sharing with switch

[curiouslybaffled]

4 computers to 10 100 fast ethernet switch to fifth computer to cable modem,would that work?would the 4 computers be hidden from cable sevice provider?would all computers need same ip addy?would I need to manually set addresses if so.

The 5th computer would have to be setup as a DHCP server. Private IP's would go out to the other 4. The 4 would be hidden from your ISP because it would just see the 5th PC. All you'd have to do is set the other 4 to use DHCP.

Is your cable modem USB or do you have 2 NIC's?

[Telexen]

Yes that's how I have mine setup. You can run IPCop or Smoothwall on the "NAT" system. Those are stripped down versions of linux that will perform the exact same functions as a router would...and makes security much less of a pain.

[curiouslybaffled]

ethernet cards are going to be used.Thanks for the reply.Got taken up in a movie and never got back on till this morning.

[curiouslybaffled]

Now how do I set this one up to be a dhcp server.Running XP PRO on this puter but can quickly change to whatever it takes,I don't mind wipeing and loading

[John Prophet]

Basically if you are going to go with that method you need two seperate NICS in the XP sharing machine. One NIC to the cable modem and one to the switch.

You are talking about using ICS (internet connection sharing) at this point. By setting the Main comp up to use ICS you are telling it to act as a sort of dhcp server.

Then probably you would use the XP cd to run the networking wizard on the other machines to set them up to recieve an IP addy from the XP machine.

Personally though I would just get a cheap router and let the router do the DHCP.

Then it would be Cable Modem to router and then router (with built in switch) to the machines or if you need more expansion just add another switch after the router.

There's a Dlink router at www.techbargains.com for less than $15 after rebates and they can be had for less than $40 all day every day.

JP

[curiouslybaffled]

Thanks John Prophet,I have had and been using the switch for a long time,am going back to school for 2 years and have to reel in my monthly expenses,don't want to deprive the kids of their internet that is why the sharing effort,they each have their own puter as well as my wife.All have nic cards or built in, have 2 in mine.Very seldom are we all on at the same time if ever so demand won't be a problem.Would sharing through XP do the job and would the others be detectable to service provider.Costs 10 dollars for each additional ip as it is now.

[John Prophet]

Sharing thru xp would do the same thing, yes. But then the xp machine has to be on all the time etc. Other than that its about the same as going thru a router I suppose.

And yes, the others would be hidden from the Internet and the ISP..they would just end up with internal IP addresses. So you'd only need to pay for the one IP from the ISP.

Here is a microsoft "webcast" about XP ICS http://tinyurl.com/lue4

Just a powerpoint presentation really with vocals etc...but they have some cool stuff in these webcasts.


JP

[curiouslybaffled]

once again John Prophet thankyou.Surpriseingly just had the other 4 ip addresses shut down and technition told me I could share connection, didn't think they allowed it.So will my machine assign addresses automaticly.

[John Prophet]

yes. If you run the networking wizard from the XP cd I am sure it sets the other machines to "obtain an IP address automatically". The networking wizard isnt absolutely necessary by the way...it is just supposed to make things easier for the average user to set up a home network.

JP