Lan
<div class="IPBDescription">Hub? Router? Eh?</div> Im in need of a tad bit of help setting up a LAN for 2 PCs in the same house. Primary use is to share BB internet, files may also be swapped between PCs
Ill give you a run down on what i know,
1: I can use 2 network cards and link them via a cable without the need of a hub, although ive heard this is slow and prone to attacks from the internet.
2: I use 2 network cards and link them to a hub/switch which monitiors the data and sorts the signals. Still prone to internet attacks.
3: Same as number 2 expect i use a router between the BB modem and the hub. The router then filters the internet signals for the PCs.
Things i do not know, PC 1 came with a LAN onboard 10Mbps i think... will i have to use the same for PC 2? as i dont have a card for it yet, i heard you can buy a 10/100Mbps card which is the best.
Also i dont really understand the need for a router, and if they come with a Hub on them.
*edit*
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->(it pays to tell us which you're using... DSL or cable!)<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The BB connection in question is ADSL. The modem is also an external USB connection.
Ill give you a run down on what i know,
1: I can use 2 network cards and link them via a cable without the need of a hub, although ive heard this is slow and prone to attacks from the internet.
2: I use 2 network cards and link them to a hub/switch which monitiors the data and sorts the signals. Still prone to internet attacks.
3: Same as number 2 expect i use a router between the BB modem and the hub. The router then filters the internet signals for the PCs.
Things i do not know, PC 1 came with a LAN onboard 10Mbps i think... will i have to use the same for PC 2? as i dont have a card for it yet, i heard you can buy a 10/100Mbps card which is the best.
Also i dont really understand the need for a router, and if they come with a Hub on them.
*edit*
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->(it pays to tell us which you're using... DSL or cable!)<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The BB connection in question is ADSL. The modem is also an external USB connection.
Comments
2: Standard setup. Allows for more than 2 computers to be linked. Still vulnerable unless the net-server is running protection software.
3: 'Routers' are not. For the most part, they're embedded hardware running a rudimentary Linux NAT. Not all of them have firewalling capability. Some of them cause more problems than they solve.
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Things i do not know, PC 1 came with a LAN onboard 10Mbps i think... will i have to use the same for PC 2? as i dont have a card for it yet, i heard you can buy a 10/100Mbps card which is the best.
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If you're using a broadband modem which connects via ethernet cable, you'll still need somewhere to plug it in. If it's using USB, you've no problems.
Yes, a 10/100 can talk to a 10, or a 100. A 10 cannot talk to a 100, nor vice-versa. This is why 10/100 cards are 'best'... they're versatile.
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Also i dont really understand the need for a router, and if they come with a Hub on them.
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Some do, others don't. The router is essentially a firewall, keeping your machines from being directly connected (meaning that an attacker will have to penetrate the firewall before they can access your machine). It's an added degree of safety and convenience.
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I heard you can also use a old PC as a router by running linux on it.
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You can use an old PC as a NAT (network address translator), yes. You'd need a pair of NICs for the Linux machine, and one in each 'client' box, and a hub so everything can talk happily.
In short, a 'home router' or 'DSL router' is not an actual router... those cost upwards of $2K for the cheap ones, and better than $30K for the good ones. You can get home routers with hubs integrated, fairly cheaply.
You'll probably want to just buy one of those with four ports; but be warned, if you use a USB connector to talk to your broadband modem, there will probably be difficulties getting it hooked up to the home router. Alternately, if you're on DSL (it pays to tell us which you're using... DSL or cable!) you might be able to get a DSL modem with a home router and hub all integrated, though you'll likely need to ask your ISP if they have a model that will work with your service. Remember: Just because it says 'DSL' doesn't mean it will work with YOUR ISP!