Topic awaiting preservation: The Simplest Network...

Ok - I want to set up another pc in my home, and have it able to access the internet through my one cable modem connected to the current machine. I know next to nothing about networking, but it's on my list of things to learn about! I want to set up the most basic connection, using the least amount of equipment and costing the least amount of money. I don't mind maintaining security on two systems - it doesn't seem like a big deal, not like we got major computing going on, we just want to both be online at the same time.

This is what I have to work with:
HOST PC:
Dell 4600C, with an Ethernet card, connected by RJ-45 to the external cable modem, also has an internal 56k modem installed, running Windows XP Professional (P4, 2.5 GHtz, 256MB RAM, 40GB HD, etc...)

GUEST PC:
scratch built system with no Ethernet card, but having an internal 56k modem, 384MB RAM, 20 GB HD, Celeron P3 equiv. 600 MHtz, running Windows 2000 Professional

All of these things I've read in the Help files tell me that the HOST pc needs a second Ethernet Adapter in order to create a network, but then says if you have a modem installed, you only need one adapter. What exactly does this mean? All we really want to do is share the cable internet connection - what is the minimum amount of equipment I need to have for that, and what type of notwork connection do I need to be setting up?

Any variety of helpful expressions are welcome, please give detailed instructions, assume you are dealing with a complete n00b. (Not far from the truth!) Thanks in advance!


Cell 617

The simplest network would be a cross-over cable. That would be the simplest and cheapest but least reliable.

Two options come quickly to mind for a secure and reliable 2 peer network.

1) Broadband router. Only requires 2 network cards. One in each PC. Router should have a firewall (hardware) that makes for a secure system (add zonealarm as well). Either PC can be on while the other is off to access internet.

2) Switch. Requires 3 network cards. 1 PC acts as internet Host. not recommended given it requires 1 extra card and because the host must be on for the other PC to have access to the net. switch does not usually have a firewall.

Both are very affordable these days. Option 1 is the way to go.

check out SMC (or linksys) site for more options including wireless.

hth


Edit: just some clarifications
The hardware connections are as follows. Your cable goes to the cable modem (obviously). The cable modem is then connected to the router with standard CAT 5 ethernet cable (to the WAN port). The PCs are similarly connected to uplink ports on the Router ( a basic router can handle 4 PCs i.e. there are 4 ports).

Your regular dialup modem can act as a backup. Just connect it with your phone line as you would normally do.

As for the software part....post if you have problems. If you are lucky the peers will recognize each other. If not, use the XP
peer and go through the internet connection wizard (i think that's what it's called). With a little tweaking you will be up and running in no time.

[This message has been edited by Shooting_Star (edited 02-29-2004).]

Thanks Star - that's all very helpful.

Hmm... broadband router, eh? Do you think that this is something that I might be able to get from my cable service provider? Someone said something to that effect the other day, and I haven't called to check it out. That would certainly make things easier, as then all I'd have to get would be one NIC card and some cables... That sounds like what I want to do though...

'preciate the advice!

bodhi, I doubt that you could get the router from Time Warner but I am not 100% sure. The one I have came from best buy. $80.00.......not bad I don't guess.
The nics are pretty cheap these days and the chords are not bad either.

Router ~ $80.00
Cables ~ $13.00 each
NIC ~ $20.00

You can check out and see if they have one of those groovy all in one packages with the nic and cables and stuff, may be cheaper. So.......somewhere around $130.00 should do it.

Later,

C:\


~Binary is best~

I use the (almost) the same router, except mine also has wireless, for the same price.

Packages are usuallly pretty easy to find for reasonable prices.
If what cprompt listed is within your means, I would hihgly recommend it, along with everything Shooting_star mentioned.

Take a look at newegg.
This is one of the best places in Internet to buy stuff.
Better price for same equipment

When I go back to Brazil, I'll probably sign for a broadband connection. In my city, one of the best options is from the telephone provider. It costs US$ 27 a month for a 300k/150k DL/UP speed connection. For US$ 7 dollars more, I could get a 600k/300k connection.

Is this a good price compared to the US market? I have no idea.

But my question is: the contract that I'll have to sign to get this broadband connection (ADSL) states that:

"It's not allowed to me to set up email (SMTP) server, FTP server, VPN, HTTP, TELNET and others..."

Is it like this here in the US also?

If a VPN is not allowed, does it mean that I cannot add a router like the one discussed here?

[This message has been edited by viol (edited 03-01-2004).]

Yes, that price is comparable to many here.

It is also standard fare to not allow setting up and running servers over the connection.

You don't need VPN to use a router. VPN is used for remote networking (like connecting to your place of employment to work from home....for example).

viol:

Perhaps you need to read between the lines on that contract. It could very well be that your provider does not want you to run these services on the normal ports, you know , like port 80 for http. I found that my isp has blocked ports below 1000, but not above.

Running things on non-standard ports obviously would not work easily for a commercial endevor, but if you just need to host your portfolio......... any Port in a storm.

The contract states exactly that: it's not allowed to run those kinds of servers. No more details, no mention to ports. And the catch is: it's a one-year term contract, that I'll pay monthly. There is a clause that states that in case I do something wrong - I mean, that is not allowed based on the contract terms - the company can disconnect me and I still have to pay the full contract.

So, as far as I understood, if I run a server, even in a non-default port, and if they catch me, they can stop providing me the service and charge me for the whole year. That's a shitty contract but that's how things are in my country: companies are powerful and you have not too many choices, so they can make the contracts as they want, what's better for them.

I guess that for an ADSL connection, I have no other company available in my city. They are the owner of the biggest, maybe only, backbone, the phone company. And I'm talking about the capital city of Brazil. I'm not totally sure about this, but almost sure. I'll search for other alternatives but if there exist one, I don't think the contract will be any better for the customer side.

I almost forgot about this! I did some checking around in the RoadRunner site (my ISP) and have discovered that they will provide the equipment to create a home network at no additional charge. Worst case: I'd have to purchase the NIC. The router would be on loan, like the cable modem is, with me paying for it if I damage it, likely. I just have to call and set up a time for them to come by! I'm pretty excited, but now I have to rearrange my office space to handle 2 pcs, one of them a honkin' big monster (with an even bigger monitor!)... It'll happen. Then my hubby and I can have the joy of "Couples Computing"...

C:\ - I find it humorous now that James has discovered online poker (for points, not money yet - I won't let him!), and has been chatting with folks on the internet... We'll see what happens!

Viol, I don't know about the whole contract thing and servers and such, but I do that compared to us, you're getting a pretty good deal on speed.. The basic DSL package we get is 256k down 128 up, and that's at 30$ a week I think, then every next upgrade you get, the speed goes up 128k on each of those, for an additional 10$.. Pretty bad imo.. (except I think they have a better jump once you get up to 512... maybe..)

Luckily we got some free upgrade thingy, so we pay the 30$ price for 384k down and 256k up.. but still..

-Xel

well I didn't know that they would provide the router / firewall........interesting.

quote:

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Then my hubby and I can have the joy of "Couples Computing"...

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don't forget about those nice fraggin games to take out some relationship difficulties

quote:

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C:\ - I find it humorous now that James has discovered online poker (for points, not money yet - I won't let him!), and has been chatting with folks on the internet... We'll see what happens!

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well........turn about is fair play

Later,

C:\


~Binary is best~