IT Stuff Category

So I’ve always wondered what makes Google tick. I mean seriously… For Google to be able to process a query in 0.06 seconds is pretty incredible, especially when they are getting millions of those queries a second.

Well you can imagine my excitement when I found this article that seems to reveal Googles once extremely secret server design.

According to CNET, Google packs all of it’s servers into hundreds of airconditioned shipping containers. They also appear to have a 12 volt battery attached to each motherboard to act as a backup power supply, and apparently they have patented the idea. This really is quite an ingenious design and seems to be typical Google.

I only wonder if the date that this article was released somehow decreases its authenticity… “April 1, 2009 2:26 PM PDT”

A few months ago I got a new computer. That makes six all up in this house hold alone, all of which need to be connected to the internet.

There was a problem though. I had completely maxed out our routers ethernet ports, which meant I was going to have to shell out another $150.00 on a new switch. A network switch acts like an intelligent powerboard. You can just keep plugging in computers until you run out of ports on the switch. If you need more ports you can connect a switch to that switch and another into that switch… your bascially just ‘linking’ them all together.

Going back to the $150.00 new switch issue… Something I really didn’t want to do.

Then I remembered our old modem sitting unused next to our shiny brand new one. The modem chip was broken, but I was pretty sure I had still seen lights on the routers ports. This got me thinking… perhaps I could recycle this old modem back into some usefulness.

I plugged the old modem into our new one and then plugged my laptop into it. I hit refresh in the browser and then success, Internet access was there! However… I knew it wouldnt last long and then about 3min later it was all over. No internet, no network… nothing.

I noticed that the old modems IP address (192.168.1.1) was conflicting with the new ones. I also noticed that the old router was still fighting for DHCP rights. But I had proved that the modem could still act as a standalone switch even though it was ‘broken’. Anyway time to configure this puppy.

Instructions

1. Plugin your computer into the old modem, but do not plug it into the new one.
2. Open up a browser and navigate to the modems default gateway. Usually 192.168.1.1, 10.1.1.1. Check the manual if your unsure.
3. Login to the router using the username and password. Check the manual again.
4. Go to the LAN configuration. Have a look around and consult the manual. It varies depending on which modem you have.
5. Set the modem to a Static IP address. Set it to something like 192.168.1.254 or 10.1.1.254. The last number should be out of the typical range.
6. Set the netmask to 255.255.255.255.
7. The last thing is to disable DHCP. This is extremely important because otherwise the modems will be fighting for rights to hand out DHCP and you only want your main modem/router to be doing that!
8. Save your settings. This is important ensuring your settings return after you switch the modem off.

And thats it. I now have another 3 computers connected to the internet and it didnt cost me a cent.

Here are the settings I used for my modem/router. Its an NB5+4 by Netcomm.