Can I network PCs through a broadband router?

[Spyda]

Can I network PCs through a broadband router, or do i have to get a hub and 2 NICs for each computer?

right, I dont know much about this, but i thought about it, and came to my own conclusion that if i had to get a hub aswell, that i would need to install 2 NICs for evey computer, 1 for internet, 1 for LAN. So I want to know if i can network PCs through a brodband router, namely the draytek routers. www.draytek.co.uk

Thanks

[Confused]

Yes that is the purpose of routers. It's stores the IP address provided by your ISP and assigns it's own IP addresses to each PC connected to it.

Hub - Each PC needs it's own IP address. Can be provided by your ISP or by a router.

Switch - Each PC needs it's own IP address which would be provided by your ISP.

Router - Uses ISP IP address and assigns IP addresses to each PC directly connected to it or connected to it thru a hub.

If you are only talking about 2 to 4 PC's, a 4 port router is all you need.
Chas

[HAL9000]

All you need is the router and one NIC in each machine. The router takes on your ISP settings and appears to them as a single computer. The router then assigns the machines private IP addresses and allows them to be networked to each other while sharing internet from the router. Most routers can handle up to 253 machines, but I somehow doubt you're ever gonna get that many in your home :D;)

[Spyda]

im not just talking about just for internet access here, im talking sharing files and playing games network.
this can be done through the router?

[ZANEY123]

yes...

[Spyda]

cool