sharing internet between two computers.

[citercian{007}monk]

i just built my first computer and i was wondering how i would share the internet of my older one with my new one. if possible i would like to do it wirelessly, but it looks pretty expensive. i've tried researching on this topic but i haven't found anything i can understand. :o any help would be greatly appreciated. ;)

[Gizmo]

Best way of doing this would to grab yourself a decent router (like we did). It's up to you if you wanna go wireless, I personally don't really prefer wireless since I've heard more bad things than good about that method.

Get yourself a nice router, not a linksys, they're not so good, glc can tell you that. Then, you can either get a cross-over cable, which goes into the back of each of computer's NIC or grab an ethernet cable (like we did) and run it from one computer and to the back of the router.

I say cross-over cable or ethernet because:-

If you get a cross-over cable, one computer has to be on for the other to get connected.

If you get an ethernet cable, you can get connected regardless of whether the other computer is on or not.

Hope that helps.

[citercian{007}monk]

what are some nice routers? so, if i got a router and an ethernet cable. i would hook the new computer with the ethernet cable up to the old computer with the router?

anybody know about wireless?

[Gizmo]

I have a Speedtouch 545i, which is a combination of a router and a modem. It's pretty good.

This is how it's done:-

Computer 1 <-----------> Router <------------> Computer2

<-------------> = ethernet cable

For a router setup with a seperate modem, assuming you're going with DSL, you need to put the DSL phone line filter into the phone jack in the wall, then connect the DSL wire coming from the modem into the filter. Then, connect the modem into the back of the router into the plug marked "DSL". You then grab one of the cables that came with the router package and plug it into the back of ONE of the computers and then plug the other end of the same cable into the first socket in the back of the router. You then grab your ethernet cable (RJ45 I think) and plug it into the appropriate socket in the back of the router and then run the other end to the other computer that isn't connected up yet, you plug it into the ethernet port on the back of the computer.

Hopefully that makes sense to you lol :p Someone will come into this thread and tell me off for giving out the wrong directions, so I'll soon know if I went wrong somewhere. :D

[citercian{007}monk]

Computer 1 <-----------> Router <------------> Computer2

<-------------> = ethernet cable

For a router setup with a seperate modem, assuming you're going with DSL, you need to put the DSL phone line filter into the phone jack in the wall, then connect the DSL wire coming from the modem into the filter. Then, connect the modem into the back of the router into the plug marked "DSL". You then grab one of the cables that came with the router package and plug it into the back of ONE of the computers and then plug the other end of the same cable into the first socket in the back of the router. You then grab your ethernet cable (RJ45 I think) and plug it into the appropriate socket in the back of the router and then run the other end to the other computer that isn't connected up yet, you plug it into the ethernet port on the back of the computer.

Hopefully that makes sense to you lol :p Someone will come into this thread and tell me off for giving out the wrong directions, so I'll soon know if I went wrong somewhere. :D


this kind of makes sense, but what i want to know is if there is a way to share only internet and nothing else. because i dont want files that i dont use on my computer

[Gizmo]

You won't get any files you don't want on your computer when you do the ethernet connection method. Unless of course you want to share files between the two computers, I think this can only be done via a cross-over cable between two NIC's. Very well done with the first build btw :D

[doctorgonzo]

Unless of course you want to share files between the two computers, I think this can only be done via a cross-over cable between two NIC's. Very well done with the first build btw :D

You can also share files through a router. It doesn't have to be a cross-over cable. But you have to turn on file sharing to actually share files. Unless you turn it on, if you use a router you will only be sharing Internet access.

[Gizmo]

Thanks doctorgonzo, I was thinking about editing my post to say that. :D

[citercian{007}monk]

ok, so if i connect both computers with ethernet cables and a router i would only share the internet? (just to get it straight):D also, if i were to go wireless, i would need a wireless router for both computers right?

[Loser1769]

I'm in a simillar situation as citercian{007}monk and I was about to buy a linksys, this is the first I herd about them being "not so good", since my franchise(RoadRunner NYC) does not allow user owned modems the "Speedtouch 545i" is out of the question. What router should I get?

[citercian{007}monk]

also one last question. will i need a special card to go in my computer?

[Loser1769]

also one last question. will i need a special card to go in my computer?
you'll need an ethernet port, most newer motherboards have them built in, if your computer doesn't have one you'll need to buy an network card, there around 10-15 bucks.

[citercian{007}monk]

is the ethernet port the rj45 one?

[Loser1769]

is the ethernet port the rj45 one?
it would looks like this http://images10.newegg.com/productimage/33-129-205-02.JPG

[doctorgonzo]

You would need wireless networking cards in each PC. Just one wireless router.

The Ethernet port has RJ45 connectors, yes.

[Redfallon]

You would need wireless networking cards in each PC. Just one wireless router.

The Ethernet port has RJ45 connectors, yes.

You don't *need* wireless NICs for each PC, just a wireless NIC for one of them. The other can be hardwired into the router via an ethernet cable if the router and internet connection are located near one of the computers (highly likely!)

[citercian{007}monk]

ok, i'm finally getting ready to network my two computers. i have dsl and one the modem is next to one of the computers. i want to do wireless so this is how i think it goes, tell me if i'm wrong. for my old pc (pc #1) which has the modem nest to it. i can hardwire the router with an ethernet cable into pc#1. then for the new pc (#2) i get an nic card and put it in the pc?

[glc]

Modem into wireless router. PC#1 connected to a switch port on the router with a CAT5 cable, standard RJ-45 NIC required. Wireless NIC in PC#2.

[citercian{007}monk]

so i need an networking card for both computers? i thought i could just hardwire the computer next to the modem into the router so didn't have to get to nic's.

[glc]

If the computer has an onboard network adapter with a RJ-45 jack, you don't need to install a nic.