Home Network Q&A

[oleblue73]

I've been reading some of the other posts on home networking and some of my questions have been answered, but not all. Here is what I want to do:

Network 2 pc's in 2 differant rooms to share an Epson C82 printer, a cable internet connection, and to play some games such as AOE2, Starcraft, and maybe Unreal Turney (original, not 2003)

Will 10Mbs ethernet be fast enough for gameing?

Do I need a seperate NIC for the printer?

I'm using Win98SE on both machines. Do I have to assign each one a seperate IP address?

What else will I need besides the NIC's and the cable and which type of cable is adequate for a home network?

Is WiFi alot more expensive than Ethernet?

Can I still network the printer if I go with WiFi?

Thanx!

[Confused]

NICs sold today come 10/100. It will automatically sync to fasted speed.

Just leave the printer hooked to one PC and install it on the other PC. Go into printer properties on PC that it is connected to and set up sharing.

Are you on dial-up, cable or DSL. If dial-up best bet is probably to run ICS. That will require a NIC in each PC and a crossover cable between the two. If cable or DSL best option woul be a router. That would require a NIC in each PC and straight thru cables from each PC to router.

Wireless would be same but more expensive.
Chas

[ktkendall]

First, the cable internet connection:
Best way is cable/dsl sharing router with built in 4 port switch, or if you don't want to run cables the routers can be obtained with built in wireless fixxed base. In this case then you just get the proper NIC card for each PC (wired or wireless) and plug cable modem into router and some very easy setup options to configure and your on your way. Other option for cable is 2 nic cards in the one PC and one nic in the other and configure InternetConnection Sharing on the PC with the 2 nics and a few basic settings to the other and all set. The one with 2 nics will have the cable modem in one then a cat5 crossover cable from the other nic to the other PC. In that scenario the pc with the 2 nics will always have to be on for either PC to access internet.
You have almost same 2 options for the printer, you put printer on one PC as local printer and enable it to be shared, and install same printer on other PC but as network printer.. Downside is that PC with printer as local will always have to be on for either PC to print. Other option is a print server if you get a router with ports. Print server hooks onto the parallel port on printer and gives you a network rj45 out to go into port on your hub/switch or ports on the router. Then it's a networked printer for all PC's and any 1 can use the printer independantly. Some manufacturers even make their routers with built in print server port. This is just a basic overview, once you decide you can get exact details of how to configure what is best for you..

[oleblue73]

Thanks for the info. Big help!