Home Ethernet network .. advice?

[digitatti]

Hi Folks -

I want to put together a home network for two computers

Here are the parameters:
o The two boxes sit next to each other (3 feet)
o One box is a Pentium I, 133, 48MB RAM, Windows 98, 4GB disk;
o the other box is a self-built AMD Tbird 1.2GHZ (266 bus), 256 MB RAM, 40 GB disk, Win98SE
o I want to share an HP inkjet, IOmega drive, scanner, all file systems, and maybe a modem (56k)
o I wont be doing any net games, just business and basic entertainment (adventure games like Myst) apps
o I am a networking newbie so I want a simple (is anything?), no-fuss, no-muss install.

I am thinking good ol' Ethernet. 10BaseT would probably do (?) but 10/100 might be more scalable for the future ( I intend on building more boxes... I had a blast on the one I just built!!!!)

I'm thinking kit, and here are the kits I'm comparing:

o Dlink DFE 910 or DFE 905
o Linksys FENSK05 or FENSK04
o NetGear FB 105 or SB 104

Thoughts on the easiest, cleanest install?
Software and hardware quality and reliability?
Do I need 10/100baseT or is 10 enough (saves about $50 over the 10/100 kits)?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

thanks,
jim


IWILL KK266, 1.2 Ghz T-bird (266Mhz bus; VolcanoII HSF), 256MB CAS2, 40 GB ATA/100, Cardexpert Nvidia 32MB MX, Win98SE

 

[Russ]

Sorry, it won't work. The AMD TBird and Pentium 133 are not compatible across a network.

Russ, NCNE

 

[Sukhoi]

What are you talking about Russ?

Go with 100 Mbps. I notice a huge difference on my LAN when transfering files between my 10 Mbps and 100 Mbps machines. 100 Mbps really isn't very expensive anymore anyway.

As for the kits, I got the Linksys 10/100 Mbps switched LAN kit with two LNE100TX PCI cards and a 5 port switch and it's worked great so far.

 

[Workin']

You'll probably get so much conflicting advice your head will spin. Here's my recommendations:

Assumptions -
You already have an external modem
Your ISP uses a standard Dial-up Networking connection (i.e, not AOL or MSN)

What you need to buy -
SMC Barricade 7004BR router/switch/print server/firewall/modem server (under $100)
1 Category 5 ethernet cable (you need 2 but the router comes with 1) (about $5)
2 10/100Mbit network interface cards (cheap Netgear's are less than $20)

Connect it all together and you will have a FAST 100Mbit switched network, a print server so you can print from either computer without having the other one turned on, a modem server so you can dial out from either computer without having the other one turned on, easy internet connection sharing, and a good firewall to protect you from the nasties out there, and all the future expandability you could want. All plug and play, very easy configuration.

 

[Sukhoi]

That's a good idea too, though a little bit more expensive.

 

[Russ]

Sukhoi,

You mean it will work?

Russ, NCNE

 

[Sukhoi]

Why won't it?

 

[Quad]

jeez russ, stop spoiling the party!

 

[vortix]

Of course they'll be compatible, lol. Anyway, if you're only hooking up two computers, you won't need a router, hub, switch or anything. Just install a 10/100 ethernet card in each PC (these are cheap) and buy a crossover cable to hook the two up to. Make sure when you go buy it you say you need a "crossover" ethernet cable; a regular ethernet cable will NOT work. If you ever need to add more PC's to your network in the future, though, you'll have to get a hub or switch.

To share your net connection using your modem, just turn on ICS (Internet Connection Sharing) on the PC with the modem. This will allow both PC's to use the net connection simultaneously.

Hope this helps!

 

[Tallgeese]

<< That's a good idea too, though a little bit more expensive. >>

Excellent price for the functionality, IMHO:
$40 Barricade (look on &quot;Hot Deals&quot; forum for current specials on this router)
$ 5 Cable
$40 NICs

$85 TOTAL (only about $12 more expensive than the best prices I could find on pricegrabber.com for the 100Tx kits)

 

[Workin']

So you see there are several ways to skin this cat. Vortix's is the cheapest, mine is the most flexible. And there's a range of things in between.