Archived from groups: microsoft.public.broadbandnet.hardware,uk.comp.home-networking,uk.telecom.broadband (
More info?)
In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
George Hewitt <nospam@domain.com> wrote:
> "Laura P" <laura@notvalid.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:cannd4$673$1@newsg4.svr.pol.co.uk...
>> (Please forgive me if I've posted this in a wrong group...)
>>
>> I'm new to this networking lark, although not to broadband. The
>> idea is to connect 5 PCs in a house to one broadband connection -
>> without the need for a specific one to be on for the others to
>> connect. Firstly, is this ok? Who/what would you suggest?
>>
>> Is there a particular provider that you would recommend or would it
>> not make a difference?
>>
>> Am I right in thinking that we need a broadband router to then
>> connect each PC into?
>>
>> If so, would the PCs only be sharing the internet connection, and
>> not be able to 'see' each other? (We'd want 5 private PCs if
>> possible).
>>
>> I'm sure I've left something out, but if you are able to help at all
>> I'd be very grateful
)
>>
>> Laura
>>
>
> Bearing in mind that 5 is an odd number when it comes to routers etc,
> here's two courses of options:
>
> 1. Wired option. This is a bit awkward as you have 5 PCs, when the
> max ports they usually give you on a router is 4. Probably easiest
> just to get a 4-port router and then buy a cheap 4-port hub and
> connect the two with a crossover cable. Now just buy 5x ethernet
> cards and enough cables to wire it all up. If you have ADSL
> broadband, make sure that you buy an ADSL router with a built-in
> modem. If you have cable broadband, then just get a router with a WAN
> port. The router will supply a manual to get you started, Netgear and
> Linksys are popular makes.
>
> 2. Wireless option. Buy one wireless router (same thing for
> ADSL/cable as above applies) and then 5x wireless cards. For internet
> sharing, 802.11b is just fine and also much cheaper than the faster
> 11g standard.
>
> ..
>
> As regards your security problem, you can just disable file sharing
> on the network (on each client machine). I don't think the point made
> above about 5 seperate IPs addresses this issue as all machines are
> still on a LAN with each other, unless each is put in a seperate
> DMZ.. (ignore, I'm rambling).
>
> HTH
>
>
As stated above, 5 PCs is too many for a 4-port wired router.
Are any of the PCs laptops which you may wish to use in different locations?
If so, a hybrid wired/wireless system would work well. Wireless routers
invariably have 4 ports to which wired devices can be connected in addition
to lots of wireless devices.
Some or all of your PCs may already have network cards (or a built-in
network port on the motherboard). Even if they don't, PCI network cards are
much cheaper than wireless cards. You could thus buy a wireless
router/modem/firewall and a single PCMCIA wireless card for the laptop - and
connect 4 PCs with wires and one wireless. [There are some good deals about
at the moment where a wireless PCMCIA card is bundled with a router, more or
less for free].
As others have said, if you disable File and Printer Sharing, your PCs won't
be able to see each other, but can still share the internet connection.
Actually, if you wanted to share printers but not files, you could still do
it. Before one PC can see another's files, you have to enable File and
Printer Sharing *and* the appropriate disk drive or directory (folder) has
to be declared as shareable. So if you want to share printers, you'll have
to enable File and Printer Sharing - but if you don't declare any
disks/directories as shareable, you'll still maintain privacy.
--
Cheers,
Tim
______
Please reply to newsgroup. Reply address is invalid.
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram