Is it possible to plug my Cable modem into a switch hub and then share the net from there or would i need a cable router?

You can use a switch/hub but you will need some internet sharing on a computer to act as the gateway

or you could buy a router for that
exact purpose.

you can plug it directly into the hub (uplink port) but then every person needs to log in with the username.

or u can have one computer logged in, and then THAT computer hooked into the hub

Buy a router you bum. You can get decent ones now for well under $200....

get an old machine and set up Smoothwall on it. it's easy to set up, and just about the best router/firewall you'll get for the money ;)


http://www.smoothwall.org/get/


full, easy to follow instructions are available for download from the site

you can install 2 networks cards and use internet sharing in windows XP.

it will be cable net. in main network card and the other network card going to switch/hub, then set all other computers to auto I.P. log on, that simple.

the "network sharing" box in XP will only appear when you have 2 network cards installed.

i use and recommend ICS under XP;
works awesomely, easy to setup and maintain;
2 network cards in the "server"
there to switch (much cheaper than a router)
switch to other pcs;
sit back and await props from the other users for their smooth net service;

I reckin winxp ICS is pretty good too, I've been using it here for about a year on my tiny home network without a problem that I'm aware of. It seems well-suited to simple home use. I'm not a fan of the built in firewall though, I used it for a while but turned it off in favour of kerio personal firewall.

yar;
i turn off the xp firewall as well, but i use tpf;

I use win2k on my old box to route my internet, i found xp was too slow on my p200, it worked, just the lag in games was unbearable.

I'll answer that question with another question..

if me and my old man are using the same internet account but in separate states is it possible for us to both be connected at the same time, sometimes we don't realise the other is online as we're not in frequent contact and get on and they're online.. sometimes it works fine and we both stay on.. but usually one of us, whoever is connected first gets booted.. and we just piss each other off doing that until someone gives up. is there anyway for us to both be connected at the same time.. although we only have another couple of days left of internet access :(

NOTE: I did not answer your question, i simply asked another one :D

heh, you cheap person, get your own honey smacks... :P

Grunt - No.

that is purely in the domain of your ISP. they take note of 2 logins with the same username. bam.

nothing you can do

koop smoothwall is a windows based program right?

No, smoothwall is a Linux based firewall

edit: i prefer IPCop to smoothwall, but that's a personal preference.

koop smoothwall is a windows based program right?

No, it's Linux. You don't actually need "Smoothwall" to do this in Linux BTW, it's just easier for people who do not want to mess around with Linux to basically install and go.

Ah crap i've never used linux dat could be a problem :P

you don't particularly need any linux knowledge with IPCop or Smoothwall

both are small installs (20~MB each) that come in ISO form so you can make a bootable CD and take less than 30 mins to setup

But how do you set up BPA with smoothwall? you have to still login right? and if you have 2 computers you still need to have two logins right? kinda defeats the purpose of having a server for the internet.

as long as one pc on the network is running a bpa login client to keep the connection alive it'd be fine

this question gets asked so much ya'd think there'd be a sticky or something :/