dang... i think this is some sort of basic network problem that I need some help with

[zskillz]

so on our network at school, the DHCP server assigns addy's that have the same first two IP sections but varies the second two sections so IP's are something like

1st.2nd.3rd.4th categories

xxx.xxx.aaa.whatever

or

xxx.xxx.bbb.whatever


So the problem for me is that if i'm using a windows network, I can't see the machines with a different 3rd category then me in network neighborhood. I can ping them, so I know that they are there, but I cannot see them.

I'm assuming that it's because the windows networking only looks in the range of the 4th category when populating that list...

anyway, can someone help me out here? Oh, and I'm sorry, that this is so far from the correct technical jargon, but I don't know the words for what I'm trying to describe.

-Z

Called subnets, I believe.

Windows network only looks at same subnets specifically AFAIK. If ya wanna look at different subnets ya gotta be more specific.

What OS are you using?

When you map drives I believe you can specify different subnets - but ya gotta know what drives are there to map, I think.

I only deal with my home LAN, which is same subnet. So someone help out poor zskillz here, please??

Cheers
Mick

[vass0922]

yes they are subnets, however you can see beyond different subnets if the routers in the middle allow you to.

There's a number of factors involved...

If you have subnets of
192.168.1.x
192.168.2.x .. they can still be in the same "subnet" if the subnet mask allows for it.
subnet mask of 255.255.255.255 only allows for 192.168.1.1 to 192.168.1.255 if I remember right (I hate tcp/ip lol)

NOW if you have a subnet mask of say
255.255.254.0 you can go from 192.168.1.1 to 192.168.2.255 ...
These aren't exact numbers as there is some math involved.

some info
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/...samesubnet.htm
http://www.subnetonline.com/subnet/step4.html

btw, each "section" is called an octet as it represents an 8bit number

[DVNT1]

Sounds like they have the LAN segmented to improve performance.

Out of curiosity, what subnet mask are they using?

To make computers in other subnets show up in NN (Network Neighborhood), I believe you would have to have a WINs server (but I'm not 100% sure). I simply do not use NN nor MNP (My Network Places). If I need to access the machine I simply type \\computername\share in the RUN field.

[zskillz]

umm... i'm not sure

it's xxx.xxx.83.xxx and xxx.xxx.84.xxx
and when I have it set to "auto detect IP" I get a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0

As far as I can tell it's divided by floor of the building (this is the nanotechnology education building at my school). I have an office on 2 different floors, and my group wants to be able to see what I have shared.... I couldn't care less... I'd do it more like DVNT1's way, but they don't know syntax, and don't want to.

..........

OK, just read one of those links... it seems as if the problem would be taken care of if I changed the sublnet mask to 255.255.0.0

Is that correct?

-Z

[vass0922]

no, you can't just change your subnet mask.

your dhcp server tells you what your subnet mask is, and the router in between expects it.. or you're not getting through
TMK of course

[zskillz]

well crap....

based on the reading that I have just been doing... we are a Class B network that uses a Class C subnet mask. Unfortunately, i don't think that our network admin knew that there would be at least of few compters on different floors that were in the same group (and thus should have been in the same subnet)


so the question I now have then is... Do i need to just talk to the admin and see if he can change the DHCP server so that hte subnet mask is 255.255.0.0?

It's pretty important, because the machines that we have attached to the lasers are downstairs and we need to be able to check up on them from above.

-Z

[DVNT1]

Perhaps you could just make a shortcut on the desktop that points to your shared folder. Then copy or email it to theirs.

Point it to \\zskillzs\shared

[kwebb]

It all depends on how your segmented. If routers are in place to segment the /24 networks then I doubt they will be changing any masks. Perhaps. Using the UNC path as DVNT1 mentions is worth a shot.

[zskillz]

Well, my boss is the dean of the dept., so he can put his foot down and probably get something done about it. I'll talk to him and some admin guys as well....

DVNT1. That would work fine for me... the problem is that we're trying to clean up the network and all our computers so that they run smoothly and that they all run essentially identically. Since some people use computers on different floors, this would complicate the matter. Since we're dealing with important data, a mistake is quite unwelcome.



just out of curiousity - what would happen if i changed my subnet mask?

-Z