To connect more than one computer to your cable/DSL modem (or
router) you will need another piece of hardware.  The simplest thing
is to get a hardware firewall that has some ports for connecting
several PC's at once.  This firewall will also act as a DHCP server
for your computers making it easier for you.

All the Internet traffic goes through your firewall to your ISP
using only the IP address your ISP assigned to your cable/DSL modem
so they don't know how many computers you are running behind your
firewall.  All your PC's are running private IP addresses like
192.168.xxx.yyy.

Since you mentioned that you are concerned with security (as we all
should be) make sure you get a true firewall product - not just a
box that will provide NAT & DHCP services.  A product like the
Netgear FR114P or the D-Link DFL300 would do you nicely.  Look for
the key phrase: Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI).  One last thing,
make sure you get external cable/DSL modems with an ethernet port.
Some companies offer internal modems or modems with only USB ports.
External costs more but you can easily set up your home network with
them.

- Wayne Copeland

>>> [log in to unmask] 10/23/03 1:56:06 AM >>>
1.
> Both the cable and dsl claim you can only use it for one
computer.  Are
> they just trying to get more money from me?  Isn't that what a
cable
> router is for?

  The "cable router" connects to your equipment using Ethernet on
one side,
and the cable system on the other.  Often this unit, or at least
its
configuration, is supplied as part of the service.
  A router (or a PC running suitable software) can join an entire
Ethernet
LAN (on one side) to an Ethernet LAN on the other side; if it
implements NAT
(Network Address Translation), the entire LAN on one side can
appear to be a
single device to the other side.  This is what you have in mind.

  The providers' "one computer" policy means that (a) they will not
help you
set this up, and (b) if they discover that you're doing this, thay
can
choose to discontinue your service.


2.
> Or is what they're talking about the 'static ip' thing... do I
need
> cable/dsl that has a static ip address for the router to split
it?

  No.  The difference between a static and a dynamic address is
that a
dynamic address can change over time, and/or be set/changed from
their end.
A static address doesn't change.  Although there are third-party
solutions
for use with dynamic addresses, basically if you wanted to host
your own
domain servers (web, email, etc) you'd want one or more static
addresses.
That would allow other machines to have references to your hosts
that would
not suddenly go out of date because your address changed.


3.
> I have zonealarm free edition.  Can I just switch it to lock
internet
> traffic when we turn the computers off?  Don't know if anyone
knows
> about that program.  Is there a way to disconnect the computer,
can
> people access your computer over the internet with cable/dsl when
it is
> off?  For example can you unplug the dsl plug from the wall and
plug it
> back in and still be connected to the internet, not cause any
problems
> with the host?

  Nobody can do anything to your computer while it is turned off
or
disconnected.
  ZoneAlarm Free Edition is a fine program, and a pretty good
starting
place.  You definitely want *something* to do that job.

David Gillett



On 22 Oct 2003 at 5:11, Robert Kupferer wrote:

> I am trying to decide if I should get dsl or cable internet.  I
have a
> roommate and I will have to share the connection.  Both the cable
and dsl
> claim you can only use it for one computer.  Are they just trying
to get
> more money from me?  Isn't that what a cable router is for?  Will
a cable
> router work for either cable or dsl... can't I just set it up
between the
> modem and the 2 computers after the cable/dsl setup is done?  Or
is what
> they're talking about the 'static ip' thing... do I need
cable/dsl that has
> a static ip address for the router to split it?
>
> Also I am worried about hackers with always on.  I have zonealarm
free
> edition.  Can I just switch it to lock internet traffic when we
turn the
> computers off?  Don't know if anyone knows about that program.
Is there a
> way to disconnect the computer, can people access your computer
over the
> internet with cable/dsl when it is off?  For example can you
unplug the dsl
> plug from the wall and plug it back in and still be connected to
the
> internet, not cause any problems with the host?
>
> thank you for any information,
> Robert Kupferer
>
>
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