Nat32, Networking, and DSL. plz help

[Xenon14]

I'm attempting to split my DSL connection amongst 2 computers. But when I plug in my DSL into the hub, and the other to computers into the hub, my main comp doesn't detect the DSL, and can't dial up to the internet. Does that mean I need the dsl to be directly connected to my main computer, and have a second ethernet card on the main computer linked to the hub?

 

[jcmkk]

Most DSL providers give you a dynamic IP address. This means that it can be changed at any time by the phone company. Normally with a dynamic IP address you only get one IP address. So in other words you can only run one computer at a time off that IP address. There is a way you can hook up multiple pcs to the same IP address though. You will need to either buy a router, or use one of you pcs as a router. The router will connect to the internet with the one IP address then assign each of the other pcs connected to it their own local IP address. You may want to go to the networking forum to get more information about this. Oh yeah a router costs about $100 right now and if you use your pc as a router you will have to leave it on whenever you want to connect to the internet with another pc.

 

[Xenon14]

That's what i'm attempting to do (to make my main computer a router). But the problem I'm facing, is when I connect my modem to the hub, my main computer no longer detects the modem(dsl) and therefore I can't connect

 

[MrGrim]

You can't plug your internet connection to a normal hub/switch. You need a router for that.

 

[homaryu]

Need crossover cable from dsl to Hub/Switch.

If your provider gives two ip's just pull them.

If you only get one IP--you'll need to run ICS(server) with one of the computers and the other being an client. The server needs to NIC's.

 

[Homer]

The advice you're getting is correct - you need a router, not a regular hub/switch. What you're wondering, about plugging your modem into the NIC on your 'main' computer, then sharing that out through a second NIC to your hub and from there to one or more computers, that is also quite possible. I've been doing this for years now with NAT32, except I'm using an old slow computer with a NIC and a modem, which sits in the cellar and never gets rebooted (W98, runs for months on end). Using your main computer with two NICs is quite reasonable, the NAT process uses very little resources, won't slow things down (much). With most current OS's you really shouldn't need NAT32 - Windows from 98SE onwards will do Internet Connection Sharing (ICS). Do remember, with whichever route you take, that you will need a firewall.