recommendations for online gaming??

I use a Netgear router with a 6 port Netgear hub. That is with one ip. When I first got the service I just used there service and a hub and just bought more ip's.
So you could get more ip's but in the long run it is cheaper to buy a router. You could either get one that has a built in switch or buy a switch/hub yourself(like antipop said).

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im with dhluck.... a little confused.

The router acts like a dhcp server. Instead of it being a software dhcp server it is a hardware dhcp server. Depending on the model the also have other features.

A hub just gives you some extra ports to use but you will have to pay for extra ip's.
Hope thats what you were looking for.


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You run the CAT 5 cable from your cable modem to the router. You will give the router the name that your cable modem service gave your computer. From there the router will assign IP addresses to all the computers on your network as they logon, and so all computer hooked into your router will have cable modem access(without buying more IP addresses from you cable modem company). But be careful if you are using this for gaming as the router will have a built in firewall. In which case you will have a hard time playing games over the internet unless you enable DMZ hosting and bypass the firewall.

Okay here is how it goes.

1. Your cable modem give you 1 IP address. You plug this directly into your network card, give your computer a special name (Assigned by your cable company) and set TCP/IP to DHCP. Your cable modem companies DHCP server will assign you a IP address automatically.

2. To share your assigned IP address with the rest of your lan you have two methods. One is a dedicated hardware router. Your hardware router takes the place of your network card here. The cable modem is plugged directly into your router. Now you assign the router the name that the cable company assigned you. Next is to plug the router into your hub.(Or there are 4 port routers out there).

3.Now plug the rest of your systems into the hub. Set them to DHCP (If your router supports it) and your router will assign them thier own IP's now. That's it, you now have net access for all of your machines (if everything went okay). Some routers dont support DHCP so you'll have to assign your IP's manually on those.

There are other solutions for sharing IP's. This way is the easiest by far. But if buying a dedicated hardware router is not for you, try the software route. I have not tried Sygate or Winproxy but I hear they are the best. Dont try MS ICS software, I've never gotten it to work, I'm sure someone out there has but I have yet to meet that person.

There are tons of websights out there that gives charts on how to set up Lans so do some searching.

Good Luck



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peteb....have you tried this with the Linksys? it doesn't work.........at least for Unreal Tournament. There tech support has tried to address some of the issues associated with online gaming and the router, but none are that successful. If you do use port forwarding, you can only use it on one computer at a time that is connected to the router.

Sorry to jump in Stoner, but I have a Lynksis router also. I would have to say that the problems arise when I wish to <b>host</b> games only. When I connect to a game, it is possible for anyone on the lan to connect to it also(at least here at my house). DMZ is needed for hosting, but I am not exactly sure how this works. I hope this helps.

And I, I took the path less traveled by,....well, at least I am getting there.