Cable Networking

[Raven]

I have read all the threads on how to network cable. However I want some opinions on what I should do.

Today they installed Cox@home.

I have four computers that are networked with a netgear four port hub. Since they installed the cable in one of the computers that computer is now out of the network. I also have an old pentium 166 that is not hooked up to our network. What are the best options to connect all computers to the cable and also to each other. My brother and I also want to play games over the internet.

Should I use the old pentium 166 as a gateway or should I just buy a cable router?

Thanks

 

[BCYL]

I guess it depends on your budget. Since you have a P166 there for you to setup either as a Linux box or Windows box, if you choose to use that as your gateway it will be free... However it will be more work than the router, and router does have the advantage of the hardware firewall (of course you can setup your gateway to act as firewall too, but that will be even more work)... So I guess it all comes down to whether or not you want to spend the extra cash to save the work...

One more thing, some game servers will not allow 2 ppl to go on with the same IP. Which means your brother and you may not be able to go into a game server at the same time... To the best of my knowledge, the only way around this is purchasing additional IPs from the ISP... However, as I mentioned above, only some game servers do that... so you may be OK... Just thought I would remind you...

 

[Kynyght]

I have two computers sharing a cable conection, for more inforamtion e-mail me.
Low budget option and very good performance.
Ftm@uk2.net

 

[Wik]

Well I have tried it both the Software and the Hardware way to share my cable internet. I used to use one computer with 2 nics in it and used software to route the internet to the other computers in my home. I then was able to get a Netgear RT311 for real cheap back in the old Staples Coupon days. The router made things so much easier and I no longer had to rely on one computer to always be on to share the internet. Which router to get depends on what you like to use the net for. If you are really into online games or are into serving of any sort, you will want to spend more on one that has more advanced port forwarding, if you just want all of your systems to be able to browse the web get email use ICQ, etc... most of the lower end models like the netgear, Linksys, SMC ets... will do.

If you want the easy way buy a router.
If you want the cheap way, do the 2 nic card in one computer thing.

The 2 nic card thing was easy enough for me to do but I just did not like the idea of one system having to be on all the time to share the net, also some of the internet sharing software can be a pain to get to work right.