8/27/05 Routers, switches, and hubs, oh my!

Hi!

I looked around a little.. but didn't see the "third" way to share a connection. If you allready have three computers, one switch and a broadband connection, then you only have to buy one more NIC (Network Interface Card) and install it into that computer allready connected to Internet. That way you have two cards in that computer, one connected to Internet, the other one you simply connect to the switch. Then you share the internet connection the same way as described in the case with dialup connection.. This would be the cheapest way to share a conn. if you allready have a switch... NIC's are virtually for free now adays ;o)
No router needed... but remember to have a good software firewall installed on each computer... and offcourse antivirus software... NOD32 is a good one, that doesn't "lag" your computer the same way Norton, F-Secure and others do.

I didnt read the est of the replies, so, this may have been said already.

I think it has alot to do with your DSL provider.

SBC - the 2wire Home portal is excellent. I use it and have 3 PCs hooked up, and run a game server off it.

I believe some providers use PPPoE and some dont. That would be a deciding factor.

If they dont. I believe any router will do.

The modem has a lot to do with it.

I am a great believer in wired networks but they are a lot of work. Here are some additional things you should be aware of if you are going to install a wired network in your house.

1. select a central location for the modem, router and hub. Put it somewhere up high away form the kids and dogs. And where you can see the lights.

2. plan on having data outlets in just about each room of the house, and at least two in the big rooms (I have 12 outlets so far in my house). Another word about data outlets. Use a double power box. The reason I say this is because as long as you are pulling cat5, you may just as well pull coax and phone wire. There are companies that make a full assortment of jacks for phone, coax and cat5 (visit home depot for starters). Use a double box. The double box gives you lots of room to wire.

3. Learn how to push down and crimp cat5. Crimping takes some practice. Get a good crimper ($15 on ebay). I messed up my first 3 times. Then I learned how to crimp so I set up a web page about it.

4. Get a one port router and an eight port hub. Believe me you will run out of ports real fast.

5. Test things one at a time so you can isolate problems, and believe me, you will have problems. Test each component separately. I will explain how to do this once I get my page updated. My page is about four years old and grossly out of date.

6. One installation test deals with just the local network.. This involves wiring each computer to the hub and trying to communicate. This is mostly a test of the cat5 wire. Get the local network working before you try to uplink.

7. Another installation test is connecting directly to the modem. The SP gives you a modem and installation software. Get that all working from a single computer connected directly to the modem before uplinking the router.

8. Use the modem that your SP provides. Let them own it. It then gets upgraded by the SP. But you have to upgrade your own router software.

I will try to get my web page up to date but these are just a few things that came to mind. My network has been working well for about 4 years now. I went from DSL to cable without a snag.

See the other messages for details, but here's the executive summary:

1. Your MODEM acts as a translator between the DSL or Cable line and your PC or network.

2. A ROUTER allows that single modem to communicate with more than one PC. It "routes" the data to/from each PC in/out from that single modem. Once you connect a ROUTER, you have a local NETWORK.

3. A FIREWALL, either as a separate unit or integrated into the ROUTER, blocks outside data and users from getting into your local NETWORK unless they have a specific, approved reason for being there.

4. Each PORT on the ROUTER lets you plug another PC into the local network.

5. If you want wireless capabilites, a router may include WIRELESS access via an extra port (hidden, but it's essentially a port via the antenna).

That's all you really need, UNLESS you need more ports than those which came with the router.

6. A HUB lets you take one of those ports and break it out into multiple additional ports. But HUBS are old technology and not very efficient.

7. A SWITCH does the same as a hub, but it is smarter and more efficient.

8. A WIRELESS ACCESS POINT plugs into any physical port on a router, hub, or switch, and creates a new "hidden" (antenna) connection for a wireless laptop, etc. (If your router has a wireless port, it's essentially including a single wireless access point for you.)

9. A PRINT SERVER is a box that connects to a network port (or via a wireless access point) and lets you share printers over the network.

Frankly, you are right, they make it all so much more complicated than it needs to be. And even the manufacturers do a poor job of explaining what you REALLY need.

any suggestions on methods/hardware for sharing broadband internet among both PC and Mac OS systems? (old OS's on both as well: OS X and Win98SE, to be frank)
I've been shopping and researching since before Lee Koo posted the answers, but the more I read the more I'm mystified by the protocol and new technologies, e.g. 802.11a, b, g, pre-N; and Power-Line Networking (http://www.cnet.com/4520-7390_1-6274537-1.html?tag=side)

I am having trouble connecting my computers through an SMC 6405tx switch. I can only get 1 at a time to connect. A friend of mine told me to disconnect everything and connect it all from the computers back to the modem. Power up the switch and then the modem. It finally acknowledged the other machine but then the main one showed, page can not be displayed.

Do I need a router with internal switch? As far as I know the switch should do it alone.

Do I need to set up for network connection?

Thanks.