firewire network dies for no reason ?

Hello all

I have a small network of 3 comps all connected via firwire.
They work just fione, then suddeenly, it all dies and i can no longer get connected to the network?

I can switch on at noon (all well), thenh after a few hours it dies, even though i havent made any changes.

Does nayone know why this happens and how i can fix it?

Thnaks in advance

 

You have 3 computers connected.
Does the problem affect all three at once?

Is the power supply 'brick' for the firewire hub overheating / plugged in properly.

Oh and welcome to Major Geeks

 

Thanks for the welcome

Yes, it affects all 3 comps at once.

I dont have a firewire hub, they are just cards fitted into each comp.
they work like this

Comp 1 Cabled directly to comp2
Comp 1 Cabled directly to comp3

all via a network called "home"

win Xp SP2

 

anyone have any ideas on what may be causing this pls?

 

I wouldn't recommend connecting this way.
Firewire ports supply power as well as data and you wouldn't want the power supplies of different pcs conflicting.
One of the purposes of a hub is to provide isolation.

Random variations in the power lines may well be the cause of your difficulties.

If you must use daisy chaining

Pin 1 is power and Pin 2 power ground on a 6 pin firewire

So disconnect these or use 4 pin firewire connections which do not have the power lines.

 

Thanks for your message studiot.
I dont see how i can cut the wires and the ends are sealed, they are both the large type connections on each end.

I really only want a reliable network connecdtion, one that will always work, i have tried usb, but that only gave me problems.

Can you usggest the best way, even if it means buying some stuff, i wont mind. but being able to boot up and find all comps linked is my major concern

 

One other potential problem with firewire networks is that if create a loop in the frewire wiring the network will fail. This can occure even with attaching something like an external drive or camera or by looping back to one of the computers.

Firewire hubs are cheap and avoid this and the power clash problems.

CPC- Farnell list a 3 port one (code CS1515705) at £17.50 and a 6 port one (code CS1515805) at £22.50

http://cpc.farnell.com/jsp/Computer...playProduct.jsp?sku=CS1515805&_requestid=4889

 

so, if you were wanting to create a "reliable" network. what system would you use? Firewire, usb2 etc ?

 

Firewire networks are very good as Apple have proved.

However Windows does not have native integrated support for Firewire or USB in the same way as it does for ethernet (LAN). The 'native support' is limited to being able to recognise and run individual ports, not configure a network based on these ports. USB support is half way between ethernet and firewire.

Thus you need additional software to run a network based on Firewire or USB, which you don't with ethernet, infra red or Wireless. Ethernet is the cheapest, most common and most reliable. USB is next, Wireless is next and Firewire the most expensive, although you obviously already have some of the kit so a hub may be your cheapest option. Firewire is much faster than USB 1 but similar to USB2. Both are faster than standard ethernet.

 

Mmm, I dont have any additional software installed, i just plugged the firewire cards in and hooked them up.
What type of software do you recommend i get to do this.

The cost is not an issue as i need the reliability.

So, should i go buy a firewire hub, would that give me better reliability?

 

Start by defining what you want to do with your network.

Transfer files between computers and use resources attached to computers from another pc (printers, scanners etc)

or

Just distribute the Internet

or

Both these.

 

I use one PC (Pc1) for my main comp, this has a usb photo printer attached.
I then have two other comps connected by FW. I download my images onto Pc1, then transfer them to the other pc's.
Then each Pc can print what images they like directly through the network to the printer.

I have seen this hub, would this do the job?
http://www.morecomputers.com/extra.asp?pn=F5U526UKAPL-S

I know it has more connections, but my sytem may grow.

 

Looks good, but I see that the Belkin, technical and customer advice tel number is published towards the middle left of the page.
Worth ringing them and confirming?