A simple home network 3

[Crustyoldbloke]

Me again with another question/s.

I have moved into the world of broadband internet and now find the task of sharing this type of connection with my son tedious, so against my better judgement, and in the hope of actually using what I pay for (as opposed to my son hogging the connection 24/7), I have relented towards a simple home network of the two PC's.

I'm not looking for anything fancy, just a simple way of connecting the two and being able to share the connection.

In my mind, I have the idea of connecting the two NIC's with a crossover cable and then connecting the HOST PC to the MODEM via USB. The two PC's are around 5 metres part in the same room, one using Win2000 and the other WinXP.

Here come the questions:

Is this a good idea?

Is there a better way?

The Win2000 network wizard doesn't mention connections of this type, could someone talk me through this?

The WinXP wizard provides a floppy with settings for Win98, WinME and WinXP, but excludes Win2000 ....... Why?


Kind regards

COB

 

[aznluvsmc]

Get a router.

 

[aznluvsmc]

Sorry let me give you an explanation for my choice.

Using a crossover cable to connect the PCs requires that the PC connected to the Internet be on all the time. You would then need to configure Internet Connection Sharing on that PC which is a task in itself if you've never done it before.

A router on the other hand is a simple plug and play. Only the router needs to be on. You will also have a firewall protection with the router. And here in Canada I heard that crossover cable were about the same price as routers so it's probably a better financial investment.

 

[wolluf]

Crusty,

Would tend to agree with aznluvsmc - you can buy a router for c. ?30 (eg,

http://www.cclcomputers.biz/jscript_menu/retail/retail_frame.htm).

But your basic idea will work fine for just 2 machines.

http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/

should get you up and running with this method of sharing.

(ICS is easy to set up in 2k in my experience - and it works reliably - we have a 7 PC network which until 6 months ago shared first a dial-up then broadband connection using 2k's ICS. Had absolutely no problems setting up or using. If you do take this approach, don't forget a firewall on the machine sharing the connection - XP of course has its own, and its ICS is very similar to 2k's - though with more wizardry I think - which personally I don't like. We have now moved to router/switch - partly because old network was 'real' peer-to-peer (thin ethernet) - max speed 10mbs).

 

[bcastner]

It does not matter if you use wireless or not, purchase the Linskys WRT54G or GS router.

Use the Sveasoft firmware to add bandwidth control:

http://www.sveasoft.com/postt119.html

I suspect you should decide on a router, but for any router there are bandwidth controller choices:

http://www.netlimiter.com/

This has kept peace in our house.

I have also used without issue:

http://www.net-peeker.com/index.htm

http://www.bandwidthcontroller.com/

 

[Crustyoldbloke]

Thanks for all of your comments, some good stuff and all of it learned in the practical manner.

I have decided to use a router and an office kit with 4 NIC cards, 4 x 8 metre cables and an 8 port broadband router, for the princely sum of £40 - should do the trick.

I have taken onboard your comments Bill, and I dare say I will get round to becoming more involved in bandwidth regulators in due course.

Useful article wolluf and thanks for the price check.

Aznluvsmc, point taken re machine always on and yes even here in UK, crossover cables of the lebgth required make it nearly as much as a router.

Cheers guys

Kind regards

COB