Trying to share an cable internet connection!

[nwarawa]

I am trying to share a cable internet connection, but can I do it without buying another IP address or buying a router? Is there freebie software that can help?

[speedracer120]

If you have Win2K you can use ICS. What you do is have one computer with two NICs (LAN cards). One NIC connects to the DSL/Cable Modem and the other a hub with regular CAT5 or directly to the other computer using crossover CAT5. After setting it all up, in the computer with two NICs, you allow sharing of the NIC with the connection to the DSL/Cable Modem.

If you find this explanation muddled, tryout http://www.DSLreports.com, I think they have some other set ups. Good luck.

[DPvball]

or another simple option if you got the cash is just buy a router... only costs a hundred bucks. i have a linksys one port router that connects to the uplink port on a hub. it works great. haven't had any problems with it. and the good thing about having a router is that one of the computers doesn't have to be set up as the server. cause otherwise you're going to have to leave the computer with the 2 NIC cards on all the time if you want your cable line to be always connected. best of luck :-)

[hapoo]

IF i wasn't the most lazy man on the face of this earth (right after LPM of coarse :D) i'd get off my ass, find all the threads we've created and compile a nice guide to internet sharing.

[nwarawa]

But what if I have Win ME? (and the other is 95?)

[LPMiller]

you can use ICS with ME as well, but frankly, it's a bit more of a headache then just buying a router. It really depends on whether or not your ISP does Point to Point or Bridging mode. If it's Bridging, you pretty much need the router, if it is point to point, you can get away with using ICS.

I second going to dslreports, and checking out their forums for help.

[hapoo]

I can tell you right now that Win Me/2k will be a real huge pain in the ass. They are very unstable. I myself use linux as my router, and i've had 100% uptime. Not one crash. Not one slowdown. I think the last time i turned this sucker off was 4+ months ago, and that was because i was playing with it.

[speedracer120]

Actually there is no hassle at all for me. I've been running ICS for a long, long time without any troubles. I was surprised at how easy it was to set it up. I was scared I would mess up the registry or the drivers of the NICs by going into properties and changing the settings but it's fool-proof. :monkey:

[LordPolo]

If you are gonna run ics on a windows box, I'd suggest getting some type of firewall program so that you don't get screwed by some h4x0r d00d. Running it just standard is an open invitation to lose data, or get virii. Black ice and norton personal firewall I hear are okay. A better idea is linux if you have a dedicated computer to spare. h

[ChrisMG187]

Okay, how the hell does a one port router work? Maybe i'll understand if someone puts an explanation and a pic of the back of the thing. It seems to me the only person a one port router would help are the people selling it to the retards that buy it.

[Jeffbx]

Originally posted by ChrisMG187
Okay, how the hell does a one port router work? Maybe i'll understand if someone puts an explanation and a pic of the back of the thing. It seems to me the only person a one port router would help are the people selling it to the retards that buy it.

Well, the router needs one port in and at least one port out, so there's really no such thing as a one port router. I believe what he meant was that there was only one port OUT, as opposed to some router/switch combos that have 4-6 ports out on the switch side.

[rajatQ]

most people connect the OUT port to a hub or a switch, therefore making more ports. the router is designed for this i beleive.

[hapoo]

actually you can have a one port router!! It all depends on what your sharing, if its a modem then you only need one port since there is no IN port needed same is true with USB broadband modems. :D just thought i'd say something

also rajatQ is correct, In fact thats the same setup i have.

Internet -> Linux Router -> hub -> all the computer in the house

[ChrisMG187]

ok, i get it. (Looked on linksys website and read manual) It says that a hub/switch is optional. Makes me wonder, how is it optional, it'd be kinda ineffective without the hub/switch. :D

[hapoo]

optional means that the router will work with or without the hub/switch, you'll only be able to use it on one computer but it will still work

[Jeffbx]

Originally posted by hapoo
I can tell you right now that Win Me/2k will be a real huge pain in the ass. They are very unstable. I myself use linux as my router, and i've had 100% uptime. Not one crash. Not one slowdown. I think the last time i turned this sucker off was 4+ months ago, and that was because i was playing with it.


Huh, I had no problems with W2K. What problems did you run into when you set it up? Did you use W2K or WinME or did you try both of them?

[ChrisMG187]

Originally posted by hapoo
optional means that the router will work with or without the hub/switch, you'll only be able to use it on one computer but it will still work Well yeah, but when you are using it without a switch/hub, there's no reason to have it there.

[hapoo]

well, you could always use it as a firewall.