Can a switch allow 2 PCs to use 1 cable modem?

[marlinman]

Our cable modem is currently connected to the missus' PC via a 10/100 NIC, with our two PCs connected via onboard gigabit LAN. I purchased a gigabit switch (D-Link DGS-1005D) thinking this would allow a more elegant setup, but am almost certain that the thing is in fact not suitable for this purpose. Is there any way I can make use of the switch?

 

[JackMDS]

The content of the following links will provide you with a basic tutorial about Sharing Internet connection; it is short and to the point. The pages were written by me ages ago. Ignore the prices, and the specific choice of hardware, stick with the principles they are still the same.

Basic Options for Internet Connection Sharing - http://www.anandtech.com/guides/viewfaq.aspx?i=105

Hubs, routers, switches, DSL, LANs, WANs...? - http://www.anandtech.com/guides/viewfaq.aspx?i=48

What do I need for wireless networking? - http://www.anandtech.com/guides/viewfaq.aspx?i=122

The whole thing should look like this, http://www.ezlan.net/network/router.jpg

 

[marlinman]

Thanks Jack. Option #2 of your first link caught my eye but I'm not sure how cooperative my ISP will be (or whether I'll require them to be cooperative). I found the following on this page

telstraclear.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/telstraclear.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=469&p_created=1075085758&p_sid=_znr*q8j&p_accessibility=0&p_redirect=&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX3Jvd19jbnQ9MjYsMjYmcF9wcm9kcz0wJnBfY2F0cz0mcF9wdj0mcF9jdj0mcF9wYWdlPTEmcF9zZWFyY2hfdGV4dD1zaGFyaW5n&p_li=&p_topview=1

of their site:

When you connect to our network your assigned IP address resides on your computer, not on the cable modem, and your default gateway IP address is on the TelstraClear network. ... The cable modem has no IP address of its own and cannot be connected to, or managed in any way, from your computer. TelstraClear provides a single real-world IP address with each cable connection and cannot provide more. ... In order to share the Internet connection between multiple PCs you need a device called a router, that can connect to the cable modem on one side and to your network of computers on the other. This can be a Windows computer with Internet connection sharing, a Linux/*BSD machine running firewalling/NAT, or a purpose built cable router. <purpose built cable router stuff removed> If you are using Windows Internet Connection Sharing or some sort of Unix based computer instead, you will need an Ethernet switch to connect your computers together and the computer that is acting as your router will need to have two network cards.

Does this indicate whether it's worth trying to make use of the switch?

While I'm here - our modem has no built-in firewall, and I've never known whether both our PCs should be running software firewalls, or just the missus' PC. Similar confusion re PeerGuardian. I run a fw on my PC to be safe but would like to know whether this is truly necessary...

 

[JackMDS]

They indicate that both option 2 and 3 (as mentioned on the FAQ pages are allowed).

Forget about the switch and option 2, buy a Router and use option 3, it provides much more solid, flexible, faster, Network than option 2.

Wireless Router starting at $20.

This one is $9.99 after rebate, http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16833156038

 

[marlinman]

Thanks - the thing is, our current setup (lack of h/w firewall notwithstanding) works fine; I'm merely trying to determine whether I can make use of the switch somehow. If not, I'll try and recover some of the $70 it cost by selling it on... does it look like I'll have to involve the ISP should I give your option 2 a try?

edit: plus, a gigabit router is way expensive in my country!

 

[JackMDS]

You do not need a Giga Router, get a simple inexpensive one.

You can plug the switch to the Router, and plug all the Network Devices that are Giga capable the the switch.

They would run Giga between them but would be manged and protected by the Router.

 

[marlinman]

I like it! Thanks Jack. My partner will be glad to have control of her PC's power switch