hello
i am wondering how to network an ntl broad bad connection.
do i buy a small switch and run the connection in to it then link the 2 computers from the nic's to the other side of the switch or is there a better way of doing it
They sell a lot of router/switch combo's that are designed to work with the modems UK ADSL/Cable supplies give you. Basically you feed the Modem into the Router, plus you computers onto the on-board switch (CAT5 Connections) and you're good to go.
vigor 2104p is the name of the router we bought for use with NTL here, we have used several of the Vigor DSL and Cable routers and found them to be good value and reliable, with lots of features.
You could share the two computers directly with a crossover cable or switch and use Internet Connection Sharing, but this would require the HOST machine to be on for the connection to work.
The general view is it is better to use a hardware router of some sort since they are more reliable, usually provide in-built firewalls and are generally more configurable.
If you do not wish to use the modem NTL provide (or have the wires-only install) seg and many other companies sell Switch/Router/Modem combo units.
I have no idea really, people seem to shun anything that isn't USB because it's clearly behind the times and a nightmare to configure.
BT do have the option of a modem/router/switch but I believe they reserve it for the business lines and charge a fair amount more (They also take this router with its half decent firewall/features from another company, wipe the firmware and dumb it down to a User/Pass prompt).
The Broadband contracts here also usually mention something along the lines of "The provided line may only be used with 1 machine".
No, in the States ethernet rules. You often see a dual USB/Ethernet modem, but a solely USB modem is rare.
Your choice of routers as a result is much wider. I honestly mistrust USB for connectivity, and the December 2002 USB Standard Committee decision to relable USB 1.1 as now "USB 2.0", and 2.x as "2.0 High-Speed" adds confusion to the issue.
Ah I see, much better then. I understand what you are saying about USB I don't think it was ever really designed with some of the uses in mind it has today.
The only USB modems I have used are the above mentioned and with the Vigor Router range. Suprisingly quite reliable (Uptime 8000 hours and counting so far), but for business critical use I would most likely avoid USB.
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