Help! connecting 2 PCs using ADSL

[Chaffers]

Hi All...

I have a query that I don't know how to deal with...
At present, I have 2 PCs (Specs listed below). I have the ADSL modem connected to PC1, and PC1 also connects to PC2 via the NICs using BNC.
The question that I have, is in order for PC1 AND PC2 to connect to the internet at the same time, what are the options that I have?
I have thought about a router, but there is no RJ45 connection on my USB modem, and a USB router would prove costly.
That has diverted my attention to a hub.
If I was to get a hub, the price is okay, but do I need it? Is there some way that I can use PC2 to access the web through the network without having to get extra equipment?
If not, then would getting a hub and then connecting the PCs to the hub via a RJ45 connection be the best solution?

Thanks in advance.


PC 1:-
AMD Athlon XP 2400+
Asus A7V333 (KT333 Chipset)
256Mb RAM
Maxtor 120Gb HDD (7200rpm 8Mb Cache)
IBM 15GB HDD
MSI Geforce4 MX440 SE-T
Connexant 56k Soft Modem
Alcatel Speedtouch 330 ADSL modem
8x/4x/32x CD-RW
Windows XP Pro on Maxtor HDD
Unbranded Realtek 10/100 NIC
System running @ ~50 degrees Centrigrade/~122 degrees Fahrenheit

PC 2:-
AMD K6-2 400
Asus P5A-B
512Mb RAM
Seagate 4.2Gb
Geforce2 MX
52x CDROM
Unbranded Realtek 10/100 NIC
System running Windows 98



_______
| |
| ADSL |
| Modem |
|_______|
|
|<----USB connection
|
_______ _______
| | | |
| PC 1 |-------| PC 2 |
|______| ^ |_______|
|
|
BNC connection

[John Prophet]

If you already have them connected with nics..then you dont need anything else...you just need to use internet connection sharing (ICS) from the XP machine to the other machine.

Run the networking wizard on the XP machine and there is probably an option for ICS...then it will tell you to take the xp CD and run it on the other machine except you dont do an install you run "other tasks" or whatever it is called off of the xp cd on the other machine...that sets the other machine up for ics.

You dont HAVE to run the xp cd on the other machine..you can probably just make sure it is set to "obtain an IP address automatically" in tcp/ip properties.

JP

[Chaffers]

Set it all up last night...!
really easy to do once you know where to look..
Thanks!!!

[Chaffers]

One thing though, I couldn't run the XP CD on the win 98 machine because it said it cannot find the hardware... but the hardware was all installed properly...
Wasn't difficult to setup the auto-config on the win98 machine without the WinXP CD.
Thanks again!

[John Prophet]

Glad you got it going...yeah, some of the pc stuff aint so hard if you get a few hints in the right direction.

JP

[excuzzzeme]

Why would you want to use ICS while on DSL? You leave yourself open to too many possible compromises. Go from modem to switch/router (router with firewall reccommended) to PC's. This way either PC can access internet with less potential of being compromised.

[VHockey86]

Originally posted by excuzzzeme
Why would you want to use ICS while on DSL? You leave yourself open to too many possible compromises. Go from modem to switch/router (router with firewall reccommended) to PC's. This way either PC can access internet with less potential of being compromised.

If you read his original post you will see that his DSL modem is USB, most routers only have ethernet WAN ports.

Now.... an alternative might be to use an old PC as a gateway. Hook the DSL modem up to the old comps USB port, then have an NIC in the same computer that runs to a switch, then put both of the computers you want to have internet access into the switch You dont need much power at all and if you run Linux on it you can configure it as a very good firewall/gateway. This would take the place of a router.

However, all things considered this might end up being more costly than just getting a router with USB support on it; especially if you dont have the old comp just laying around