Home networking questions?

[gsxr944]

I have two computers running Windows 98SE. I have cable modem service on one (Toshiba PCX1100U) and would like to have the other computer connected as well. Can I run a cable from the LAN output on the cable modem to a cheap router, then run another line from the router to the other computer using an Ethernet to USB connection. The second computer has an available USB port but does not have a LAN connection (it's very old). I only ask about using the Ethernet to USB connection since is was supplied with my cable modem when I bought it. The Ethernet/USB connect has accompanying software driver so I figured this would be good to use on the second computer.

Any specifics on setup for both computers would be appreciated,..please try to keep is simple though! Thanks.

 

[skyking]

check out the faqs, jackmds has some nice stuff there. What you are proposing sounds good

 

[Lord Evermore]

I don't believe that will work. If you connect the cable modem to the router and to the second computer, two IPs will be needed -- one for the router's WAN interface, and one for the second computer. The cable modem does support using both USB and Ethernet ports at the same time, but does require that the ISP be assigning an IP for both links. It basically acts like a hub.

The USB cable that comes with the router is not a "USB to Ethernet". It is just a USB cable, and the cable modem contains an integrated Ethernet-type controller (like having a USB Ethernet adapter connected). Connecting the USB cable is like plugging in a USB Ethernet adapter, which then connects to a controller in the cable modem that acts like a 2-port hub linking the RJ45 port and the USB port to the cable connection.

Your best option is to pick up a cheap NIC and stick it in the older machine, and run them both on the router. This also provides the security of being behind the router. Alternately, you could use Internet Connection Sharing to allow one machine to act as a gateway for the other, using an extra NIC in the gateway machine and a NIC in the second machine. (The AT FAQs do describe how to do this.) This would be cheaper since you don't need to buy a router, and NICs can cost under 15 dollars.

 

[gsxr944]

Thanks for the info. After further reading thru the FAQ's and checking into a Cable/DSL router from Linksys,..it seems like I can use the Linksys router with the USB output without have to put a nic card into the older machine. From what i've read the router will take on the only address that is reported back to the cable company,..leaving me with two working computers with cable internet service. I was surprised at how inexpensive those routers were and they seem to provide plenty of documentation and support.

Thanks again for the info.

 

[amdskip]

Hmm, what you are doing is confusing somewhat. USB is all fine and dandy but it causes more problems than it's worth running an internet connection through it. Avoid using the usb and buy a cheap network card (office max has a D-link for $5 after MIR this week) and install that in the older computer. It will work in that computer without any problems. Hook the router up via a cat 5 cable to the modem and run 2 cat 5's, one to each computer.

 

[JackMDS]

Any computer with USB and No NIC can be connected to Ethernet using this.

EZ Connect 10/100 - Network adapter - USB

Saves case opening.

Cost a little more, and can do only 11Mb/sec.

 

[Lord Evermore]

Yeah but he doesn't need to buy that if he's getting a Linksys that supports connecting directly to the PC with USB, as well as having the Ethernet LAN jacks in use at the same time. Pretty much the Linksys has that device built into it. I think he's got a workable setup planned, even if it's not the most versatile or high performance.

 

[gsxr944]

Thanks for all the ideas. I do have a connector similar to the one that "jackmds" suggested,..it was provided in the box with the cable modem,..but as otherwise noted if I purchase the Linksys,..it has all the connectivty I would need.