HOWTO setup a home network?

[OneEyedPete]

I just moved into a house up at Ohio State with 7 people. We are trying to come up with the most afordable way to share a DSL/cable connection.

Here are my options has I understand them:

1. Setup a computer with two network cards. One of the cards is hooked up to the cable/dsl modem, the other goes to a hub/switch the rest of the computers are hooked up to.

Advantage: The computer with the incomming dsl/cable connection can take care of the sharring of one IP address.

Problems: The computer with the incomming dsl/cable connection has to always be on, and I am unfamiliar with how to properly setup win2000 server to handle the sharring of one connection.

2. Buy a fancy router that takes care of all the above.

Advantage: The most robust option.
Problems: Upfront expense.

3. Buy additional IP address. This allows everything to be plugged into a hub/switch.

Advantage: Easiest to setup.
Problems: Expense.

Also is DSL a good thing? All I hear is people complaining about its reliability, etc..

Thanks

 

[warlord]

just one quick note, if you buy an additional ip addy, that will only allow 2 machines to access the internet. you need to have 1ip/computer if you want to do it that way. other than that you basically have the right ideas.

DSL is a good thing, and since thats the only q you really asked, thats all I can say.

good luck.

 

[andri]

Get a oldie 486, put 2 NIC cards in it and let Linux do all the dirty work. Some distributions, like Linux Router Project, don't even require a hard drive... just boot up from a floppy, type in a few commands and forget about the box.

 

[cycloscott]

Pick up a Linksys router for ~$120 from buy.com (factoring in coupons) to handle the incoming connection. That gives you 4 ports out. Tack an additional 4 port hub (I'm guessing about $30) into one of the Linksys ports to give you a total of 7 ports out.

One IP, 7 ports, $150. And let the Deathmatches commence.

 

[BCYL]

Just a note:

You do not need Win2k Server to share the connection. Win98SE and newer windows have ICS built-in, so no need for win2k Server...

You can always get some 3rd party ICS software if you don't like Windows ICS too...

 

[db]

oldie 486 here $48 + s/h.

 

[Diatomic]

If you go the old 486 router route then you should check out FreeSco and Coyote Linux.

Ben

 

[Wik]

I never tried the Linux route you guys are talking about. Does this work good, do you have to know what ports need to be forwarded to make certain apps to work? If this is easy enough to do I have several p133 and p166 machines that are just collecting dust at this time.