Sharing internet connection

[Grant Palin]

I currently have a DSL internet connection. How can I share it between two different computers? Is it even possible?

[liorean]

You can do it in a lot of ways - the most common is to set up a computer to be a server, and then connect the other computers to the server. You can then run a lan sharing the same DSL line out to the net. You could use a switch or a hub instead, though.

[Grant Palin]

I'm not so concerned about setting up a home network. What I'm really after is how to share the internet connection.

[liorean]

Well, the home network is one of the easier and cheaper solutions. It's not hard to set up one of the comps you're using to be sharing the connection, and a lan is the among the easiest ways - and probably the fastest - of connecting several computers to allow sharing a connection.

[mouse]

I've done this at home, one PC acts as router and contains one NIC to the cable modem and one NIC to hub the other PC's connect use one NIC each to the hub.

You set up ICS (Internet connection sharing) in windows, in 98 this is under windows components in add/remove programs (control panel). Do this from the connected machine, there's a wizard where you'll set up a network (workgroup name and computer name, that's about it) and specify which NIC is connected to the hub and which to the modem.

If you're just using two PC's you can use a twisted cable rather than a hub.

[oracleguy]

This is more of a computer issue/topic... moving.

[Roy Sinclair]

Right now with a DSL connection you've probably got a network card connected to the DSL modem. The cheapest way to share that connection is to simply disconnect the cable from one PC and hook it to the other one depending on which PC you want to use with the internet but that precludes accessing the internet from both PCs at the same time. The next easiest way is to buy a small hub (cost < 50$ USD) and hook the DSL modem and all your PCs to that hub. A better way to do that is to get a Router/Hub like the one from DLink (cost < 100$ USD) which performs as both a hub and as a firewall so it adds not just the needed hub but provides you with an additional layer of protection.

[Grant Palin]

So a router may be better because of the firewall? Could you suggest a brand for me? Any particular one that you like?

[Jason]

I use a Linksys router and switch, they work for me.


Jason

[Grant Palin]

Why a router AND a switch? Don't you only need one or the other?

[Jason]

yes, I did different things with each, but both are made by linksys.


Jason

[Grant Palin]

First, I don't really like the original suggestions (but thanks for giving them) because it involves needing both computers to be on when using the internet on the second one (when the first computer acts as the server). I just want something that I can plug both computers into and go. So, it seems to me that a router would be the best way to go, since it includes a firewall (a bonus). That said, I searched for some routers, and found these brand names:

Belkin
D-link
Linksys

Any opinions on any of these?

[mouse]

All decent brands imo, Netgear is another good one.

[Grant Palin]

Another thought- what about wireless networks? I mean, my computer is a laptop computer, and I wouldn't mind being able to use the internet wherever I am in the house. Has anyone tried wireless networks? Were they satisfactory? Was they fast and reliable?

[liorean]

They are normally either 11 or 54 mb/s (don't know whether that is megabits or megabytes - vendors often mean megabit while writing mb in a try to get it to sound better).

Ethernet is normally 10 or 100, so the difference isn't that very large.

Their reliability is pretty good, too.

[Grant Palin]

How about distance? How far could the laptop be and still use the internet? I ask since the desktop is downstairs, so that is where everything is hooked up. My bedroom is upstairs, so I wonder if distance is an issue.

[Jason]

there is a safty issue with wireless that you will need to fix using some sort of firewall or net protection. Technically if you set up a wireless network/internet connection people driving by your place could park in the street and use your connection and at the same time access your "shared" folders. There was a study with people doing that. So there is a caution. But other then that, they are pretty cool.


Jason

[Grant Palin]

I'm not surwe about the wireless, myself. I've been lookign on FutureShop's website at routers. Seems the wireless ones cost more...a good bit more. That's a bit of a deterrent.

On the flip side, don't most routers coem with built-in firewalls? Wouldn't that invalidate the privacy concern?

[Jason]

yeah, they have their own firewall to protect your stuff. And yes, wireless stuff is much more expencive, you need the base station and two wireless network cards (nic) for the computers, well, probably just the laptop and an adaptor to the desktop. But without wireless you are bound by the length of the wires you have. So you would need an extra long wire to your bed room if you want the internet up there...;-)


Jason

[Grant Palin]

Well, why a wireless network card for the laptop but not for the desktop? Why use an adaptor with the desktop?

And by wireless network card, do you mean liek a PC card? A removable card?

[scroots]

as you don't move your desktop pc round, whereas you move your laptop round.

scroots