Suggestions for my network plz

[1sikbITCH]

First off, thanks for any help you may have.

Specs= 2 PC's, both Win2000, connected to a D-link router, which is connected to a DSL modem. One is behind the router firewall, the other is in the DMZ.
That means the one (my wife's) has connection issues when it comes to simultaneous web browsing, file transfers, icq, irc, winMX, etc. She has decided she wants to chat in IRC while trading music while browsing the forums. We both require full access.
So, unless I can solve the router problem I have decided to either upgrade my pc and make it the gateway or just build a separate server and both connect to it. Since we only have 2 pc's it doesn't seem necessary to build a server. I think if I max out the memory and jump to a P3 1.2 or something it will be good to go. I play Unreal Tournament religiously and it's kind of cpu intensive. I don't want to take away from my game I would go to P4 but don't have the cash for a mobo, cpu, and a bunch of DDR ram. If I was gonna do that, I think I would instead just build a cheapo server good enough to get us online.
So, I guess the question is, is there a way to fix this with the router; or if not, would it be better to build a cheap server or just upgrade my pc and put Raspppoe back on it and run the other pc thru mine?

 

[spidey07]

Why not just get two IP addresses from your provider?

 

[1sikbITCH]

Wow!!! I feel kind of.... dumb I'm going to check it out, thx.

 

[spidey07]

just a suggestion. Some applications just don't like NAT. So if NAT is causing you problems then get rid of it. I'm not so sure that it is, but that's what it sounds like.

 

[1sikbITCH]

Ok I did some checking and I should have known this already. I have a dynamic IP and they won't give me 2 of them. My ISP (Earthlink) does have a different service- Static IP DSL, and will give you extra static IP's but 2 IP's cost $80 a month and isn't even available in my area yet.
I'm guessing NAT means the router and I am resigned to getting rid of it but not sure whether to upgrade my pc to be the gateway or build a whole other server. So I am looking for opinions as to which will serve me better I guess.

 

[Kadarin]

Here's a shot in the dark: Try to find out exactly which applications are not working through NAT, and see if perhaps either those applications have useable workarounds, or if perhaps the router manufacturer has a firmware update designed to address the problem. Good luck!