DSL on a network?

[iggybaseball]

If i connect three pcs to my hub at home can i connect a dsl modem to the fourth jack and have all three computers using dsl? Thanx.

[eh?]

i think you need a router...

[iggybaseball]

um, whats a router and do i NEED one?

[eh?]

a router uses dhcp (which assings ip address), its basicly a switch only smarter, i don't think the hub will do it, you should probly get a router ar pricwatch they are about $60. btw how fast is your hub?
oh i just thought of something... you could use one of the other computers to set up dhcp and the other various settings and just get a switch, which is cheaper

[Warlord2]

if your dsl provider gives you 4 ips you shouldnt need a router just a hub

but if they dont you can either use a router or make your own router

you can also make your own router by using linux or I think there are some program out there for windows and they will assign you IPs


router would be the easyest way and I highly recommend the linksys 4 port router

[Gresyth]

Check your hub. Does one of the ports (usually #1) may have a switch to change it to an uplink port. If it does, then plug your dsl modem into that one.

Some routers are sold as hubs.

[Maddman]

Originally posted by Warlord2
if your dsl provider gives you 4 ips you shouldnt need a router just a hub

but if they dont you can either use a router or make your own router

you can also make your own router by using linux or I think there are some program out there for windows and they will assign you IPs


router would be the easyest way and I highly recommend the linksys 4 port router

there are programs for windows or ICS in win98 win2k or winxp work well also. the other way is to purchase extra IP's from your ISP.

[eh?]

if you do i tusing another computer... then linux is the best way to go. you can set up a firewall and the dhcp server all in one

[iggybaseball]

This is the Hub i have at http://www.hawkingtech.com/products/pn400tp.htm
It has a switch that says u can put it on uplink or normal, so can u check out this link and tell me if i still need a router? I plan to use earthlink dsl service. If i have a router do i still need a hub? Thanx

[Kingslayer]

How many computers do you have....that's the big thing.

You can get a 1 port, 4 port, or an 8 port router and chances are that you won't need a hub. But if you buy a cheaper 1 port and use your current hub, you'll probably save money in the long run. There are specials going on now where the 4 port Linksys is only $10 more than the one port. Get that one and you'll have 3 extra ports to add more hubs too if you get more computers.

If you do get the router and need any help setting it up, most here are pretty knowledgeable on the Linky's. They are a common router.

[iggybaseball]

Originally posted by Kingslayer
How many computers do you have....that's the big thing.

You can get a 1 port, 4 port, or an 8 port router and chances are that you won't need a hub. But if you buy a cheaper 1 port and use your current hub, you'll probably save money in the long run. There are specials going on now where the 4 port Linksys is only $10 more than the one port. Get that one and you'll have 3 extra ports to add more hubs too if you get more computers.

If you do get the router and need any help setting it up, most here are pretty knowledgeable on the Linky's. They are a common router.

i need to connect three computers. my hub has four jacks so i thought i could plug three in, plug the dsl modem in the fourth jack, switch the switch to "uplink", and connect the dsl the the wall. I thought that's what the uplink is for.

[Rick G]

If you're going to use the hub, then you'll need separate IP addresses (or machine names) for each PC - as Warlord2 suggested earlier. If you want to share one IP address as well as get the added protection of Network Address Translation (NATing), then your best bet is the router...which is a few nickels more than a switch (which does not have NATing capabilities).

[iggybaseball]

so if i get a router, do i still need to use my hub then? I am checking how many ip's u get when u sign up. what is nat? is a router easy to set up?

[Rick G]

If you get a multiport router, you won't need the hub.

re: NAT; The router becomes the "gatekeeper". To the outside world, it is the device with the ISP assigned address. It translates the public address to internally assigned addresses (e.g. 192.168.1.x) for your PCs. Since it has limited functions, it does not respond to typical scans from would-be hackers, and therefore protects the PCs in your home network...Which is not to say that you're totally protected, but it's the first line of defense.

A little more info.....

I have the Linksys router, but they're all pretty easy to configure. Rather than configuring your PCs with the ISP assigned address or machine name, you configure the router. The router will, in turn, share the connection and address among the machines plugged into each of its ports.

Your home network speed is mostly dependent on the capababilities of the devices in it. i.e. The hub uses a shared topology...meaning that all the devices on the hub share the LAN bandwidth - assuming ethernet, 10 or 100Mb. The switch or router allocates 10 or 100Mb for each port. Theoretically, each device will not have to contend with other devices for the available bandwidth. But if your devices can't generate or receive at those rates, then it's an academic point. I said theoretically because in the end, the devices will still have to share the 10Mb WAN [internet] connection. So...PC-to-PC can run at 100Mb, PC-to-internet will run at 10Mb. MultiplePC-to-internet will share the 10Mb DSL modem port.

Hope this wasn't confusing.

[iggybaseball]

Ok, i will start looking for a router. I need suggestions on which router to get, price is the biggest factor, thanks a lot.

[Rick G]

I have the Linksys Cable/DSL Router (BEFSR41) which you can get most anywhere, including Amazon.com, for about $69. Although I haven't used one, I know someone who has used the SMC Barricade, which is a few dollars less. Additionally, the SMC box has a print server function (and port) for printer sharing. The advantage is that the printer is not a slave to a PC that must be turned on to be shared.

[iggybaseball]

ok, next weekend i will be going to a computer show and will be looking primarily for a router. 1 more qusetion though, u know ho u get a 56k and u have to pay $21.99 plus a phone bill? Well when u get dsl i know u have to pa $50 a month but do u still have to pay for the phone bill?

[Rick G]

The $21.99, like the $50, is for your ISP and associated connection...separate charge from the phone service. You'll probably still have the phone bill in addition to DSL. Have you looked into cable broadband? I'm subscribing to cable broadband...combined with cable tv and phone service through my cable company, my ISP charge is about $30 per month (but I did buy the cable modem too).