DSL Questions

[RobH]

DSL is available in my area-before I bite on the hook,had some questions:
1.would it be better to network my computers OR use a switchbox-the switchbox would be an easy out seeing the modem is USB .Either would be ok by me.
2.I really build and upgrade quite a few systems-as a hobby-would my dialup be knocked out??I need dialup for the laptop (my fiance uses it throughout the house) and for the puters I work on.For some reason or other I think the dialup will go south-could just be parinoia??TIA

[Confused]

DSL will not affect your dial modems (your phone still works with DSL). DSL uses a seperate pair coming to your house. I would use a router rather than a switch. Your modem will probably have both USB and RJ45. I would use RJ45 and not USB. So it would hook up like this;

DSL modem with a CAT5 straight thru cable from modem to router. Then straight thru CAT5 ethernet cables from each PC to the router. Each PC would also have a NIC. Router gives firewall protection that switch does not and only requires 1 IP address whereas a switch requires IP addresses for each PC.
Chas

[SARGE]

Confused, that's my setup per glc's recommendations. I too had a switch between 2 pc's and was wondering how to do the modem and network 3 pc's. A router, at glc's insistence, proved the easiest & most efficient method. What gets me is all 3 can be on the Net at once and wifey talking on the phone. Router makes it nice.

[RobH]

What router did you use?Also I do some work on a forum on AOL,how is that going to work with AOL-the IP address is always different??

[SARGE]

Linksy's router. The IP address should change regularly, depending on ISP and if router/dsl left on 24/7. The router has its own IP address, fixed, so that's the one the ISP sees. The pc's behind it have their own. With AOL, though, anything is possible.

[Werewolfdaddy]

My friends I I play rogue spear on the net all the time. If any of you do, then you would know me as Werewolfdaddy - ST. Anyway, we used a Linksys 4 port hub and an 8 port switch to get on line. We had as many as 11 people on the net on our end. Lan days were rowdy. I stick by linksys. They put out a good product. I have a KTI switch at home and it works fine, but I have never been able to put it to the test with the internet, because I have dial up 56k. Well, actually I have tested it one time. I also play Diablo II. What I would do is throw up a game on the lan. Everyone on the lan would connect. Then I would alt-tab to the desk top and connect to the internet. I would check my winipcfg and get the ppp address, and then icq it to a friend. He would come in through the internet, but lag was bad for him most of the time.

[Confused]

Rob I use the SMC 7004R Barricade. Other good ones are Linksys, Netgear and D-Link, with SMC and Linksys on my short list. Your DSL provider will provide a IP address. Use it to get one PC up and running, then install the router. Basically what happens is that you transfer the IP address provided by your DSL provider to the router, and set you PC's to obtain IP address automatically and the router assigns addresses to the PC's. SMC instructions were very clear and easy to follow. Took me about 5 minutes the first time I did it. Others have stated that Linksys instructions were clear and easy to follow also.

This shouldn't have any bearing on AOL unless they are the DSL provider (I would think your local telco would be the provider). If AOL is the provider, I don't know as I have no experience with AOL. But if you are getting DSL, and the provider is you local telco, this would be a good time to ditch AOL anyway.

Chas

[Blakhart]

You may get a dsl modem/router combo.
Then feed it to a switch and enjoy.