What is the best way to connect multiple computers to the internet using one connection? The connect would be a DSL from my ISP. I have heard that if I where to setup up multiple computers through one DSL connection using a router that an ISP can sense more than MAC address accessing the internet and shut my service down, is this true? How is sharing a DSL or Cable internet connection done using a router with a segment link to a switch that would contain segments that linked to multiple PC's? Referring back to my previous question can an ISP tell how many computers are accessing the internet if I have a router sitting between the internet and my local LAN, through the MAC address?

Using a router is the best. There is no way an isp can tell how computer you are using. Using a router would be enough. The only set back is you have to forward ports for certain application, not all the pcs can do everything due to the fact that you are using a router. Another option is proxy server, but you have to turn one pc allt he time plus you have to put 2 cards in that pc.

FYI, a point in fact...if you multihome a computer (put more than one NIC in it) it becomes a router.

That is not always true, can have one nic in a computer and turn routing on, you don't need two nic's to be a router: DSL connections uses a virtual adapter NIC uses the physical adapter is your LAN DSL uses PPPoE adapter (PPP0) NIC uses Ethernet adapter (Eth0) they are both are really using the one NIC , but diff MAC address , so you can setup routing between the both. Your DSL connection would use (example) 10.1.1.X conecting you to your ISP (PPP0) Virtual adapter Your LAN connection would use (example) 192.168.0.X conecting you to you LAN physical adapter Now setup routing between the both adapters(ripv1)

@greg here in germany some dsl providers -isp- do not allow more than one computer to be connected 'at the same time'. this varies from isp to isp, and it depends on the kind of flat-rate contract you have. we have very few genuine flat rates here. usually, there is either a time or a volume limit, so is actually not a 'flat rate'. but for many people this is ok. so - if there is a volume limit (in my case 5 GB per month), the isp's usually do not care how many computers are connected. i do not know your contract type - just have a closer look into it. anyway - do you use it alone? so in most cases only one computer is used at the same time. if there are more than one persons using one dsl-connection at the same time, sharing the transfer rate - usually the network adresses behind the router (hard- or sogtware router) are not visible. hope this helps a bit.. cheers hardyx9

5 GB is alot of data, now how do they measure your use? as you know there is always some types of traffic being generated between devices , arp's, broadcasts..etc do they count that as part of your 5 Gig limit?what about VPN connections, your really not downloading anything there? your just joining another network thru you broadband connection?