How to run both my computer on a single cable modem connection.

[Revenge786]

Hi,,

Plenty of you must be laughing, cuz i know this has to be easy. But I'm not a networking person.

I have @home cable modem service with my computer, My dad just got a computer. Is there a way to run my cable modem service on both computers ?? IN A REALLY CHEAPPPP WAY.

If someone could help, thanks

 

[bigrash]

I don't know about cheap, but you can run both machines with the Linksys router or maybe one from Netgear. See if you could do the pricematch at staples. I dont know if it still works, i got it last week

 

[IamDavid]

All ya need is a NIC in each PC and a crossover cable...

 

[John]

Did you try the networking forum?

All your questions are belong to us

 

[Revenge786]

IamDavid...yours sounds the simplest
ok lets say I put a NIC card in each computer and use a crossover cable...then what ? it just works or i need to configure something ?

 

[John]

GO to the URL I provided to answer ALL of your questions.

 

[IamDavid]

What OS ya running? If ya have Win98SE, WinME or Win2K ya just use the Internet connection Sharing Wizard...

BTW. You'll need 2 NIC's in your main pc... 1 to the cable modem, 1 to the other PC.. It's very simple to set up and use..

 

[Viper GTS]

You have three options as I see it.

1) Get a hub, a NIC for each computer, & purchase an additional IP address from your cable provider.

PROS: Real public IPs, no NAT; systems aren't dependent on one another; initial cost isn't bad.
CONS: Additional IPs could get expensive.

2) Get a "broadband router," such as one of the Linksys, NetGear, etc. & a NIC for each computer.

PROS: No additional IP costs, if you get the multi-port versions no hub is required; Easy to set up; systems aren't dependent on one another.
CONS: Neither computer would have a public IP, you'd have a layer of NAT between you & the 'net; the routers aren't cheap ($100 - $150)

3) Put two NICs in one system, one NIC in the second, & use the first as a proxy.

PROS: Cheap
CONS: Difficult to set up; first computer has to be functional for the second to work; second PC doesn't get a public IP address

To sum it up, in order of cost (cheapest to most expensive):

#3 is the cheapest, followed by #1, #2 is the most expensive initial outlay

Personally I'd look into the first option. The initial cost is modest, & you'll get the most functionality out of it.

Viper GTS

 

[Revenge786]

Thanks Viper...I guess that makes it all clear. Fully detailed info. Thanks once again

 

[tamade]

what is NAT?
nevermind found it on the net

 

[Viper GTS]

Network Address Translation

Basically allows multiple computers to connect to a larger network through one address on the larger network. Wreaks havoc on VPN, gaming, & other applications that like to have direct contact with the systems involved. NAT usually provides rudimentary firewall services as well.

Viper GTS

 

[Plantanthera]

Could try a DOS base NAT program on a 286, or a Win9x base NAT (some great shareware & freeware)

 

[duragezic]

Easiest would probably be with ICS. All you need is two NICs (pref different brands) in sharing computer and a hub. Leave your first nic plugged into cable modem and leave the settings the same. Then plug the 2nd nic into the hub. Also plug the client computer (one w/ only one nic) into the hub. Then install ICS from windows 98se cd. Once that's installed it's very easy to setup. It basically setups up itself. John's link has additional information.

But I must say, several games don't work with ICS. Half-life does but Red Alert 2 and Age of Empires 2 don't. I heard battle.net just finally supported it. But all you have to do is disable ICS when you go to play a game that doesn't work with it on.

 

[pamchenko]

i got 11 ppl on ICS and i love paying only 4 dollars a month for roadrunner

 

[osage]

nice link John.