DirectWay & Networking Questions

[PineRidge]

I could use some advice on the DirectWay system. I currently have it networked to several other computers via 10/100 Ethernet cards and cat 5 wire. The main computer That is attached to the satellite receiver/transmitter is very quick in response to download times but the remainder of the computers are lacking in good download speeds. Is there an alternative networking solution that will help me to get the download speeds up on the other computers? /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[OhioTC18]

Can you connect the DirectWay to a router, then have each computer access through there?

 

[PineRidge]

<font color="blue"> Can you connect the DirectWay to a router, then have each computer access through there?
</font>

OhioTC18 to be perfectly honest I am not sure myself. I was hoping someone with more experience than I have with networking might be able to tell me. For all I know my Ethernet cards may be as good as it gets.

 

[OhioTC18]

I have a router on my cable access.....didn't have to change any settings or install any software on any of the other computers and they all connect through there. Even fired up a laptop running Win95 the other night with an ethernet card in it. Works great.
May be totally different on DirectWay though

 

[tawilson]

Did you install the latest upgrade? I noticed some improvement overall with it. I think it's 4.2.11 or something like that. It also has a utility to run on each of your networked computers to properly set them up. I didn't notice any difference with that, but I wasn't really having a problem with network performance.

 

[OkeeDon]

Not sure exactly what the problem could be. The download speed really has nothing to do with the computers. The fastest download I would expect to see from DirecWay might be between 1 and 2 Mbs. Even if you have standard ethernet, it communicates between the computers at 10 Mbs. There should be nothing in the network or the other computers that would choke down the speed.

The only thing I can think of is that maybe something in your connected computer, acting as a server for the others, is choking it down, but I don't have a clue what it might be.

The answer might be the new DW6000 modem/router from Direcway. Instead of hooking to a central computer with a USB connection, it puts the signal directly on your ethernet like a cable router/switch. I haven't used it myself, yet, but Heath, on this thread, has reported on it.

 

[SethO]

I may be able to help.

Can you provide the following details
Operating systems on all the computers
The sharing software you are using
How exactly are the computers connected
What version of the DW software you are using

SethO

 

[MikePA]

<font color="blue"> I currently have it networked to several other computers via 10/100 Ethernet cards and cat 5 wire. </font>
What device do these PCs all connect into, a hub or a switch?

 

[tawilson]

You could try moving a 10mb file from one computer to another to see how fast it transfers. That might tell you whether it is a network or a Direcway problem. I've had some problems with antivirus and firewall software screwing up my Direcway network. Try turning all that off and see if it improves.

 

[Mrwurm]

Mike, I have used Directway 4000 in the same configuration that you are describing. The Direcway 4000 connects to a host computer via USB connection. The host computer acts as a server and distributes the internet to the other computers via Microsoft ICS bound to the network adapter. The other computers on your network are considered 'clients' in this configuration. Downloading a program fron Direcway called 'Lan Client Configuration' (LCCU) will optomize the settings on the client computers so they will operate as fast as the host. I had the same problem you described and this fixed it for me. The good thing about LCCU is that it saves your old settings and you can execute the program and select 'restore' if things go awry. Do NOT run this program on the host machine.

I have recently switched to Direcway 6000. This system is self-hosted and requires no host computer. The modem uses network (cat5) connectivity and allows you to hook directly into a router/hub/switch. I use a switch if anyone really cares. I plugged the modem into a standard port on the switch and it works. No configuring or settings were needed. I understand that when using a hub/router, some configuring is needed if you use the WAN connection. This is where my knowledge ends and I get off this train.

 

[PineRidge]

<font color="blue"> Downloading a program from Direcway called 'Lan Client Configuration' (LCCU) will optimize the settings on the client computers so they will operate as fast as the host. </font>

OK Jerry thanks for the advice. I'll head over to the site and get the software installed on the client computers and let you know how I make out on this thing. Thanks all. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Hank]

<font color="purple"> OK Jerry thanks for the advice. I'll head over to the site and get the software installed on the client computers and let you know how I make out on this thing. </font>

You also might want to check out the DSL Reports Direcway forum. They have much helpful advice and an FAQ that addresses the problems you are having. I hadn't heard previously about the LCCU from Direcway. A program that is also widely used is DrTCP, and probably does the same thing, which is to tweak the TCP/IP settings on the LAN computers to optimize them for the special needs of satellite. The host computer was already tweaked by the installation of the Direcway software.

 

[PineRidge]

Jerry after a lot of searching we finally located the LAN client configuration software, installed it and we are very thankful for out improved download speeds on our networked computers.

Thanks again! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[rockyridgefarm]

One more crazy bit of advice. Try turning DOWN the speed of the network cards to 10Mb/s from 100. Sometimes this gives a huge boost to performance. (and if it does, you have cabling issues....)

 

[imported_Charliechan]

Either that or set all cards to 100MB - Full Duplex. Mismatched duplexing can wreak havoc on connectivity. THe biggest problem I see is that your using Microsoft ICS(internet connection sharing). This free sharing software is pretty notorious for not being reliable or speedy. I typically pick up a dsl/cable router with four ports for about 69.00 bucks and plug all of my other computers directly into it. The router obtains the IP address from the internet provider and allows all workstations to connect through it. Whether or not this will work depends on your ISP and this Directway modem gadget, which I'm not familiar with, but I think it will work. The router has it's own little DHCP server (which will issue all workstations an IP address). Good luck and happy networking.

Charlie W. - Texas
Manager Network Application Support Services
/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[rockyridgefarm]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Whether or not this will work depends on your ISP and this Directway modem gadget, which I'm not familiar with, but I think it will work. )</font>

The DW4000 won't - its USB, the new one will, and includes its own router.