Cable Internet Access

[smith]

I am considering cable internet access. I have no knowledge of networking. I would like to network three (currently) computers, and also allow them to share the cable. How is this done? Thanks for any information.

[Lazarus]

How I've done it:

Pick one computer (the fastest one, probably) and designate it a router/gateway. Give this machine two ethernet cards. The other machines get one ethernet card apiece. Get a 4-port (or more) hub. You want to hook them up like so:

Cable Modem-----Gateway
|
|
Comp1----Hub-----Comp2

Then you want to configure the gateway properly, which means using IP Forwarding on Linux (this is what I've done), or something like WinGate for Windows 95/98. I'm not sure whether Windows NT can do IPF natively; if not, you'll need something like WinGate there as well.

Of course, this is just a top-level overview, but it should help you get your ducks in a row.

[Lazarus]

Damn my ASCII art!

OK, in that previous picture it shows the cable modem attached to Comp1... that's WRONG. It should show the Gateway attached to the hub. Everything else looks right. Sorry for the confusion.

[Anyland]

i have also done it this way and i have found it to work very well but i used wingate for home use....good luck!!



------------------
e-mail me at both anyland@cmsd.bc.ca
and nilez@osg.net

[MGallik]

No muss no fuss. Try this for
an easy answer.Set up a
network with a 5 Port or
better hub. I like the LinkSys
10/100. Plug the cable modem
into the UPLINK port AND DONT
USE PORT 1. Remember that
port 1 and the UPLINK port are
linked. With this set up you
have access to the modem on any
computer, BUT, Only on the
first computer to start up
after the modem and hub are
turned on. Not the prettiest but
very easy to set up. To use
a different machine, turn off
the whole nine yards and restart
the hub, modem, and then the
computer you need first. This
actually works well around the
house on my 3 machine network.