newbie, networking help please!

[serlex]

hi
im new to networking, we have broadband, we would like to connect it to two computers.
can you tell me what i need (cables...)

i want both pcs to be able to connect when other one is turned off. i have no idea what i need, so go easy

thanks

 

[haroldmeyer]

You need to have the host computer on to make the other computer accessable. All you need to do this is connect them with a "crossover" cable, you can get these anywhere. If you want them to act independently, you need two cable modems.

 

[OSUguy98]

or just buy a relatively inexpensive router.... and you can have yourself a hardware firewall, a router, and both PCs can connect independent of the other.... and they can share files,etc.....


Keep on Folding!!

 

[serlex]

what cable do i need to connect the router with the computers?

 

[M11]

what cable do i need to connect the router with the computers?

Standard Cat5 patch cable will work for this. You can obtain it inexpensively online or at smaller computer shops. Avoid large retailers like Best Buy, Circuit City, and Fry's, as they grossly overcharge for this cabling. As for routers, whether or not you'll make use of wireless is your biggest consideration. If not, then your choices are fairly straightforward, as any broadband router would work. I'd recommend Dlink. Otherwise, you can purchase a broadband router with a wireless access point integrated into it. Feel free to post wireless questions in this thread.

 

[Orinthical]

hi
im new to networking, we have broadband, we would like to connect it to two computers.
can you tell me what i need (cables...)

i want both pcs to be able to connect when other one is turned off. i have no idea what i need, so go easy

thanks

You CAN use ICS (Internet Connection Sharing) but that is ultimately not as secure as a router nor as fast since the switching mechanism is software based. ICS would also require you to purchase another network card (if you don't have one laying around) for one of your computers to become the host. So realistically, it costs about the same in the long run now-a-days and you will be more secure behind a router.

My recommendation:

Pickup a Netgear RP614 4-Port Router ($43.40 with free 2nd day shipping and a $10 rebate.)
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=251654

Pick up two regular CAT-5e cables (not crossovers), long enough to hook both computers up to the router, at your local Best Buy/Circuit City/etc store.

Connect your cable modem to the router's WAN port (the one by itself compared to the other four ports on the back) using the cable you currenty have. If you currently use USB for your cable or DSL modem you'll need to buy three CAT-5e cables instead of two.

Connect the other two CAT-5e cables to your computers, one end in the computer and the other in the router.

Follow the directions that come with the router. While it should be pretty much plug-and-go, you'll still need to do a few things like at least change the admin password.

You should be good to go at that point. The only thing that could throw a monkey wrench into this is if your computers don't have network cards in them, which is possible if you were using USB. In that case, you could buy two network cards by themselves, such as these:

Netgear FA311 PCI Network Adapter -- $11.00 each with Free 2nd Day Air.
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=251662

-or-

D-Link DFE-530TX+ PCI Network Adapter -- $15.50 each with Free 2nd Day Air.
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=252458

Note that I give you two options -- that's because choice is good. Personally I can no longer recommend spending $50 on a 3Com or Intel network card and while I have had some trouble with bulk shipments of FA311's from netgear, I have not had such with the D-Link's. Some people swear by Intel/3Com, others by Netgear, some people scowl at D-Link, it's mostly opinion. Basically, if it's not built onto your motherboard, buy whatever your budget allows... but don't pay too much. The only place you should justify spending good money on a NIC (network interface card) is for your server.

G'luck. =)

 

[serlex]

im getting a router with onboard modem. whats the diffrence between cat5 and rj45?

 

[Orinthical]

RJ-45 is a jack/end description.

CAT-3, CAT-5, CAT-5e and CAT-6 are cable types.

Generally speaking, saying "CAt-5e" is synonymous with saying RJ-45 since CAT-5, 5e and 6 generally are terminated with RJ-45 jacks. The "e" stands for "Enhanced" which simply means it can handle more frequency bandwidth than standard CAT-5. CAT-6 is generally reserved for long runs or bandwidth intensive applications such as server rooms. Getting a CAT-5 cable should be fine for your uses, though since the cost difference between Cat-5 and 5e is usually negligible, I'd recommend getting 5e.

Just for note's sake, CAT-3 is generally used as telephone, thermostat, alarm system wiring and should -never- be used as network cable.

Oh and whatever you do... stay away from Belkin routers. I have yet to see a single Belkin router that didn't have something wrong with it. From ads generated internally to QoS whoops to corrupt log crashing to resetting themselves randomly, etc. Just stay away. =)

As for a router with the modem integrated goes -- as a general rule of thumb I'd say stay away... the reason? If it burns up, you have to buy everything again. If you move and have to get another form of broadband, you're stuck buying a new router. If your company switches technologies. I.E. switches to a different cable modem standard, you once again get to buy another router. =)

I remember when Comcast upgraded their systems to work with the newer standards for cable modems years ago. They of course didn't bother to tell the users why their cable modems that worked fine up until that point all of the sudden couldn't maintain connections anymore, instead they just made appointments and replaced the modem with a newer one.