sharing a connection

[jai6638]

hey ... i have a optonline cable connection and i have 2 computers ( ones a desktop and the other is a laptop ) .. i wanna know if i can distribute that connectoin between these 2 computers so that i can be connected from both at the same time.... can it be as simple as just buying some kinda plug in which the cable usb would plug in from one and and from the other end which would have 2 sockets from which 2 wires would be going to the respective computers .... im a noob so excuse me if my suggestion is lame
or would i have to setup a LAN network?? If so then how???? ( cant think of wireless as my desktop doesnt have wireless ) ...

btw both computers have win xp home and my modem is a Motorola Surfboard

thanks much

 

[powerMarkymark]

Cheapest way to connect both to internet is to get a PCI NIC card for your desktop.

then run a Cat5 cable from your laptop to the new Nic card.

2nd choice, buy a router.

HTH

Mark

 

[jai6638]

desktop has a nic port too imo so i guess i wont need to buy a pci nic card ...... so all i hav eto do is connect a cat5 cable eh??? But what are settings required on both the desktop and laptop??


thanks

 

[JackMDS]

May be this can Help.
Link to: AnandTech - FAQ. Basic Options for Internet Connection Sharing

Link to: AnandTech - FAQ. Hubs, routers, switches, DSL, LANs, WANs...?

Ignore the prices in the links above. The same or similar hardware can be found for 60%-90% less.

Log to this page it has a lot of links to instructions to Windows Network Setting and Sharing.

Link: Installing & Sharing

Link to: Diagram of Broadband Connection with Cable/DSL Router.

Link to: Basic Protection for Broadband Internet Installation.

:sun:

 

[jai6638]

thing is.. i dont wanna get a router,etc coz this is only gonna be for 1.5 months.. i just wana do the simple thing of installing another NIC ( insternaet connection sharing ) but the prob which is staed in the CONS section of the first link is : Configuration can be a pain ......

Not sure how to go about the configuration thingy



thanks for the links

cheers