Building a home network...

[KarlH84]

Hey before i start buying stuff i dont need just want to get this straight, im gonna be networking a desktop and 2 laptops together and will be adding 2 more desktops in the furture, i got the NIC card for the desktop, havnt purchased the 2 for the laptops, im gonna be using cat6 cable for all the wiring, i plan on purchasing the cable modem and was wondering do i need to connect a hub to the cable modem and then the 3 computers two the hub? or can i go from the cable modem straight to the 3 computers? what is the best way for handling this?

there will be 2 more computers added to this in a year or so, so i was thinking the best way would be to purchase like a 8 port hub to connect to the cable modem and the the computers too the hub correct?

[Wolf_10]

Your ISP should send you a cable modem for free if you sign up for a year. When you say hub, do you mean a router? I think you'll want to go with a router first, then add the hub later if you feel the need. You can get decent 8 port routers for cheap now. Some of them come with built in firewalls and vpn, which might be convenient for you since your heavy on laptops.

[KarlH84]

yea router sorry about that, i know they give you a cable modem but you have to rent it im not plaining on purchasing the cable modem right now, going to use the one they provide and switch it in the furture, so from the cable modem to the router and then from the router to the computers is the best way for me to go?

[Wolf_10]

Originally Posted by KarlH84 yea router sorry about that, i know they give you a cable modem but you have to rent it im not plaining on purchasing the cable modem right now, going to use the one they provide and switch it in the furture, so from the cable modem to the router and then from the router to the computers is the best way for me to go?

Yes, thats the way to go. You will probably get a modem with only one port, so if you want to connect more than one computer to the internet, a router will be neccesary. GL

[enhanced08]

for using laptops you might want to get a wireless router with a 4 port switch built in or something similar. you can always hard wire the laptops, which allows for faster file transfer, but then u have a cord everywhere the laptop is. with wireless its slower but, as the same states, there is no wires. just an idea....