If I want to make a network of 2 computers and I want to do internet connection sharing too to be able to browse from both of them, then Do I need a Hub Or A swtitch etc, or can I do it without them by just using a networking cable between the lan cards? Thanks

no you do not need a hub. it is all in windows. You need to install one or two files (from the windows disk) but it is all in the windows help file and the microsoft site. You can network even without network cards, by serial or USB if you are wanting to move files about. "World of Windows Networking" site is very useful http://www.wown.com/ Hope this helps.

A hub makes the most sense, however provided you have a spare NIC you can connect the other computer to it. However the cable is not a normal cable but is a "patch" or reversed type cable where the transmit pair on one end is connected to the recieve pair on the other end and vice versa. This is not a straight "roll over" cable where all the pairs are reversed. You install ICS on the computer with the Internet access and the interface connected to the lan will be given an ip address of 192.168.0.1 automatically by ICS. Your other machine should be set up statically (your not running DHCP are you?)and will need to be on the same subnet so you need to give it an ip address of 192.168.0.X where X is between 2 and 254 inclusive. Also the subnet mask is 255.255.255.0 and the default gateway needs to be 192.168.0.1. Use the DNS servers provided by your ISP. For the cost of a 100 MB/s hub I'b buy the hub, so you can add that laptop in the future!

A hub makes no sense in this situation unless the person asking this question is planning on adding any more computers to his home network in the near future. If not, then a crossover cable makes more sense. NOTE: The required cable for a direct NIC to NIC connection like this between two PC's is called a 'crossover cable'. The term 'patch cable' is usually applied to a cable that is used to 'patch' a PC into the wall jack in an office environment. Perhaps the nomenclature is different where you live. But that is the nomenclature I've learned and worked with for several years.

Hello Friend! If u r planning to network just 2 computers, then u dont need a hub, but u can use it if u want. Hub is used where there r more than 2 systems. So for 2 systems just a "cross cable" is sufficient, one end of it connects to the lan card of one system and other end to the other system. If u want it just for file sharing purpose, u just have to enable file & print sharing that's all, but if u want to access internet something more has to be done. Mail me if u want any further guidance. I'll even give u a link where u can get a guide for the networking in a .pdf format. Bye Kishore mkpawar@yahoo.com

In my opinion a Router with an integrated 4 port switch would probably be the best solution. Why? Because if you don't use a router and you use ICS(software router) then the computer that the modem was connected to would have to be on all the time, also there are routers with integrated print servers now for under 75 bucks so you can also print and not leave 2 computers on, have full duplex, a nat firewall the whole shabang. Look for the SMC barricade series. And remeber not to get AOL internet if you want to share a connection in this way, AOL software does not support IP sharing with hardware routers you have to go the ICS route.