The best way to network ADSL?

Author
Discussion

pwig

Original Poster:

11,956 posts

277 months

Thursday 18th September 2003
quotequote all
Hi, im would like to know the best way to network ADSL? We already have a hub and two network cards.

lake

486 posts

271 months

Thursday 18th September 2003
quotequote all
There are 2 main options,

1) You can either share the connection out though windows, either through a proxy server or NAT using XP connection sharing.

2) Buy a router and let that do the NAT for you. These normally also include a built in firewall. This also has the advantage that both PCs do not to be switched on for the other PC to surf.

I use solution 2 and am currently running a router from these people www.solwise.co.uk

Hope this helps

Lake

Whoozit

3,807 posts

276 months

Thursday 18th September 2003
quotequote all
Go for the router, that's usually plug-and-surf and is then dead easy to add further PCs. If you are thinking of getting a laptop, or even of putting a PC some distance away from your ADSL modem, it might be worth getting a wireless router.

ATG

21,377 posts

279 months

Thursday 18th September 2003
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I too use kit from solewise. It's an ADSL router/firewall/4-port hub. Works fine.

206xsi

48,808 posts

255 months

Thursday 18th September 2003
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Just be aware that most ADSL providers won't support sharing of the line!

liszt

4,330 posts

277 months

Thursday 18th September 2003
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With NAT they shouldn't know about it.

Byff

4,427 posts

268 months

Thursday 18th September 2003
quotequote all
pwig said:
Hi, im would like to know the best way to network ADSL? We already have a hub and two network cards.


If you already have a hub and two network cards, just plug em in.

I have windows 98se and I can't remember what I did, but it was something in the area of the control panel>network> and the sharing bit. It's all in the help section.

I think XP is easier to set up.

stc_bennett

5,252 posts

274 months

Thursday 18th September 2003
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bY A NETGEAR dm602 MODEM around £50 it has the option tostick in router mode so then link it to your Hub.

The netgear will act as a DHCP server and automatically assign IP address to people on the wired network

Thats how my home network is going at the moment

Steve

anonymous-user

61 months

Thursday 18th September 2003
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All the hardware reviews that you could ask for here: www.adslguide.org.uk/hardware/reviews/.

As for your provider, they won't support it (unless you pay them lot's of wonga for a business setup), but they won't do anything about it. I'd just suggest that you don't throw away your ADSL modem if you go the router route in case you have problems. You'll then be able to plug that back in and get support to talk to you if needed.

m-five

11,451 posts

291 months

Thursday 18th September 2003
quotequote all
You can either use the router with wires around the office/home or use a wireless LAN.

I have 4 computers at home that are located 2 in the study (aka the garage), 1 in my home office (where the ADSL comes in to the wireless router Netgear 824M IIRC), and 1 in attic which runs a (very sad) electronic railway system.

Seems to work very well and set up was a piece of p¡ss!

FunkyNige

9,166 posts

282 months

Thursday 18th September 2003
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What about the modem/router combo things like the Netgear DG814 ADSL Router here(it's the 6th item down)? Does anyone have any experience with them?

docevi1

10,430 posts

255 months

Friday 19th September 2003
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I have the speedtouch 510v4 which is a switch, router and NAT firewall. You can get the wireless versions as well.

As for ISP's not supporting it, well BT actually give you help (on their site) about that exact thing!

I would strongly advise you not to use ICS (internet connection sharing) as that is a very buggy, and dangerous piece of MS code that is regulary attacked by worms and the like.

egomeister

6,871 posts

270 months

Friday 19th September 2003
quotequote all
I have set up a couple of these networks, and could give you a bit of advice from what i have leanrt. Send me an email and i will endeavour to get back to you when i am not pished!

m-five

11,451 posts

291 months

Friday 19th September 2003
quotequote all
FunkyNige said:
What about the modem/router combo things like the Netgear DG814 ADSL Router here(it's the 6th item down)? Does anyone have any experience with them?


That's almost the same model I have except I have the wireless capability as well (Netgear DG824M).

It was a doddle to set up and has been working flawlessly - there are a few firmware updates to run (available from the Netgear website) but these are quite quick and add enhanced firewall capabilities and some security updates.

Everything is configurable from the browser-based utility and you could share your network as once it goes through the firewall it looks like one computer anyway!