Right solution?

[rky60]

We're in a small office building, maybe 4 small companies, 2 or 3 rooms each. I of course have a connection in my office, but the office next door to mine does not. There is only one CAT5 runnin upstairs (to me). Can I put a another NIC in my machine, then run CAT5 to the other office to give that machine connectivity? ICS...

I realize it would be simplier to run off the router downstairs, but I think it's maxed out. Plus I have a few NIC's layin around at home along with enough CAT5 to span the distance (like 25 feet)

Probably the only solution, besides buyin more hardware (switch/hub/whatever) Simplier I would think with the ICS

 

[JackMDS]

Adding ICS adds a second NAT to the system. I would not do it in an office system.

Get a sub $10 Switch/Hub. Plug the cable that comes to your computer to the Switch/Hub?s Uplink port. Plug your computer to the Switch, add a cable and plug the extra computer to the Switch as well.

All Done. :sun:

 

[javiert99]

If your machine is not acting as the gateway machine, (ie, the machine is not attached directly to the DSL or Cable modem, no idea what you have), ICS will not do the trick.

Wired routers are so cheap these days you should really just replace the one you have, or add a switch next to the router to expand the port, then connect that computer to the switch. It's a pretty easy solution IMO.

Hell, you could even connect your office's CAT5 line to a switch and just split off from there, probably be even less work than pulling the line from downstairs.

 

[rky60]

Thanks for the input folks, will pickup a cheap switch/hub

 

[HKSturboKID]

also keep in mind that if you use your machine for ICS, it will slow the performance of your machine and it open your machine to attacks.

 

[rky60]

Well I told the boss what to buy, even gave him the part number. He came back with a router. This won't work will it?

2 routers now, can they be configured anyway?

 

[Carp1812]

Log in to the router's config setup and disable DHCP settings. Then, connect the cat5 coming up from below to the uplink port of your router (NOT the WAN port). Then connect your computer and the one next door to LAN ports on the router. It will now function as a switch. If there is no uplink port (and if the router doesn't have auto-sensing ports) then you will need to use a crossover cable to connect to the existing cable.