Optimum Online - More Than One Computer?!? Please Help!

[Redking]

I've thought about switching from MegaPath iDSL to Optimum Online, but I read the OOL FAQ and it states that you're only allowed to hook up one computer to their service. However, I've been reading this and other forums and I know other people have been able to setup a network with OOL and have multiple computers simutaneously on the Net.

Can someone explain how to do this? Do I need a certain brand of router/switch/hub? Any advice would be greatly appreciated! If you don't want to reply, email me at redking at visto. All information will be kept confidential

Thanks,
redking

 

[obenton]

As I see it, if you use a hardware router, they're likely to be able to identify it as such from its MAC number. Whether they would make the effort, and whether, then, they would make a fuss, depends on how strictly they enforce the policy. If, however, you use software routing (ICS, NAT32, Sygate, etc.), the MAC number they'd see would belong to the NIC to which the cable modem connects, and there would be no way they can tell how many computers are being routed through your server (as long as they couldn't access your server computer, which you could prevent by unbinding Client for MS Networks and file sharing from the cable modem's NIC - or by using a firewall, which of course you should use anyway).

 

[Redking]

Ok, what's software routing and which software package is the best choice in this situation?

Thanks for the reply obenton.

 

[obenton]

I've tried lots of them, and like NAT32 the best. It's at www.nat32.com - the on-line manual is thorough. Also, people report liking Sygate and Winproxy. You can also use win98SE's and w2k's built-in ICS sharing program - I don't think it's as good as the above-mentioned, but it's free. You'd install the program onto the computer that connects to the internet, and the sharing program would give access to the networked computers.

 

[jhu]

if you have an old 386/486/pentium you're using as a doorstop, you can load lrp (www.linuxrouter.org) on it use it as a gateway. that's what i'm using.

 

[Redking]

jhu,

if I used an old computer, wouldn't it need to have two network cards for it to be used as a gateway?

- redking

 

[jhu]

yes, at least. it's a pretty fun project if you have nothing else to do. in my case it was a bitch to setup 'cuz i had exams coming up. do you have dsl or cable?

 

[Redking]

I have DSL right now, but my friend has Optimum Online cable and wants to setup a network using his cable modem connection. Thus, my original question.