Sharing internet connection.

[Humberto]

Sharing internet connection.

Everything is on a Hub or Switch

Connect all Ethernet cables (PC and ADSL) to a hub or switch. The hub or switch can be any model UTP based HUB preferably with a uplink/MDI crossed connector. You will need the uplink connector to connect the ADSL connector. If your hub does not come with such a connector, you should buy a UTP crossed network cable and use that instead. Your hub should have at least the amount op PC's plus 1 (ADSL) UTP ports.

• The ADSL cable goes to the splitter.
• The ADSL modem is connected to the splitter.
• The Ethernet cable from the modem either is connected to the uplink UTP connector of your hub, or - using a UTP crossed cable - to a regular UTP connector.
• Each PC is connected to a regular UTP port of the hub/switch.
• Each PC (maximum of 4!) should be configured as a ADSL client as described by your provider. Each PC should have an unique IP address.

advantage :

• simple setup
• no server needed
• configure each PC manually
• only one PC at a time can be connected to MXStream

disadvantage:

• max. 4 PC's
• fixed IP-address for all 4 PC's
• Dial-in required per PC
• no proxy
• hub ports = number of PC's + 1

[Humberto]

Everything is on Hub or Switch - 1 PC is server

This setup is similar to 1st one with one difference: we have a server running which enables you to use a different IP-range for PC's.

• The ADSL cable goes to the splitter.
• The ADSL modem is connected to the splitter.
• The Ethernet cable from the modem either is connected to the uplink UTP connector of your hub, or - using a UTP crossed cable - to a regular UTP connector.
• Each PC is connected to a regular UTP port of the hub/switch.
• One of the PC's is to be configured as server either using software like WinRoute or Microsoft Internet Sharing (Windows 2000 and Windows ME have this standard included).

advantage :

• simple setup
• no manual PC configuration
• almost no limit to the number of PC's (255)
• dialup is done automatically
• proxy (WinRoute)

disadvantage:

• server software or Microsoft Internet Sharing required
• configuring server can be difficult
• no "galvanic" separation between Internet and LAN
• hub ports = number PC's + 1

[Humberto]

All PC's are on Hub of Switch - Server to ADSL

Difference here is that the ADSL cable is connected to a server directly and from that server an second network connection is connected to the hub or switch. There are no limitations to the switch or hub used, this can even be a coax network if you would like so (this requires NO hub).

The ADSL network cable is connected to the server, which has 2 network-cards:
- ADSL connection
- LAN/hub connection

• The ADSL cable goes to the splitter.
• The ADSL modem is connected to the splitter.
• The Ethernet cable from the modem either is connected to the server.
• The second network-card of the server is connected to the hub.
• Each PC is connected to a regular UTP port of the hub/switch.
• One of the PC's is to be configured as server either using software like WinRoute or Microsoft Internet Sharing

advantage :

• no manual configuration of PC's
• almost unlimited number of PC's (255)
• dialup done automatically
• "galvanic" separation of Internet and LAN
• no uplink or crossed UTP cable required
• hub ports = number PC's
• proxy (WinRoute)

disadvantage:

• server software or Microsoft Internet Sharing required
• configuring server can be difficult
• needs additional network-card

[Big Fish]

There are many different ways to connect two computers to each other without being a hacker, for instance

* Use a hub/switch
* Use a router
* Use a direct cable connection
* Use a crossover network cable
* Use USB connection


Networking using a hub
Using a hub to connect computers, is basically the same as building a LAN. A switch is a more competent and expensive hub. Hubs are cheap.

Setup: Each PC needs one NIC that goes to the hub, which in turn is connected to the cable modem. Then the network adapters need to be configured in Windows so that the computers work well on the same network. The sharing of the connection is provided by your setup of the network and the hub.

Pros: Fairly easy, good speed 10 or 100 MBps, comes in kits found in computer stores
Cons: Requires two IP-addresses, no security


Networking using a router

A router is needed for a more advanced network, and therefore it is harder to setup. It is also more expensive.

Setup: Same as for a hub, plus that the router needs to be setup as well, according to its manual. The sharing of the connection is provided by your setup of the network and the router.

Pros: Requires only one IP address, functions as a firewall, good speed 10 or 100 MBps
Cons: Expensive, harder to setup


Using a direct cable connection

peer to peer or null modem connection,
Direct cable connection is a supported feature of Windows, and it uses a crossover serial or parallel cable. 'Crossover' means that the cable is twisted with respect to it's internal wiring; some of the wires change places in the connector plugs. It is very easy to use the wizard to establish the connection. When the connection works, you just use Internet Connection Sharing, ICS, which is also a Windows feature. ICS is available in Windows version 98 Second Edition and over.

Setup: Use a crossover serial or parallel cable, and then in Windows create a New Connection, and choose Direct Connection. Setup one PC as "Host' and one as "Guest". This done, use ICS to share the connection, as described above under "peer-to-peer".


Pros: Dead simple, requires a crossover serial or parallel cable, only requires one IP address
Cons: Low speed ~ 0.1 MBps


Using a crossover network cable

This is basically the same as using the above mentioned null modem, except you connect two NICs by a crossover network cable. 'Crossover' means that the cable is twisted with respect to it's internal wiring; some of the wires change places in the connector plugs. Here too, you use Internet Connection Sharing in Windows, as described above under "peer-to-peer". One PC is setup as a host, and the other as a guest.

Setup: Install the NICs and setup up the network adapters in Windows. Then use ICS to share the connection.

Pros: Fairly easy, good speed 10 or 100 MBps, only requires one IP address
Cons: Well, you might still have to fiddle with your network settings.


USB connections

This is not a separate type of connection; it's just another type of connectors that have driver support in Windows already. You can use a NIC or a modem with a USB adapter and then use a hub or a router.

Setup: Insert USB cable and then use ICS, if you use a direct connection.

Pros: Easy, good speed 4-8 MBps
Cons: USB not super reliable

[Jencable]

Useful post, i'm just thinking about cable connector, can it slowing down our networking connections?

[JAMES_911]

Useful post, i'm just thinking about cable connector, can it slowing down our networking connections?

You mean, you want to use a Universal Network Cable Connector to connect computer for sharing internet. It wont be an issue unless you have a dynamic or another ip address, that is to be used by different computers. Better get a router and share internet to different computers. For more information, read suggestions given in similar kind of threads - Internet Connection sharing through the router
D-LINK DI 504 router to share Internet access configuration