Internet Sharing with cable question? :)

KiLLerCloWn · Post by **KiLLerCloWn** » Mon Dec 18, 2000 7:27 am

OK, my girlfriend has cable, one dynamic IP. She's getting a second PC and I want to hook them both up to the connection. What's the best way to go?

I guess easiest is to get a router, just hook them both up and connect to the cable modem right? So:

- Your average hub won't do this, or will it? Can it handle cable signals and can it handle dynamic IP. I guess I need a cable router, no?

- If I set one PC as a server and use internet sharing software instead of getting a router will I loose performance? Can I play online with both PCs at the same time or will it all come to a grinding halt?

Any help on what hardware or software and which is the easiest way to go would be much appreciated

Especially what kinda router cos I'm not 100% clear on the difference between hubs, routers, those server hubs or whatever they are, the difference between my old home LAN hub and the ones I need to share a cable connection.

Cheers

KC

KiLLerCloWn · Post by **KiLLerCloWn** » Mon Dec 18, 2000 9:54 am

Oh yeah, I forgot: If the IP is dynamic and I use a router do i then have to give static IPs to the two PCs and configure the router for dynamic or do I have to configure them all for dynamic?

Cheers again

KC

succubiss · Post by **succubiss** » Mon Dec 18, 2000 1:14 pm

hi there.

you have the right idea. A router or gateway will work great for you. most routers come with either 1 port or 4 port lans, so for 2 computers, I guess the most economical soln would be to go for a 1 port router and a uplink a hub or switch (if you want lan speed). A hub by itself will not allow you to share an internet connection (without proxy server software or Windows ICS). A router will save you a lot of setup hassle and provide you with a hardware firewall for great protection.

Good routers are the Linksys BEFSR11 (i have), the Dlink 701 gateway (my friend has), or an SMC router (the good one has a builtin switch and a port for printers). holler if you have any more questions.

KiLLerCloWn · Post by **KiLLerCloWn** » Tue Dec 19, 2000 7:40 am

Cheers succubiss

She also has an old 486 standing around. I'm thinking before buying a router (I read up on the DLink you suggest and it looks very cool...aand expensive

) I might just get a couple of network cards and set up the old 486 as a server through which I connect the two others to the cable line. Sygate (www.sygate.com) software looks like it can handle that exactly the way I want...most importantly to play Quake 3 Online with my girl on both PCs at the same time

Is that a cool solution for an internet sharing/online gaming setup?

KC

bitSLAP · Post by **bitSLAP** » Tue Dec 19, 2000 10:49 am

That's actually a way some people are going these days. You could even put the 486 in the basement or a closet without a monitor. You can use a (FREE) preconfigured linux proxy server that runs off a floppy disk. Here are some links for you:
http://www.coyotelinux.com/
http://www.riverdale.k12.or.us/linux/masquerade.html

EvilHorace · Post by **EvilHorace** » Tue Dec 19, 2000 11:52 pm

Routers aren't cheap however. I have cable
(RR) with 2 clients connected through a switch using Win98SE (now). For less than $100, you can get a Linksys "switched network in a box" which consists of a 5 port switch, 2 nics and 2 15' sections of cable with drivers. You'll probably want longer sections of RJ-45 cable but it's easy to get working if you have Win98SE or newer with ICS.

KiLLerCloWn · Post by **KiLLerCloWn** » Wed Dec 20, 2000 6:43 am

Cool, thanks for the help everyone! At the mo she runs Win98 vanilla but I guess I could download the upgrade to SE. I'll do a bit more studying of all the options

Running a server off a floppy sounds well cool....

Thanks again....

KC

Magexx9 · Post by **Magexx9** » Wed Dec 20, 2000 4:24 pm

Hey if you already have a hub/switch you could hook your cable modem up to the uplink port and use it that way BUT.... you'd have to buy another ip address or how many ever computers are going to be connected to it. When each computer signs on they pull an ip address down. If your ip is dynamic then it will stay the same as long as you don't reset your router but some isp's dont really like for you to keep one ip for a long time so I reset mine every now and again. If you go with a router say the linksys one which I have then the computers connected to the switch/hub will by dynamically assigned ip's something like 192.168.1.101 which the 192.168.xxx.xxx is reserved for private networks but the router will be seen as the ip address the cable modem assigns it. This is very good because in effect you have a firewall b/c no one outside of the router can see your ip. NAT, network address translation is a good way to provide yourself with a firewall then you have no broadband security worries.

Hope I've helped explain it email if you need anymore.