A very basic (or is that complex) problem...

G

GeForceX

Supreme [H]ardness
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Mar 19, 2003
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I have maybe 5% networking experience, so excuse this post. Even looking at HowStuffWorks' site for networking steps and even looking at the "all-out solution to networking problems" sticky thread (which is by the way, exhausting *good job*), I still can't really get this problem I have. My cable company only allows two computer connections, however I have three computers. I want to use all three and have them all shared on the internet. Here's a basic ASCII layout (crappy but it's common sense):

Cable Modem.
.....||
D-Link 5-Port Switch Hub.
.....||....................||
Computer A.......Computer B.
............................||
.........................Computer C.

As you can see, I have no router. My goal is to set up Computer B to function as a router. Computer B and C has two ethernet ports (that makes four). They can be used reversibly such as Computer B --> Computer C --> D-Link Switch Hub but I chose it as C -> B. Well, I have Windows XP Professional on both and I have set up the wizard on Computer B to directly connect to the internet and let other computers connect to my computer. But then, a MAC was set up to bridge both ethernet cards together so it can communicate (well that's what it says on the networking wizard, heh). I believe I am doing something really wrong. Someone told me I had to configure an IP number that Computer B and C will connect on. I decided to put in a bunch of numbers for both (180.180.180.180 <-- lol). Question: does setting up the correct IP number really matter? Problem is that on both computers, the taskbar icon says "Local Area Connection - A network cable is unplugged". I use a Cat 6 wire connecting both computers, it's all in. I can't get it to work. That's where I'm stuck. Am I supposed to set Computer B's TCP/IP properties as having the "Use the following IP address" and set Computer C as having "Obtain an IP address automatically"? They both have default settings (like TCP/IP). I mean... what the ****? Ok. Yeah. Thanks for the help if anyone can provide a solution or any step-by-step checks.

TY again.

-Jeff.
 
Couldn't quite follow all that ( damn ADD ), but here's the short of what you want:

Cable modem -> Router ( PC 1 with routing software ) -> switch -> Network ( rest of computers )

This way, you are only using a single public IP, and the rest of the network is hidden from the outside world ( and, to a certain extent, the cable company too ).
 
Please keep in mind, I do not have a router and I prefer not to use a router. I want to use Computer B as a router. Now, is that possible (instincts tells me yes but I'm obviously too #$%@ to figure it out)? :)

-Jeff.
 
Originally posted by GeForceX
Please keep in mind, I do not have a router and I prefer not to use a router. I want to use Computer B as a router. Now, is that possible (instincts tells me yes but I'm obviously too #$%@ to figure it out)? :)

-Jeff.
Click to expand...
The terminology is what is throwing you. Any device used in this capacity is called router.
 
I'd say you need some version of Windows Server so you can turn Computer B into a router with "Routing and Remote Access".

OR

If you are just trying to access the net from computer C using computer B just setup ICS.

OR

Cable modem > Computer B
(Setup ICS on Computer B) 2nd NIC on computer B > Switch/HUB > Computer A and C.

I think thats what you are trying to do...I don't think you really wanna setup a router.
 
Originally posted by DigitalPimp
I'd say you need some version of Windows Server so you can turn Computer B into a router with "Routing and Remote Access".

OR

If you are just trying to access the net from computer C using computer B just setup ICS.

OR

Cable modem > Computer B
(Setup ICS on Computer B) 2nd NIC on computer B > Switch/HUB > Computer A and C.

I think thats what you are trying to do...I don't think you really wanna setup a router.
Click to expand...
Either way ( Routing and Remote access or ICS ), he's setting up a router.

Just a point of clarification ( whoa, is that how it's spelled? )
 
Cable modem > Computer B
(Setup ICS on Computer B) 2nd NIC on computer B > Switch/HUB > Computer A and C.

This is the way I would do it...
 
Originally posted by XOR != OR
Either way ( Routing and Remote access or ICS ), he's setting up a router.

Just a point of clarification ( whoa, is that how it's spelled? )
Click to expand...

Thanks for clearing that up ;)
 
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