dual lan on nforce2

[dirkpitt1]

Does anyone know if you use one lan connection for your cable modem, can you use the other as an output to another computer to build a small lan? I havent read anything on this yet, and since you have all been so helpful in helping me decide to go with the nforce2, I was hoping you would have some insight on this as well.

 

[mechBgon]

Windows has Internet Connection Sharing that will let you do exactly that, found on Win98SE and later.

 

[dirkpitt1]

Do you have to set up another ip address for the second machine, or does it just use the original?

 

[mechBgon]

The cable modem sees NIC #1 and gives it the IP. The computer fields requests through NIC #2, goes through NIC #1 to fulfill them, and passes the results along to NIC #2. Click Start > Help and search for "Internet Connection Sharing" or "ICS" and you'll find a really simple Windows wizard that makes a floppy for you (once you have the dual-NIC setup, anyway). You just take the floppy around to the other computers, run the setup program from the floppy, and you're set.

 

[GullyFoyle]

Originally posted by: dirkpitt1
Does anyone know if you use one lan connection for your cable modem, can you use the other as an output to another computer to build a small lan? I havent read anything on this yet, and since you have all been so helpful in helping me decide to go with the nforce2, I was hoping you would have some insight on this as well.

The answer is Yes. I believe that is exactly why they built it with dual LAN.

 

[HowAboutBob]

Gotta know the codes (per http://www.anandtech.com/chipsets/showdoc.html?i=1654&p=2):

nForce2 IGP - Integrated Graphics core. Onboard video equivalant to GeForce 4 mx 420 or 440.

nForce2 SPP - System Platform Processor. The SPP is basically the nForce2 IGP minus the integrated graphics core.

nForce2 MCP - Media & Communications Processors . MCP is a bare MCP that is pin-compatible with the original MCP that was introduced with nForce. This MCP supports USB 2.0, ATA/133 and it has NVIDIA?s own Ethernet MAC. The basic MCP does not have NVIDIA?s Audio Processing Unit (APU) and just basic AC?97 audio support without an integrated DSP. This is the cost effective MCP that can be used on entry-level motherboard designs.

nForce2 MCP-T - Builds upon the MCP features by adding IEEE-1394a (Firewire) support, NVIDIA?s APU (unchanged from the original nForce) and a second Ethernet MAC. This second MAC is provided by 3Com

So, you can have an nForce2 with the following combinations:
IGP and MCP
SPP and MCP
IGP and MCP-T
SPP and MCP-T

Hope this helps