two computers - one cable modem, no router

Aharami

Lifer
Aug 31, 2001
21,205
165
106
ok so the 2nd comp is a work laptop that I bring home once in a while (like today...working from home). I dont bring this laptop home enough to justify buying an expensive router. are there any other options where i can have my desktop and laptop hooked up to the net at once without going the route of a router?

asking cuz i would like to do all my surfing from my desktop...cant stand this laptop display and keyboard
 

clamum

Lifer
Feb 13, 2003
26,256
406
126
IIRC you can put two NICs in your home computer and run the cable modem to one, and connect your home and laptop with the other one.
 

Ime

Diamond Member
May 3, 2001
3,661
0
76
Expensive???

You can get routers that as cheap as switches, cheaper even.

I got a wireless D-Link router for $19.99 AR.
 

desteffy

Golden Member
Jul 16, 2004
1,911
0
0
Originally posted by: Aharami
I dont bring this laptop home enough to justify buying an expensive router.

I dont know what you call expensive, but why dont you keep your eye on the hot deals forum, You can often get routers for $10 or even Free AR.
 

Aharami

Lifer
Aug 31, 2001
21,205
165
106
Originally posted by: clamum
IIRC you can put two NICs in your home computer and run the cable modem to one, and connect your home and laptop with the other one.

you mean run one ethernet cable from cable modem to onboard lan in desktop. and have another cable run from secondary (PCI slot) NIC to onbord lan of desktop??

will that even work?
 

Qwest

Diamond Member
Jan 21, 2001
3,169
0
0
Originally posted by: clamum
IIRC you can put two NICs in your home computer and run the cable modem to one, and connect your home and laptop with the other one.

for the laptop to the 2nd NIC, you need a crossover cable.

i'm sure you could score a free router in hot deals.
they are pretty cheap now.

 

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,580
982
126
Originally posted by: BigJ
Internet Connection Sharing

I've found this to be tricky to set up. I'd recommend going the hardware route.

I have a wireless router at home and couldn't be happier with it.
 

n0cmonkey

Elite Member
Jun 10, 2001
42,936
1
0
WRONG FORUM
Routers are cheap.
There are more reasons to have a router than to hook up multiple computers to a network connection.
WRONG FORUM.
 

RossMAN

Grand Nagus
Feb 24, 2000
79,006
430
136
Originally posted by: Ime
Expensive???

You can get routers that as cheap as switches, cheaper even.

I got a wireless D-Link router for $19.99 AR.

Wireless routers (which have 4 ethernet wired ports) cost $20 after rebate.

IMHO that's not expensive.
 

BigJ

Lifer
Nov 18, 2001
21,330
1
81
Originally posted by: Aharami
Originally posted by: clamum
IIRC you can put two NICs in your home computer and run the cable modem to one, and connect your home and laptop with the other one.

you mean run one ethernet cable from cable modem to onboard lan in desktop. and have another cable run from secondary (PCI slot) NIC to onbord lan of desktop??

will that even work?

Yes it will. You have to use ICS for it to work properly though on Windows and use a crossover cable between computers.

Just spend $10 on a router.
 

Aharami

Lifer
Aug 31, 2001
21,205
165
106
Originally posted by: desteffy
Originally posted by: Aharami
I dont bring this laptop home enough to justify buying an expensive router.

I dont know what you call expensive, but why dont you keep your eye on the hot deals forum, You can often get routers for $10 or even Free AR.

wow...i havent kept up with prices. last i checked routers were $40 after rebates
 

Rogue

Banned
Jan 28, 2000
5,774
0
0
Originally posted by: Aharami
Originally posted by: clamum
IIRC you can put two NICs in your home computer and run the cable modem to one, and connect your home and laptop with the other one.

you mean run one ethernet cable from cable modem to onboard lan in desktop. and have another cable run from secondary (PCI slot) NIC to onbord lan of desktop??

will that even work?

Yes, that's exactly right. It works like a charm. Share the network connection and you're good to go.
 

Pepsi90919

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
25,162
1
81
Originally posted by: Aharami
ok so the 2nd comp is a work laptop that I bring home once in a while (like today...working from home). I dont bring this laptop home enough to justify buying an expensive router. are there any other options where i can have my desktop and laptop hooked up to the net at once without going the route of a router?

asking cuz i would like to do all my surfing from my desktop...cant stand this laptop display and keyboard

so MAKE a router.
 

Anonemous

Diamond Member
May 19, 2003
7,361
1
71
Originally posted by: BigJ
Originally posted by: Aharami
Originally posted by: clamum
IIRC you can put two NICs in your home computer and run the cable modem to one, and connect your home and laptop with the other one.

you mean run one ethernet cable from cable modem to onboard lan in desktop. and have another cable run from secondary (PCI slot) NIC to onbord lan of desktop??

will that even work?

Yes it will. You have to use ICS for it to work properly though on Windows and use a crossover cable between computers.

Just spend $10 on a router.

yup just google ICS
 

Kelemvor

Lifer
May 23, 2002
16,928
8
81
ICS is lame. THen you have to have both computers on for the second one to be online. Just get a router.
 

PanzerIV

Diamond Member
Dec 19, 2002
6,875
1
0
One more vote for getting a cheap router. It's simply not worth the hassle of setting things up without one. Your network can be up and running in minutes.
 

Elbryn

Golden Member
Sep 30, 2000
1,213
0
0
if your cable company gives you more than 1 ip address just get a cheapo hub/switch. plug cable modem into uplink port and other two wherever. set both to dhcp and you'll be fine
 

clamum

Lifer
Feb 13, 2003
26,256
406
126
Originally posted by: Aharami
Originally posted by: clamum
IIRC you can put two NICs in your home computer and run the cable modem to one, and connect your home and laptop with the other one.

you mean run one ethernet cable from cable modem to onboard lan in desktop. and have another cable run from secondary (PCI slot) NIC to onbord lan of desktop??

will that even work?

Yeah it works, my brother and I used to do that at our house before we got a hub. Just have to use Internet Connection Sharing. Like others have said though, you can get a good deal on a router.

EDIT: We never used a crossover cable either
 

DougK62

Diamond Member
Mar 28, 2001
8,035
6
81
Why don't you have a router already? I always advise people with cable/DSL to get one - even if they only have one computer. It provides security and easy expansion for later.

 

NathanBWF

Golden Member
May 29, 2003
1,810
0
0
Wrong forum.

But anyway, why don't you just spend like $30 at Bestbuy and pick up a cheapo router. It will do the trick. If your ISP gives you more than one IP you could even spend less and get a small 4 port hub. If you desktop has 2 nics in it you could setup Windows Internet Connection Sharing...
 

tm37

Lifer
Jan 24, 2001
12,436
1
0
Originally posted by: Elbryn
if your cable company gives you more than 1 ip address just get a cheapo hub/switch. plug cable modem into uplink port and other two wherever. set both to dhcp and you'll be fine

But really a router is only a few dollars more than a switch unless you need 30 some odd ports.

Also you get the hardware firewall and NAT Easier to do the Router and if you need to spend $$ spend a Few more $$$ to do it right and also post in the correct forum.