I am trying to design a workable network with the following components:

(I will group the components as they are situated in different rooms/floors)
Group 1: 2 cpu's + 1 gaming console
Group 2: 1 cpu + 1 POS
Group 3: 2 cpu's

2 seperate dsl lines

I currently have everything hooked into one network except for one of the cpu's in group 3 which is running on its own dsl line.

What I would like to do is be able to network everything together for file transfers and printer sharing etc but would still like to be able to take advantage of the 2 dsl lines. The computer that is alone gets used fairly frequently for large uploads and that is why it was removed from the network (it slowed all of the other systems to a halt) but I would like to get it back into the network without affecting the others while it is uploading.

I was not sure if adding a dual wan router would help or if it would be easier to add another nic to the other computer in group 3 and try to figure out the network settings from there (my knowledge of networking is very basic)

Thanks in advance for any suggestions you can give me

CPU = Central Processing Unit, this is a piece of silicon with electric circuits in it. Have never seen these networked.

In order to use the two wan's you will need to acquire a twin-wan router. Keep in mind these devices are designed for servers to load balance, but you can do rollover and dedicated IPing with the twin wan.

Xincom is probably the most economical brand available.

http://www.xincom.com/

J.
j e r u v y a t y a h o o d o t c o m

The computer that is alone gets used fairly frequently for large uploads and that is why it was removed from the network (it slowed all of the other systems to a halt) but I would like to get it back into the network without affecting the others while it is uploading.

If it were me, I'd have that PC running on it's own highspeed connection and then share the other with the rest of the computers.

You don't need a twin WAN router to do this.

Here's how I'd do it.

Router 1:
IP: 192.168.0.250
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
DHCP enabled - Scope: 192.168.0.100 to .200

Router 2
IP: 192.168.0.251
SM: 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway: 192.168.0.250
DHCP disabled

Give the one PC that you do all the dowloading with a Static IP that's not included in the DHCP scope. For example:

IP: 192.168.0.10
SM: 255.255.255.0
Gateway: 192.168.0.251 (router 2)

Let all other client's in your LAN get their info from DHCP from router 1. The DHCP scope should give out the 192.168.0.250 IP as the default gateway to all other clients.

Have router 1 plugged into the incoming internet connection and a crossover cable from a LAN port on it to a LAN port on router 2 and clients plugged into the ports on both routers.

You might have to go from LAN port on router 1 to the WAN port on router 2 in order to make it work correctly. I haven't tried this myself but have no doubt I could make it work.

This negates the need to buy any more equipment (except maybe a switch) and allows you to keep all clients on the same LAN and separate which DSL connection they use.

Might consider a software based solution. See pfsense or monowall. They could be set to share load and firewall your system. While software based solutions tend to be slow your dsl would likely be the weak link anyway.

I read it wrong and answer it wrong too. So get off my case you peanut.