Connect LAN to the Internet w/o a router.

[eliboy]

Hi. Is it possible to connect a LAN to the Internet without using a router? This is not just a simple LAN set-up 'coz it composed of 5 LANs with minimum of 2 switches and 30 PCs each LAN. We are going to access the internet in that LAN for the first time and our ISP informed us that we don't need a router to access the internet. They will give us a 256 KB speed in a wireless connection.

If this is possible, is this safe?

Thanks in advance.

Regards,

Eliboy

 

[manarth]

the only way to connect a LAN to the internet w/o a router is if ALL the PCs in the LAN are assigned public IPs.

"They will give us a 256 KB speed in a wireless connection."

not sure what you mean by this - is every PC going to be fitted with a wifi card? is there 1 wireless (256k) internet connection which is to be shared?

If it's the first - wow, what a PITA...it'd be easier to route the LANs with a wired router

If it's the second - 256k shared between 150 PCs is going to be painfully slow. I'd imagine the wireless connection they provide would be a router. You'll still need a reasonable amount of reconfiguration of the IP settings of your LAN.

your best bet is to have a chat with the vendor - clarify what router is involved (this may be a slick sales spiel - "no you don't need to spend a fortune on a router": they may be suggesting you set up a PC with 2 NICs to act as a software router...which is cheap, but not the best idea for a system this size. you really should use a hardware router of some description).

if you post back with a network schematic or some more info, we may have some more advice.

good luck!

<marc> i wonder what will happen if i press this...[ul][li]please give feedback on what works / what doesn't[/li][li]need some help? how to get a better answer: faq581-3339[/li][/ul]

 

[Breakerfall]

it's possible and safe, yes
as long as you config. everything the right way.

and on top of all that, remember...
there's no such a thing as a hack-safe-system
(unless you unplug the cable )

good luck.