Installing Cable/Router questions

[LawyerRon]

I’m switching over to cable from dial up in a few days and I’m looking at a Netgear 4 port Router at Best Buy for $69.95 after rebate. Is this router ok?

I’m going to do a self-install (I get a free month’s service for doing so). We have a LAN set up at home so I assume I will replace my hub (with our 4 computers connected) with the Router. After installing the router I’m kinda lost as to what happens next. Is it just a matter of changing some settings at this point? What do I do next? With the Router, I don’t need ICS, right?

[HAL9000]

Right. You will configure all of your machines to DHCP so that they get their IP address from the router. You will use a browser to log into the router by typing in it's IP address (it will be stated in the manual). Once you are logged in, you will put in all of your ISP settings there instead of on the computer.

[KuhnDog]

Some More Questions.

My family also is almost ready to purchase a router. I think I have a basic Idea of them but I could be total wrong. Ive heard that the router acts like a switch which switches between the computer very fast and very often. Is this right at all? Even If it is I would be glad to hear more about the whole process. If you'd like to share please do.

Thanks
:::KuhnDog

[HAL9000]

Pretty well all routers that I have ever seen are also a switch. The function of a router and a switch are two separate things. A switch is an over glorified hub which allows direct connections between two machines instead of broadcasting to all machines. The function of the router is to take your single internet connection and split it to multiple computers as needed.

[LawyerRon]

Thanks for the info Hal.

KuhnDog,
If you get the type of router like I bought (with a 4 port switch) you don't need a hub as the router/switch will allow you to share an internet connection and also share files between the computers connected to the router.

Regarding the difference between a hub and a switch:
PCMech member bob once explained the difference between a hub and a switch is that a hub divides bandwith and a switch multiplies it.

[KuhnDog]

Thanks

One more things. you said you can share files. is there a way for you not to share your files. My mom doesnt always know whats going on (kind computer-iliterate) and erases my c++ programs. I would just like to know.

Thanks
::KuhnDog

[LawyerRon]

Yeah, just don't set up your computer to share. That's a setting that's available. In other words, you can share your entire hard drive, your printer, or you can share a folder, or you can share nothing.

[KuhnDog]

Awsome! Yeah I will need to be able to share a printer unless I wanted to put all my documents on a disk and transfer them. Is that a hard process?

::KuhnDog

[HAL9000]

Many of the routers are including a print server on them now. The SMC Barricade and the latest Linksys have one. This will allow you to share a printer with all of the machines without dedicating one machine that is required to be on for printing. This way, nothing needs to be shared between machines.

[LawyerRon]

More questions:
The Adelphia “Self Install Kit” comes with an installation cd. Should I use this or should I set up everything manually? Also, should I set the system up with the Router from the get-go, or should I get things working on my computer first, then install the other 3 computers with the Router?

[HAL9000]

If you have all of the network settings, you won't need the software. Just put it all into the router and go.

[LawyerRon]

Quote by Hal: “You will configure all of your machines to DHCP so that they get their IP address from the router.”

Hal, I need the basics. How do I do that? I don’t know anything about DHCP.

[RayCom]

If you use router that has printer sharing can you use the printer if it is connected to another pc and do you have to have a network printer or will any printer work? Thanx,

RayCom

[KuhnDog]

Thanks everyone. Thanks for the thorough answers and all your help.

::KuhnDog

[LawyerRon]

OK, I'm finally on line with the cable modem. The main office had to set up my cable modem (MAC address) on the server. I'm going to set up the router next to share the other 3 computers. Get ready for more questions!

[LawyerRon]

OK, just plugged everything into the router and everything works fine. Everyone's online. Thanks all!

[KuhnDog]

Hooray!

Happy Computing

::KuhnDog

[Pretyblkgrl]

Hi KuhnDog,

I have the SMC Barricade router that I use at home. It allows for up to four computers to hook up to it and it has a printer connection. I got it from Buy.com for about $78.

I only have two computer hooked up to it. I only got it to share a cable connection and because it's supposed to help as security for hacker break-ins. I'm sure it's not perfect, but better than having nothing at all...I hope!

[Confused]

Pretyblkgrl it offers some pretty good protection. I quit using ZA because of problems and was worried about security. Watching Screensavers one night they were praising a site that checks your security www.grc.com I have the SMC also and passed the shield and port test with excellent results.
Chas

[HAL9000]

www.grc.com is Steve Gibson's site and he created ZoneAlarm. Other good sites to try to test security are http://www.dslreports.com/ and http://www.hackerwhacker.com/ (don't confuse the name with a hacking site, it's not).

[Pretyblkgrl]

Hal, Confused:

Thanks for the web sites. I ran security checks for my puter on both grc.com and hackerwacker.com. Both gave me excellent marks. But like it said on grc.com, just because he couldn't get through today, doesn't mean he can't get through tomorrow. So I won't be foolish.

BUT this DOES make me feel a lot better for purchasing this router. That security alone makes it worth the money.

Thanks again for the sites, because I was wondering if my router was actually protecting me or not!

[KuhnDog]

My friend is using zone alarm but I am using Black Ice. I havent had many problems with it. Seems like a good program.

::KuhnDog

[old dog]

some interesting reading about networks and routers Here

[KuhnDog]

Wow thats a cool site. Its all about networking. Thanks for the link

KuhnDog