Do I need a router to set up a 2 PC LAN with cable modem

[racki17]

I currently am just using 2 NICS on one computer. One nic is for the cable and teh other nic is connected to the 2nd pc via a crossover cable. I am able to share files without probelm but the 2nd PC has only intermitant internet access. The 2nd PC will only work for the internet about 60% of the time. Interestingly AIM will almost always work on both PCs. Do I have some settings wrong or do I need a router? Both PCs are win98.

Thanks

 

[blstriker]

Your setup should work just fine. It's strange that the web doesn't work all the time, it should. A router may help your situation, but there is nothing inherently wrong with your current setup. Getting your current setup to work is the issue here.

Is the crossover cable damaged in any way? Are the TCP/IP settings on your client computer set to get the IP from the server computer? What software are you using to share? ICS, sygate, wingate?