Seting up internet connection to 2 computers?

[slickr]

Hi there. I've never had the need to connect 2 computers to a internet so I don't know much about connecting them.

The thing is I have a Cable internet connection on my PC, now i also want to connect my laptop in the other room to the internet.

The question is do i use a router, can i connect them with just making a network connection and connecting my PC to the laptop with network connection or must i purchase a router.

Also if router is required, what kind of router do i purchase, wireless or cable based and which router would serve me good that is cheap yet reliable and easy to configure.



Also what do i need to set up and what kind of cable may i need if i go with cable router?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Billb2]

You can get a router that is both wired and wireless. Most people set up a lappy as wireless (after all, you don't want to tether it to a cable do you?). If your lappy isn't wireless, you'll have to add a wireless card or wireless USB device to it.

Since anyone within range of you wireless network can use it, you will need to secure it. That's the disadvantage of wireless. The instruction on how to do that will be included with the router.

You'll probably find Linksys to be the best brand for a beginner.

You might want to read up a little on wireless security first though. WEP encryption, WAP encryption and MAC address filtering.

 

[Lemon law]

I think Billb2 has about covered the issues, if you want to go with a router.

But ICS could basically work in the two computer situation also, but if your cable modem connects to your desk top PC via an ethernet connection rather than USB, you would need a two ethernet ports on your desk top, and as Billb2 points out, it would tether your lap top to a crossover cable that may be hard to wire in another room. And a good wireless router may be about equivalent in price if you compare it with the cost of a long crossover cable plus an add in Network interface card.

You might be able to get away without any wireless encryption if you live on some big estate, more than 300 feet from your nearest neighbor or the nearest public road, other wise, any Tom, Dick, or Harry can join your network, use it like a public wifi hotspot, and worse yet, gain access to your computers.

Computer networking has great benefits, but it also has its learning curve. Doing your research before you spend your money pays.

http://www.practicallynetworked.com/ Is one such place, but by no means the only good website.

 

[JackMDS]

What you set should look like this, http://www.ezlan.net/network/router.jpg

Wireless Router recommendation.

For light use, http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16833156038

Otherwise, Buffalo WHR-HP-G54 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16833162134

If your Internet connection is based on Cable Internet you should Read this as well.

How to Fix Cable/DSL Internet authentication (password) - http://www.ezlan.net/broadband.html

As for Wireless security,

From the weakest to the strongest, Wireless security capacity is.

No Security
Switching Off SSID (same has No Security. SSID can be easily sniffed even if it is Off)
MAC Filtering______(Band Aid if nothing else is available, MAC number can be easily Spoofed).
WEP64____(Easy, to "Break" by knowledgeable people).
WEP128___(A little Harder, but "Hackable" too).
-------------------
The three above are Not considered safe.
Safe Starts here at WPA.
-------------------

WPA-PSK__(Very Hard to Break).
WPA-AES__(Not functionally Breakable)
WPA2____ (Not functionally Breakable).

Note 1: WPA-AES the the current entry level rendition of WPA2.

Note 2: If you use WinXP bellow SP3 and did not updated it, you would have to download the WPA2 patch from Microsoft. <http://support.microsoft.com/kb/893357>

The documentation of your Wireless devices (Wireless Router, and Wireless Computer's Card) should state the type of security that is available with your Wireless hardware.

All devices MUST be set to the same security level using the same pass phrase.

Therefore the security must be set according what ever is the best possible of one of the Wireless devices.

I.e. even if most of your system might be capable to be configured to the max. with WPA2, but one device is only capable to be configured to max . of WEP, to whole system must be configured to WEP.

If you need more good security and one device (like a Wireless card that can do WEP only) is holding better security for the whole Network, replace the device with a better one.

Setting Wireless Security - <http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Security.html>

It looks scary but it is not the whole thing should not take more than 30Min to set up.

 

[slickr]

WOW thanks a lot, I have a lot better understanding now, even though I can't really decide between wireless or cable router still.
For all the hustles the wireless has, I feel its better to just spread the cable everywhere, as if i don't have at least 2 cables going around my room anyways!

 

[Billb2]

Go wireless, you'll not regret it.