Sharing Cable... newbie questions...

[Smokey0066]

okay will be getting cable(att) this sat finally.. after years... !!!

i want to share it with the 4 computers at home. i already have a switch and i am thinking about either getting a router or using my old pc sittin in the corner as a gateway? my buddy said he could help me set it up as he has done with dsl at his house.

I dont really understand some of the stuff they talk about in reviews of routers becausing i'm not that familiar with this stuff right now... what are the pros/cons of router/gateway... which way would work best? one question is how does dynamic/static ips affect these.. i've read that some routers have problems with dynamic is it? i understand the difference where static you get an assigned ip and dynamic is changing each time but i dont understand how this affects a routers and causes problems as mentioned by some people. This is an example of something i'm not sure about.. I dont want to not understand it.. buy it.. then regret doing so because I later learned it actually does pertain to me.

All my boxes run winxp pro right now if that helps. Cat5 is run throughout the house where boxes are... I do occasionally have buddies over for the mini lan parties.. maybe 10 people at most.. so factoring this into the equation what should I know before i go with either choice? I can kinda setup my mini lan here at home so i'm not totally helpless..

Thanks guys.. i can finally leave the world of DIAL-UP... cant wait to drop the service...

 

[CubicZirconia]

I have a linksys router with a dynamic ip address and I havn't had any problems. I wouldn't worry about that. Most are designed to be able to work with dynamic ip's.

 

[JackMDS]

Read the content of the following links:

Basic Options for Internet Connection Sharing

<a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.
anandtech.com/guides/viewfaq.html?i=48">Hubs, routers, switches, DSL, LANs, WANs...?</a>

There are no significant differences between most of the Entry level Cable/DSL Routers.

Conventional Wisdom claims: The Routing Trinity.

1. Netgear RT314
2. Barricade 7004ABR
3. Linksys BEFSR41

(The above are 4 ports, they have also 8 ports version, same reviews apply).

Some Routers have an additional Printer Server, and DialUp Modem input for backup.

As long as you use the Router for regular Internet surfing, and files downloading it really does not matter which Router you buy.

What emerges, as a different between Cable/DSL Routers is Ports opening?

If you do extensive use, of online Gaming or you are running a server, or you use on line services like iRC etc. You need to open additional ports through the Router's Hardware Firewall. You want to make sure that the Router that you buy has the flexibility to do port opening in the way you like it.

List of typical ports use by variety of applications can be found here.

Special Applications - Port List.

I would choose the one that has the features that fit the way you use the Internet (and may be it is on sale).

Table comparing these Routers.

Comparing Cable/DSL Routers.

Link of Courtesy of: TallGeese