I'm planning to network a PC and Laptop at home. Do I have to pay for IP addresses for both of these machines? I read somewhere that a router will automatically assign them an IP address. However, my cable service provider says I have to purchase an additional IP. I'm confused!!

See your last post "router vs. switch". A cable/DSL router-switch combonation will allow you to run a service called NAT. Network Address Translation (NAT) will hand out internal IP addresses to your PCs, while using your single external IP address (the one your ISP gives you) for the router. This also gives your home network added security from hackers, since the IP address to the public is actually the router, and not your PC. Don't listen to your ISP. Get a router/switch combo, and network your computers without telling them. All they want is more money for a service you can very easily configure yourself.

Here is a link for more info.:

http://www.linksys.com/Products/product.asp?grid=23&prid=20

Hope this helps!

TC

- no need purchase any IP from ISP lah unless u running some application for public then u need purchase IP ( static IP ).

i am a real novice when it comes to comuputer
novice . what does ip address mean. what is url mean.help i have no sound and my real audio dosn't work. why do I get jumped allover when using sites with ip addresses

If I use a switch, then how does the IP address thing work there for 2 computers? Does a switch also have NAT?