Cable Forum - View Single Post - Easy router/networking instructions..? (plus other waffle)

18-06-2005, 16:37

Hmm... I printed out descriptions of the recommended routers, but said housemate has gone out and bought a straightforward "8-port Ethernet Switch", with eight ports labelled from TX1 to TX8. A bloke at some stall at a computer fair "who sounded like he knew what he was talking about" told him that would be simpler and less complicated than a router for a fixed network.

I'm not so sure though -- as I think I understood it, a router deals with all the IP address nonsense so that the network doesn't get confused and huffy about having two computers connected. So I'm not sure what the implications are going to be in connecting two PCs running WinXP to share the 3Mb internet connection through an ntl:250 cable modem using a straightforward ethernet switch. The PCs won't be sharing any files or printers or anything.

Could anyone help me with some advice here please, or point me to a link that explains it? Maybe we'll get around to trying to hook the thing up to see what happens once the weather returns to its more season March impersonations next week..!

18-06-2005, 16:37	#13
gavin Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Easy router/networking instructions..? (plus other waffle) Hmm... I printed out descriptions of the recommended routers, but said housemate has gone out and bought a straightforward "8-port Ethernet Switch", with eight ports labelled from TX1 to TX8. A bloke at some stall at a computer fair "who sounded like he knew what he was talking about" told him that would be simpler and less complicated than a router for a fixed network. I'm not so sure though -- as I think I understood it, a router deals with all the IP address nonsense so that the network doesn't get confused and huffy about having two computers connected. So I'm not sure what the implications are going to be in connecting two PCs running WinXP to share the 3Mb internet connection through an ntl:250 cable modem using a straightforward ethernet switch. The PCs won't be sharing any files or printers or anything. Could anyone help me with some advice here please, or point me to a link that explains it? Maybe we'll get around to trying to hook the thing up to see what happens once the weather returns to its more season March impersonations next week..!