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two computers sharing the internet with a switch?

M

MIDIman

Diamond Member
EDIT - gave up on using both connections on the modem...see my second post below. Just trying to get two PCs using the same internet connection now, over a switch that has an uplink port. Thanks for the replies!!!

Both machines are WinXP

I have a switch - it has an uplink port, which takes over port1. I plugged the old PC into port2. Its online fine (typing from it)

Plugged in new computer into port3. It registers in WinXP that it has detected a connection, so the network card is definitely fine.

So how should go about setting up the second PC? I'd prefer this over installing a second network card in the first PC.



<...this is old--->
Hi all - getting a second computer online, and would like to temporarily just use its USB connection for getting online until I get an ethernet card installed. I have two machines. The modem I got from comcast has connections for ethernet and usb. I installed the USB driver for WinXP, installed fine and everything, but it won't get online. It is definitely allocating an IP address. TCP/IP is enabled - everything is setup to detect IP, etc. always on LAN, etc.

So can I have a computer connected to each port, or is this something from comcast not allowing that?
</...this is old>
 
You probably won't be able to get it to use both at the same time, i know my ISP (ntlworld in the UK) won't allow that.


Confused
 
go into the main pc and type into ms dos

ipconfig/all
copy down the dNS servers ip

go to the second broke pc and type in thoses dns addy in the ip config thing for the networ card and try the net now.
 
It should work fine but I know very little of networking. Right now I do have my laptop and my main rig connected to the same modem and they both work at the same time. The lappy is connected via USB and my rig via ethernet. Only thing is I can't transfer data between the two or atleast I don't know how to.
 
Gave up - Found a new network card in the house and installed it.

Both machines are WinXP

I have a switch - it has an uplink port, which takes over port1. I plugged the old PC into port2. Its online fine (typing from it)

Plugged in new computer into port3. It registers in WinXP that it has detected a connection, so the network card is definitely fine.

So how should go about setting up the second PC? I'd prefer this over installing a second network card in the first PC.


Originally posted by: Twista
go into the main pc and type into ms dos
ipconfig/all
copy down the dNS servers ip
go to the second broke pc and type in thoses dns addy in the ip config thing for the networ card and try the net now.
Click to expand...

Tried this - it gave me an error saying that the IP selected is already in use, please choose another (which of course it is being used by my first PC)

Anything else?
 
Some ISP's let you request more than 1 IP at a time others do not, you can hook the internet to one network em together and use internet sharing or buy a router.
 
Unless your ISP gives out more than one IP address (most don't), your choices are to install a 2nd NIC in one machine and use Windows Internet Connection Sharing or purchase a DSL/Cable router and share it that way.
 
Originally posted by: bozo1
Unless your ISP gives out more than one IP address (most don't), your choices are to install a 2nd NIC in one machine and use Windows Internet Connection Sharing or purchase a DSL/Cable router and share it that way.
Click to expand...

So, just so I understand, the uplink port on the switch doesn't work the same way as a router? I can't have that connection shared between two computers?

Just didn't want to have to install a 2nd network card on either computer...
 
So, just so I understand, the uplink port on the switch doesn't work the same way as a router? I can't have that connection shared between two computers?
Just didn't want to have to install a 2nd network card on either computer...
Click to expand...


No one answered this last question - is that a no can do then?
 
Just one more note about this - I wanted to mention that I have an older DLink DSS-5+ switch. There is a port on it labelled "uplink" and it takes over port1, allowing you to still connect up to four computers.

I have the internet connection coming in on uplink, and with my main computer on port2, everything works fine. The question of the day is, how can I get the other three ports to share this internet connection without asking my ISP for another IP (which I'm sure they'll charge extra for)?

Also note, using Comcast Cable.
 
Nope, the uplink doesn't work in the same way as a router does. Uplink ports will allow you to connect to another switch/hub by using a patch lead rather than needing a cross-over.

To get the internet to be shared, you will need a NAT router, or a PC with another network card running ICS.

You say you don't want 2 network cards in 1 PC, but why not use the cable modem on USB, and share that onto the NIC. That way you won't have to open up the first PC. But without getting another IP address from your ISP (if they will do that, and even if they do you'll have to pay) you can only do ICS or get a router.


Confused
 
Originally posted by: Confused

You say you don't want 2 network cards in 1 PC, but why not use the cable modem on USB, and share that onto the NIC. That way you won't have to open up the first PC. But without getting another IP address from your ISP (if they will do that, and even if they do you'll have to pay) you can only do ICS or get a router.
Click to expand...

thx for the reply...i suppose i couldn't get the USB driver/connection to work, but that's probably because i tried to do both the USB and ethernet out of the modem at the same time, which i suppose it may not be able to do. might try that again without the ethernet plugged in, and only the usb.


1) so if i do that - would i need a crossover cable out of the ethernet card of the computer that has the USB modem connection plugged in, or can i have both computers connect to the switch vai normal cables and share the internet there via ICS?

2) i suppose what's keeping my questioning is i don't understand why the main computer in port2 was able to detect the connection coming into the swich's uplink port, but none of the others can.
 
You'll want the following setup 🙂

Modem
|
| (USB)
|
Computer 1
|
| (Cat5 straight)
|____
|____| (Switch)
| |
| | (Cat5 straight)
| |
P P
C C
2 3 and so on

You won't need to worry about uplink, as uplink is only for "like-like", is PC-PC or Switch-Switch.

As for why the main PC was working when plugged into the hub, that was more than likely the first PC to be connected, and therefore the first to request an IP. You would have found that whatever port you put it into, it would have worked, providing it was the first computer plugged in, and any computer plugged into the hub afterwards wouldn't have been able to connect.


Confused
 
thanks a bunch confused! will plug everything up tonight...<crossing fingers>...i just hope there's no a huge performance loss from going through the USB.
 
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