[Been Told]

Hi everyone,
I have the following set up:
I have a WinXP Home laptop with an ethernet card and a WinXP/Win98SE PC which I want to connect in such a way that I can go on the internet with both of them at the same time.
I was told that all I would need is an ethernet card for my PC. Then I connect the two computers in a network and adjust the settings in the laptop to use the internet-connection connected to the PC and I´m ready to go.
But some people are telling me I need a router or something like that. Obviously that would cost a bit of money and I would prefer the cheapest sollution. I would not be sharing any files or printers in the network, just the internet connection.

Any opinions on this?

Oh by the way, the internet connection is a cable DSL modem with a USB and an ethernet connection.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Been Told]

I was told not to bother trying to connect one computer to the ethernet port and the other to the usb port, how mean

 

[angel]

The best option is a router. In that case, the modem would plug into the router and each pc would also plug into each router. The router would get an IP from your ISP and the router would provide internal IPs to both of your PCs.

Which PC is the modem currently hooked up to? If hooked up via USB to PC1 then I believe you could network PC2 to PC1 (both need NIC) and then configure PC1 to share the connection via ICS, for example. This is not the best option because PC1 would need to be on at all times for PC2 to connect.

 

[coulterp]

The cheapest would be ICS because you already get that built-in to Windows XP. But it is not the easiest, has loads of disadvantages and no-one in their right mind would advise anyone to take ICS in preference to a router.

I don't know the modem model you have but generally you cannot use the Ethernet port to connect to one PC and the USB to another (in any case the modem cannot share the connection). I would always opt to use the Ethernet port (it's a comms port and designed and built to handle comms and the USB port is not).

As you already have an ADSL modem you just need to find a router with an Ethernet port. There are heaps. You'll get internet connection sharing (and file and printer networking is just there as a given). Each PC you want to connect needs an Ethernet card (or yo can go wireless of course, but if price is an issue then don't bother).

Try for example http://www.kelkoo.co.uk/ to find the cheapest router. Or http://www.dabs.com has routers starting at £25. Something basic will be fine. For that price ICS is just not worth the graft.

 

[Been Told]

Thanks very much for your answers guys. When I decide what to do I'll say it here... in case anyone cares lol. Once again, thanks

 

[redcivic]

You can get a used basic cable/dsl router for like $20.00. Are you really that strapped for cash? Hell I just gave a Linksys BEFVP41 away.

 

[JohnWill]

I recently picked up a Belkin 802.11g wireless router free after rebate. I have purchased several other routers on rebate deals, and never paid more than $20 for them. There's no reason to spend a lot of money on a router, and it's absolutely the best way to share the internet connection!