Confused and Needy of help..=)

[I'm-An-Evil-PopTart]

I currently just got a aDSL modem... i also have 2 computers in my house... i need to know what i need to connect them to share the DSL connection, i know i need a router/hub... what kind of cables do i need to connect the computers? and where do these cables connect to on the back of my computer? any software required? i need to know.. im goin crazy... thanx!!!!!

[I'm-An-Evil-PopTart]

oh and does it cost more money for another IP address or can i work around that?

[coolqf]

it depends on how economical you want it....
if you have win98SE or WinMe or Win2k you can share the same modem and IP address
you can go to a computer store like CompUSA and get a starter kit for 2 comps for $100 and just run Internet Sharing from these above OSes. the cheapest is a HUB and two NIC cards. I got the starter kit for $99.

if you will ONLY have two comps than just get 2 NIC cards and a NIC cable and connect the computers together. (i've heard that you need a special cable for this one. I got ANY cable and it worked on another network that I built. maybe I got lucky and mabye not)

the 1st choice is what I would go for. that's the choice that I chose the 1st time. than after I under stood the network process I made more cutom choices.
If you want more help on the matter you can e-mail me and i'll help you. it's a simple process.
you can also go to
www.askme.com (http://www.askme.com) and go to a 'network' discussion board and get good help here.
askme.com is completely free.

[Storm90]

It's called a cross over cable. But if he is intrested in shareing files . He will need to nics in the main computer One for lan and one for the internet. He plans to setup for the server,If not just one nic. Plus with across over cable he dose not need a hub. Plus If he checks around some of the stores were he lives they have linksy starter kits for 59.00 dollars. I know they do here where I live.I don't use either though I use what you call a smarthub and two Ips. I get better performance this way and do not need to set up either computer as a server. I can be on when I want and my son can be on when he wants and neither computer has to stay on In oerder for the other one to connect to the internet, I bit more expensive though.

[Radio-]

I would say 3 fairly simple options here:

1) If your only going to have just 2 computers, then you can use 2 NIC cards in one machine and one NIC card in the other. In this setup you may use ICS or you may run a proxy server (WinProxy). NIC Cards are CHEAP, you can find good ones from $10-$30
(This is good if your not planning on having anymore computers on the network)

2) If your ISP doesn't charge for additional IP's, you can simply put 1 NIC card in each machine, and then buy a cheap hub and conenct them up thru there.

3) A bit more pricey, you may want to go for one of the Routers with a DHCP server and NAT 'firewalling' such as the models Linksys and Netgear make. (These run from $100-$200)

Those are some of the easier ways to get a home network up.

[Storm90]

Radio, you are right about that. Good information. Sense he is just starting out. Plus less expensive. I went that way in the begining. But later on down the line I change. More for the convenience of not having to leave one computer on all the time.

[I'm-An-Evil-PopTart]

thanx guys... i think ill head over to COMPusa and check out the starter kits... i just wanna share adsl connection... the starter sound like the easiest way to go....

[Storm90]

I'M A EVIL POP TART, Glad to here we help you out. I like that name. What made you think of it.

[Storm90]

I'M A EVIL POP TART, Glad to here we help you out. I like that name. What made you think of it.