Networking computers

[Garfield]

What do you need? I assume two network cards in each computer. Anything else? Software? Other hardware? Thanks

--Garfield

[Yodums]

Read the sticky.

[Garfield]

Oh, sorry, I guess I missed that before. A couple of things that I still don't understand or have questions about...

Do you network your "house" through a modem connected to an ethernet card?

And I read you need a router. Are those expensive?

[Yodums]

Routers can be fairly expensive yes.

To my knowledge you hook up the cable modem to the router and the other computers hook up using ethernet cables into the router and get assigned different ips.

[CVW]

no, you don't NEED a router to connect your house to the internet... You can connect X computers with just a hub and X+1 CAT5 cables, unless you have A LOT of computers ;)

[Maddman]

If you don't want to use a router then one of your computers needs two NIC cards and a hub if you have more then two computers. You have to either use windows ICS or another program for sharing the internet connection. For dsl a router is easier but more expensive.

[SteenkyBastage]

pretty much what all has been said is true...depending on the circumstances.

does your isp provider give you just one ip address or more? (my cable will give me 3 ip addresses, but i still use a router). if your company will give you X ammt of ip addresses, and that is the same or more than the number of computers you have, you can just get a hub instead.

but if your isp wont provide enough ip addresses (or wants to charge extra), you can go with the router (or two NIC in one computer along with a hub).

having only done the dual NIC setup once... it was much more of a hassle to do that then the several times i've just used a router. but a router will end up costing you an extra 30 bucks or more over just a hub & extra NIC.

good luck!

[Garfield]

Thanks, friends! I'll read up more on networking and I'll probably be back with more questions. :D