sharing cable modem without sharing files

[joey1395]

Just got a cable modem installed in my office which is right next to two other businesses. We want to share the cost of the broadband by sharing the internet. There are 4 computers in one business, two in another and two in the third. How can we set this up to share the broadband but not share our files on our separate networks? All the businesses are on networks and need to share files between themselves, but we do not want to share anything other then the broadband between each business. All computers are running windows 98 or greater. Thank You

[reboot]

Just hook it up, and let it run.
Even 98 won't share anything unless you specifically tell it to.
Without file and printer sharing installed, it doesn't even know it's on a LAN.

[joey1395]

what about IP addresses, DHCP, DNS etc... I know a router will assign ip's but what is to stop the 3 different networks from being able to access each others files?

[glc]

If they need to share files between themselves, just make sure each business is on different workgroups. Note that this is not even close to having security but this will prevent honest mistakes. You will need a broadband sharing router, and all 3 hubs will need to be interconnected.

[reboot]

If sharing isn't installed, and the router is assigning IP's via DHCP, each workgroup will see the other computer in the same workgroup. Assign each a different workgroup name, and computer name, and they shouldn't see each other at all.
There's an easy way, for excellent security:
Purchase an IP from the ISP for each business, and set it up with cable modem to hub, then to a router for each business.
There's a cheap way:
Purchase a big router, hook all computers into it.
You can't really do both.
There's a compromise:
One router, 3 hubs, one hub for each business.

[joey1395]

So, following your last reply,
"If sharing isn't installed, and the router is assigning IP's via DHCP, each workgroup will see the other computer in the same workgroup. Assign each a different workgroup name, and computer name, and they shouldn't see each other at all."

If I install a router and allow it to assign IP's, then all I have to do is set each of the three networks to different workgroups. Each of the three networks will be able to access other computers on their individual networks, but will not be able to access any other networks? Also with three different workgroups will the router still assign IP's to all 8 computers?

[glc]

The router can assign IP's up to 253 computers. The 3 workgroups will be invisible to each other unless someone is smart enough to try to get in by using \\workgroup\computer . Shares can be passworded to tighten this up.

[reboot]

If you don't want any shares between any computers, give each a unique workgroup and computer name.
If you DO want to share, but only between the computers in your office, put them in the same workgroup, different name, and a different workgroup name than your neighbors.
It's not totally secure, but it's ok.
Password protect (logon) each computer, and you add just that much more security.
What glc is saying, is that anyone could get into your workgroup by typing \\woirkgroupname\computername, so if you give your workgroup a unique name, and each computer a unique name, odds are they won't be able to guess, and stumble into your network.
Windows 98 default workgroup name is (duh!) "Workgroup".
Change that to something totally different, like "Billandteds2003privatekeeptheheckout", and who's going to figure that out?
Then when you enable file and print sharing between your computers, password protect the shared folders.
Now the only way anyone can see what's there, is to know the workgroup name, the computer name, and the password.
They need all 3, and then they can only see what you have shared.
You can also put restrictions on what they can do in each share. You can make them read only, or whatever.

[joey1395]

thank you for the plain english answer. I will try this tomorrow and let you know how it worked. Thanks again.