If the gateway is set up as a Proxy server/Gateway it would speed up
Internet browsing on those pages they frequent assuming the Proxy
server caches web pages.  The way a proxy server works is your
computer makes a request to the proxy server and the proxy server
gets the information and then feeds it back to your computer.  If
child 1 asks for a page (msn.com) the proxy server gets the page,
sends it along to child 1 and stores a copy of the page.  When child
2 asks for the same page AND the page is not out of date the proxy
servers sends the page to child 2 without getting it from the
Internet again.

This type of stuff works well in companies with many people but is
of limited value in a home setting.  Also, if your kids are doing
file transfers this will be of no benefit - the file transfers will
bypass the proxy server.

I'm assuming that your router is doing NAT'ed addresses to your
home computers and is providing you with some kind of (limited)
firewall protection so using a PC would be of limited benefit there
as well.

- Wayne Copeland

>>> [log in to unmask] 9/10/03 5:55:06 AM >>>
Currently I use a cable modem attached to a router that serves 4
computers
(yes, I have that many teens). My son wants me to set up a 1Ghz
computer
that would serve as a gateway to improve the Internet connection
speed.  Its
sole purpose is only to be this gateway.  Can anyone explain to me
exactly
how this works and how I would set this up?  Also, is it worth the
bother.
Parts is no problem.

Two computers use XP Home and the other two use Windows 98.

Byron Wolter

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