTech Systems offers you various support options to meet the needs of your fair. This includes full support from staff technicians during scheduled office hours.
Twenty-four hour web site access is available to receive answers to frequently asked questions, receive information on current updates, download current updates, and leave email messages.

Blue Ribbon Software

 

[bhollis]

I'll send a copy of those instructions, they will only provide support for setting up their software, I'm asking for help to network 4 computers and 3 printers together.

 

[townsbg]

Since your router is using tcp/ip all you need to do for so few systems is to connect them to the same router and they are networked. However that isn't enough. You have to install the software on the computers, set up and configure the database, and then get the software to connect to the database from each computer. For that we cannot help you unless there is someone on this forum that has used that software. I have not which is why I said that you will have to refer to the documentation or contact their tech support. If you are setting up a network for a new office perhaps you should hire a network administrator to help because there is only so much we can do from our end. This kind of work can be very detailed to setup and maintain and if you don't know what you are doing it can be overwhelming. It is also too detailed to go through on a forum.

Now for a few more specifics you will want to configure your router so that your server always gets the same ipaddress. You will want to do the same thing for your printers. You will have to google your router or refer to the router's documentation for examples on how to do that because how to do that varies by model. See your printers' documentation on the precise steps needed to setup and use them. Also on the server you will need to open up the ports required by the software. Here is a guide to do so however you will need the port number(s) from the software documentation. Open a port in Windows Firewall - Windows Help You can google the software and maybe find some help on a forum that uses that software or similar software. You can also google tcp/ip and find all kinds of guides and then either do the research and take the time to learn it or hire someone else to do it.

 

[bhollis]

Would you mind reviewing this document and dumbing it down for me? I would really appreciate it! How do I set it up as a "client server"?

ftp://206.176.210.22/Fair/How To Network Fair Management.pdf

 

[UsernameIssues]

Your current Netgear N300 Router and Wireless Access Point combo already has a 4 port switch built in. You won't need another switch until you are ready to add a 5th hard wired computer* to that N300 router.

*assumes that the printers are connected via Wi-Fi or directly to computers.


You might find someone to walk you thru that document. It could take several days of posts. Different forum members would set this it up in slightly different ways. It would be best to follow the instructions of one member.

It would be much faster if you could find a local geek friend to show you how to do this.


That document could be written better, but all of the info is there.

 

[bhollis]

I want nothing to be wi-fi because we have trouble in our building with signal. The printers are currently hooked directly to computers, but I need to hook the main one to LAN for sure. The reason I ordered the switch was so that I could run one long cable to the switch from the router and then split off the switch to the other computers. The router isn't in the most convenient place so I had to have a switch to break out to the other machines. Would you be able or willing to help walk me through this?

 

[UsernameIssues]

I understand your reason for getting the switch, but it sounds like you would be better off by moving the N300 to the location that you had in mind for the new switch. That should also improve your Wi-Fi signal.

The LAN cable that comes from CassComm currently goes into the N300. That LAN cable can easily be extended using that long cable that you mentioned. You can join the existing LAN cable from CassComm to the new long cable using a female to female adapter.

But your plan will work too... just not as well.


I am able to help you... but it might not be wise to do this in a forum setting.

That said, let's see how it goes to do the first step suggested in that doc.

Do you know how to rename the new computer that you want to use as your server?

The document suggests that that "server" be named FairServer.


Edit: This part seems poorly written to me:



I sure hope that they are not suggesting changing the normal/default security settings for those folders. Even an admin user does not normally run apps in such a way as to grant apps full control of those folders.

 

[bhollis]

I know how to rename. I'll reach out to you tomorrow when I'm in the office, thank you very much.

Can you tell me I should expect issues using the switch versus extending the cable?

 

[UsernameIssues]

It is not a good idea to tie two network switches in series (i.e. one switch plugged into another switch). That said, you will probably never notice a slow down in the data on that path. Your traffic to and from the Internet is probably not that fast to begin with.

For a small business network, it is best to have only one switch. That one switch should have enough ports to connect everything to it at once. Your N300 has a 4 port switch. You plan on connecting 4 computers. That will max out the N300 for now. You can add the main printer to the "server" computer and share it from there. Or you can add the main printer using Wi-Fi if the printer supports that. Your Wi-Fi connectivity should be pretty solid if the N300 is sitting a few feet from the main printer.