Cable modem setup with Blueyonder (UK)

[lbmcleod]

Hi i am trying to connect my Motorola Surfboard SB4100 to one PC via USB (which i have done) but plan to use its other port (Ethernet) to connect it to an additional PC.

The USB conn. uses a VPN connection in "Network and Dial up connections" whilst the Ethernet settings uses a second LAN connection setting, (i know this because i have tried both) and instead of displaying the name of the Ethernet card in the "connect using:" box in the properties window of LAN conn 2, it says WAN network driver.

However Telewest Blueyonder require me to ring up and re-register the connection through the helpdesk every time I change which method (USB or ethernet) i am using. They were reluctant to tell me how this setup works, but i think it is something to do with MAC addresses.

Two questions then: 1) How does the registering work and how do MAC addresses work and
2)Can this dual-pc setup be done?

 

[lbmcleod]

*-*bump*-*

really need some help on this one plz

 

[Killbot]

Hi, I'll try and give you a bit of help.

1) Not sure how Blueyonder registering works, but each hardware device is encoded with a MAC address, this is unique to the device and can't be changed. I guess you have to re-register each time you change you connection as your Mac address would have changed (Mac addresses are used by switches (OSI layer 2) to direct the delivery of IP packets), so Blueyonder would have to update the MAC address tables on their switches? not a lot you can do about that.

2) As I understand it you just want to connection share ? Should be able to do it (what O/S you running ?). At home I've got cable through NTL: which goes to a server, and is then shared by 3 other PC's (but I use 2 Ethernet cards in the server), guess you could get your hands on another Ethernet card if your having problems setting it up ?

Hope thats of some help.

 

[lbmcleod]

I could share the connection through an OS, but the problem is that the machine with the broadband on it is situated in a location where i would prefer not to have it be switched on every time one of the other machines wanted to use the broadband.

However, would it be pheasable to make a USB-hub type device (ie that splits one port into two) and then run a USB cable upstairs? Would the specifications of USB1.1 allow this length of cable to be ran up (both exterior of the building and interior) Or could i create a "splitter" for the Ethernet?

If anyone has any pinout diagrams for pin arrangements or links to pages for these, this would hbe helpful.

Thanks for the help so far, Killbot.