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[Aggressor 0]

Hello all,

I'm looking at getting an ADSL connection and sharing it with my bro's new pc. We both have 10/100 ethernet cards installed and i was just wondering what else we need, the company offers modem rentals, but they are refurbished and we have the option of using our own modems if we with to do so.

Should we get an ethernet compatible modem? or a usb modem? and do we need a specific type of router or will any one do? and what about cables? which ones do we need?

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Aggressor

[Dannik 43]

For ADSL, you are likely going to use PPPoE (Point to Point Protocol over Ethernet) to connect to your ISP.

In this case, a simple ethernet hub should suffice (but check with your ISP if multiple IP's are allowed), which would allow you to connect standard Cat-5 from each PC to the hub, then uplink the hub to the ADSL modem, and then each computer would use the PPPoE software (or the built in XP client) to connect independantly. The advantage of this situation, is the ability to have distinctly different public IP addresses for any machine on the network, and the incredible simplicity of the setup.

Alternately, a router could be used between the modem and PC's. Your ISP wouldn't even know that you had more than one machine on the LAN, nor would they probably care. This has the advantage of being more secure (allowing you to enable file/print sharing if you wished) but it also will be more expensive, and more complex to set up, especially if you ever want to host or serve any games/applications.

Either way, an ethernet modem is always superior to a USB modem. More bandwidth, and it uses fewer CPU cycles. In fact, if you try using a USB modem with a LAN, you get into aggravating ICS issues. Not a pretty deal.

[NurFACE 0]

This router is what I use with my 3 computers and xbox. I think the setup was easy. The price for this router is very reasonable. http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?...efer=pricewatch

[~NkOgNiTo~ 0]

Alternately, a router could be used between the modem and PC's.  Your ISP wouldn't even know that you had more than one machine on the LAN, nor would they probably care.  This has the advantage of being more secure (allowing you to enable file/print sharing if you wished) but it also will be more expensive, and more complex to set up, especially if you ever want to host or serve any games/applications.

this is how i did it i have 2 comps networked and sometimes 4 when i am having a small LAN, plus it was the best way for me since my ISP would of charged me extra for multiple ip's, not sure why he said this would be the more costly though, of course i have cable not DSL so it may be a lil diff but i got a D-link 4 port router for less than $30 after mail in rebate at office max and i have no complaints, you have to set up your ports for gaming(which is probably y he said more complex) but u can find the ports on the site of the game and its not that difficult, except for some reason i can't open the same ports on both comps, but u only have to set up the ports for hosting not joining, so thats not a prob since one is slower than the other anyway i usually just host on mine. but since you will be sharing the connection with your bro i am sure there will be times that one of u will wanna host and not have to use the other's PC, to change it is simple really since u both will have access to the router settings from your comps u just have to change the internal ip of the comp for which that port is opened for to the other PC and visa versa, but the port thing only being good on one pc may be a product deal, so if u get a diff brand or even a diff model of the dlink u may not have that prob, i have the di-604 and i know there is at least one newer model than that out of the D-link...hope my rambeling helps in some way...

Edited September 5, 2003 by ~NkOgNiTo~

[Specter 0]

The best, safest way to do it is this, I think. It is what I used to recommend to custmoers when I did Tier 4/NOC support for MSN DSL and ATTBI/Comcast Cable.

You will need a DSL modem in your case, and a router. The one in NurFace's post is an excellent choice, and is one of the easiest for setup and best for quality. I HIGHLY recommend this router to you.

Now there are plenty of DSL/modems, and DSL modem/Router combos you can buy, but I would suggest, unless you know what you are doing or unless you have picked one out to buy and verified with your ISP that it will work with their service, that you get one of their refurbished ones. They will be of good quality, and they will most likely warranty it. The reason is this. Some ISP's have funny modem config files, and those config files dont always work on just any DSL modem you would pick out. If you want to buy a new one from a retailer, pick a major brand for one, like Linksys, Dlink, 3Com or Cisco, and call your ISP and see if they support it. This is very important.

Then pick a good 4 port router/switch unless the modem you got is also one. You want a router versus a hub for security. It has a NAT table in it, which, for the layman is a hardware firewall. Very secure. The one mentioned by Nurface is an excellent one, and at a great price. Very simple, easy to do setup also.

I would make sure the Router is Ethernet, not Wireless, as there are all kinds of security risks with wireless routers. Security sucks. For right now, stick with Ethernet. The cables are a very minor inconvenience, if at all.

Any questions, post away.

Good luck ! !

[Aggressor 0]

Thanks for the replies everyone

I found the router that NurFace mentioned here: D-Link

Just one thing...what is an uplink port? and do i need one? the router does not come with one.

Thanks

[Specter 0]

That isnt the router that Nurface mentioned. This one is.

Every router has an uplink port, usually called a WAN port these days.

But either router would be okay, the Linksys being the better one IMO.

[Aggressor 0]

Oops Thanks SOTOPhantm, I meant the one that Nkognito mentioned

Thanks

[Specter 0]

That's cool bro.

But the Linksys is tons easier to set up and understand if you are a newbie.

I have a dlink now. When I had to replace my Linksys, I got the Dlink because of money at the time, and I will be going back to Linksys here very very soon.