Sharing Broadband Cable Modem (Windows XP/Win98)

Self Vanity

[SamAdams76]

Okay, I just spent the whole afternoon pulling out my hair. I figure there's got to be some Freepers out there with some XP/Cable Modem experience so maybe you can save me some aggravation when I tackle the problem some other day (I've had enough for today).

First, some background. Over the Christmas holiday, I got a new Windows XP system and I gave my old Win98 system to the kids. I bought a cheap 5-port hub, a couple of patch cables, threw a NIC (network interface card) in the Win98 system and using the Windows XP Network Setup Wizard, I was done in about 15 minutes (my new system has a NIC built into the motherboard). The XP Network wizard even created a floppy that I used to configure my old system to see the network - it was that brainless.

It was great to be networked. I shared out the ZIP drive on my old system so I could use it with the new system. I shared the printer off my new system to the old system. I even shared out the dial-up ISP connection so that both computers could be online at the same time. It was great to not have to compete for internet time with my kids, but it was s-l-o-w sharing a 56k connection between two computers.

So I finally gave in and called up AT&T Broadband to have a cable modem installed. Over the phone they asked me if I had my own cable modem and NIC. Stupid me said no, I didn't have the cable modem but I did have a NIC.

Well they came today to install the cable while I was at work. I came home early to test it out. It was phenomenal, incredibly fast! I downloaded a 2.8MB file in 15 seconds where before it would take me 15-20 minutes. But I noticed to my dismay that they had unplugged my hub so I had no more network. There was no place on the cable modem to plug in a patch cable. Not that it would have mattered. For they took over my NIC and configured it to be part of their network.

For the hell of it, I tried plugging the cable modem into the hub. I was able to still access the Internet with my new computer. But my old computer couldn't even see the network, never mind share the connection.

I think I have it figured out. I need to get another NIC card and install it on my new system. I will then use the Networking Wizard to connect my two computers just as before. But will I be able to share the cable connection on the old computer? If anybody has had to deal with this before, I would appreciate some advice.

I'm a little upset with AT&T for not telling me that they were going to be disconnecting my home network when I told them I had a NIC. Otherwise I would have had them bring their own NIC. But what's done is done. At least I have a fast internet connection. And it is incredibly fast. It runs streaming video, the online radio stations sound awesome and when I need to download a program or large file, it is done in seconds!

[Mixer]

Also, AT&T mentioned something about paying an extra $9.95 a month to hook up another computer. I'm assuming that if I provide my own equipment, I can share the one cable connection I am paying for like I did with the dial-up ISP.

Do not pay for extra PCs at 9.995 a month. This router takes care of that for you. However AT&T will not tell you that or support it. Lukily linksys will and you will be just fine cause they have a good customer service.

[SamAdams76]

I like XP a lot. It seems very stable for it hasn't crashed since I got it and Win98 was good for about two or three crashes a day. I did have to tweak it a little to get rid of the ridiculous interface but that's minor. It makes things much easier in my opinion, such as setting up a home network, adding peripherals and such.

I would probably not recommend running it on an older system because it uses so many resources. Despite what Microsoft says, I would say at least a 733MHz processor with 256MB of RAM. I have a 1.7GHz processor with 512MB of RAM and every now and then, it will still slow down!

[Cultural Jihad]

I have a 1.7GHz processor with 512MB of RAM

Your friends are envious and your enemies are worried. :)

[SeeRushToldU_So]

Do by all means get

Zone Alarm

[centexan]

Thanks Sam, for the thread! I'm settting up my network tomorrow and looked at the Linksys routers today. I've got a new Dell P4 with XP and two PIII's with ME and '98SE. I'll be getting cable next week - does anyone know if I can share the dialup in this configuration in the meantime? I'll also have to run cable about 50' from one computer to the other two - any particular type of cable?

XP's been great for me. No problems with the install and I love how easy it is to view pictures.

[SamAdams76]

It's super easy to share a dial-up connection with XP. At least it was for me. I assume your XP system will be where the internet connection is being shared from. All you need to do is install the NICs on each computer and run Cat-5 patch cables to a hub.

Then in XP, go START/MY NETWORK PLACES and select the "Set up a home or office small network" wizard. It will walk you through the whole process and will even make a floppy that you can install to the other computers.

Just make sure beforehand that the other two computers are set to the same workgroup as what you set for the XP.

Good luck and hopefully you won't make the same mistake I made when you get the cable. Get the router beforehand and have them install to the router!

[SamAdams76]

Oh yeah, it would make sense for you to skip the hub and go right to the router!

[centexan]

Thanks - I'll let you know how it works.

[FReepaholic]

>>...I just checked and it says that AT&T will allow up to 3 additional IP addresses for $9.95 a month...<<

Get a cable router that uses Network Address Translation. All your internal addresses will be translated to one external IP address. No need to pay the cable company for extra PC's.

Also, a cable router can use DHCP to dynamically assign IP addresses to all your PC's. No need to configure a static IP for each one. (at least my Netgear RT314 does)

[gjenkins]

I got the Lynksys router system that also has the WAP (Wireless access point). My girlfriend and I walk around the house with our laptops connected to the net, and we have a desktop as well. It has a built in DHCP server, so everything is networked together. It was a piece of cake. At 100$ per machine on the network, I wouldn't give it up.

[Incorrigible]

Sam,

There was a lot of similar posting on this issue on this thread as well:

XP and a New Puter ... It's a Whole New World ...WOW

Yes, the Linksys is the way to go.  Use the "DHCP" server and it will automatically hand out IP addresses that can not be routed (They look like 192.168.XXX.XXX).  This is good so hackers will have that much harder a time getting to your machine.  To AT&T, your network traffic will look like a single machine with a single routable IP Address.

I used to be in Boston frequently.  I've been known to set up home networks for the price of a few Sam Adams!  Alas...

[gjenkins]

http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?grid=22&prid=157

It has network address translation as mentioned in post #69

[Prerunner]

ping

[Aunt Polgara]

I'm about to spring for cable internet (I've given up on the phone company EVER getting DSL to my home) and I set up my little 2 pc network with a Linksys 5 port Workgroup switch. On the box that the switch came in, it says that it is "ready to connect to Cable/DSL Modem or Router."

Most of the talk here is about connecting the Cable Modem to a Router. What is the difference between the two, and do I need to buy a Router to use in addition to or instead of my switch?

I don't want to spend any more money if I don't have to. Thanks.

[ironman]

Go Wireless!

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[Incorrigible]

Most of the talk here is about connecting the Cable Modem to a Router. What is the difference between the two, and do I need to buy a Router to use in addition to or instead of my switch?

In the case of the LinkSys Cable/DSL Routers & Modem you purchased, it performs both jobs and then some all in one box.  All the Router talk is the tech guys short hand.

[CurlyDave]

Wireless is a waste for a desktop.

I love it for my laptop.

I like the SMC routers because they also have a built in printer server. Sure you can share a printer conneced to a PC, but for others to use it it has to be on.

Connect the printer to the router & everything works just fine.

[ironman]

I'm in the process of setting up my home wireless LAN so I can use it with my PocketPC.

[New Horizon]

The other replies did not really answer your question...so here goes:

It does not replace the cable modem...it connects directly to the cable modem throught it's WAN port, and acts like your directly connected PC.

The other ports on the switch allow you to connect other computers to your "private network", and they can communicate to each other for file and printer sharing.

When you require Internet access, the LinkSys switch will perform address translation for all of your connected computers to get online to the "outside" Internet.

That's called NAT, or Network Address Translation. If your ISP restricts you to a single IP address, the LinkSys switch will also do PAT, or Port Address Translation, which basically allows multiple computers to share the same IP address, but use different IP ports (there's about 65,000 to choose from).

[Tennessee_Bob]

I misunderstood what you were saying there. Didn't realize you meant to take the hub back to the store.