3 Comps to Network and ...

[eXodus]

OK guys... I'm new here (doh!) so you'll have to forgive me as my knowledge of networking only goes to the point where i had my old "network" of 3 Win98 PCs running on a small D-Link 4port hub.

I've still got those 3 old PCs (all still running the first Win98) and NICs in them all (of course) and since I've moved we purchased an ADSL kit from Southwestern Bell to get some of that broadband action going on.

Well, the hub it looks won't cut it anymore and we broke down and bought a D-Link switch (the 5 port version of the one recently reviewed in the roundup here at AnandTech) and I'm wondering: was this a bad idea? I heard rumors that you CAN'T network your PCs together and have them all share the connection without a specialized router rather than just a switch or hub. Is this true?

If I can make this work, could you give some tips or point me to a site or two with some expert advice on how best to set up my DSL modem (Alcatel something or other) and my new switch and especially to help configuring software/protocols/etc on the PCs (keeping in mind they were previously on a LAN, just no internet sharing at all).

Thanks!

(updated to fix a couple misc structure errors)

 

[IsOs]

Visit these sites:

http://www.timhiggins.com/index.htm

http://www.speedguide.net/Cable_modems/cable_lans.shtml

It would have been easier if you pickup a Linksys DSL Router like

http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?prid=20&grid=5

 

[eXodus]

Yeah, I considered the Linky but I heard they have weird problems and make it hard to play games (especially 2 comps at a time).

Thanks though for the URLs. I appreciate it!

 

[BCYL]

You can network the 3 PCs together to share one connection, all you need is a proxy software (win98SE has ICS built-in)... A router would make things much simpler though, and offers greater security.

 

[LongTimePCUser]

Don't connect the ADSL cable directly to the hub. That exposes your entire network to the internet. Get a second NIC in one of your PCs and connect the ADSL cable there. Then get something like WinProxy (www.winproxy.com) to share the connection. It costs around $50 but it is much smarter and more secure than Microsoft's ICS. It puts up a reasonably strong firewall. Test it at www.grc.com and you will get a report that all your ports are in "stealth" mode. It also can run anti-virus software at the firewall. That gives you a second layer of protection. It can also, optionally, run content filtering. That is usefull if you have young children at home on one of the other PCs and would prefer that they don't visit certain sites.

 

[eXodus]

Ok another question (I seem to be full of them, but hey, you guys are helpful):

I *can* put another NIC in one of my PCs if that absolutely has to happen, but could it work if I did something like this?

outside line > ADSL modem > Switch > Network

each PC on the network here is ready to be equipped with Black ICE defender or whatever it is, I have it but haven't installed it yet (on a 28.8 dialup that needs no firewall).

Does Black ICE do sharing/proxy or is it JUST a firewall? If it's just a firewall I guess it won't do much good, will it...

UPDATE!!

Just read up on that BlackICE... no proxy, only firewall. This means that I will probably have to use winproxy or something similar (no Win98SE around here).

I wish I could just plug everything into the switch and make it share from there, but I'd have to buy multiple IPs from Southwestern Bell (my provider), which isn't really a viable option. The 2 NIC thing sounds doable but what would I do with the switch?

 

[BCYL]

You will have to use some kind of proxy software in order to share that one IP between all the PCs. What you need to do is:

ADSL line -> modem -> PC with 2 NICs -> switch -> network

Your proxy software will run on the PC with the 2 NICs. One of the NIC will be connected to the ADSL modem and the other to the switch. That PC will have to be on whenever the others want to use the Internet.

The other PC will be quite secure from hackers because they are in the internal network (if you use NetBios). Only the PC with 2 NICs is the one in any real danger, so you can install BlackICE defender on that one. Since this is the case, you can also use an old computer for the server, so even if it gets hacked no useful information will be gained, and one of your useful PCs does not have to be on all the time.

Another note, ZoneAlarm actually is a better firewall than BlackICE, and it's free. Go to http://www.zonelabs.com to download it if you want.

If you want more information about internet security, go to http://www.grc.com Have patience and read all of it.

 

[mpancha]

just adding onto the above post, sygate is also a good proxy.

 

[eXodus]

BCYL (and others) thanks very much for the help... I think I'm ready to make a go at it. Here's hoping it goes off [semi]-smoothly!

Thanks again,

 

[BCYL]

Yes, I personally use Sygate as well. One of the advantage of Sygate is that you only have to install sygate in server mode onto your server computer. The other client computers does not have to install anything. Most other proxy software (not including Windows ICS) requires you to install that software on all computers of the network.

 

[ThurzNite]

I just put in another NIC into my computer. I have my Linksys hooked up to my switch, with ip addy something like 255.255.0.1 and ics on (win2k pro). While I'm waiting for my dsl to hook up, i'm using dial up and have no problem with ics. When I finally get my dsl, how will I configure the dlink (connected to dsl modem) IP addy and such? I can't figure out how to configure the IP's separately. Or is it all automatic?
Jay