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Network w/ cable con. : Hub or Switch?
Name: Bradley Date: January 22, 2002 at 01:53:11 Pacific
Comment:
I will soon be getting cable internet and want to share it with three computers all running Windows 98 SE. I would like to interonnect all three computers to share files, printers, and the cable internet connection. I would also like for all the computers to be able to access the internet simutaneously. Would a hub or a switch be the best solution? Thanks.
Name: Mikeee Date: January 22, 2002 at 08:25:52 Pacific
Reply:
It all depends on your cost restraints. If you have the money a switch is always going to be the better networking tool however they can be quite expensive and so the sake of networking 3 pc's it hardly seems worth it.
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Response Number 2
Name: agent overlord Date: January 22, 2002 at 09:12:52 Pacific
Reply:
Neither, you have to get a Cable/DSL Router to share broadband internet access. You cant do it from a Hub. LinSys works good and they are pretty inexpensive (around $79). Checkout TigerDirect.com or Compuplus.com or even Geeks.com for prices. They also have ones for a Printer to run directly off of the Router.
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Response Number 3
Name: Orion Date: January 22, 2002 at 14:04:52 Pacific
Reply:
A 4-port firewall router ($80-$120) would seem to be your best bet. This provides plenty of connections for a basic home LAN and you can attach a printer to the 4th port (or in the case of the SMC Barracade, to the built-in print server) so you could have your printer up and running 24/7 for all your PCs to use.
If you don't go the router route (pun not quite intentional), you'll have to dedicate one of your machines as a host PC and install a 2nd NIC in it to connect to the hub or switch you buy. When you factor in the cost of that NIC and the hassle of securing and running that PC at the same time your others are up, the router makes much more sense.
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Response Number 4
Name: Bob Ross Date: January 23, 2002 at 20:33:12 Pacific
Reply:
I will second the router idea, for only several systems in a home network a 4 port router is all you really need, the linksys is about one of the best out there...
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Response Number 5
Name: Bradley Date: January 23, 2002 at 23:37:18 Pacific
Reply:
Thanks for the info. I went with a Netgear Cable/DSL router with a four port switch. It seems to be working fine. Thanks again.
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Response Number 6
Name: Jessica Date: January 24, 2002 at 17:16:50 Pacific
Reply:
Just to let u guys know u dont need a route. I got a switch for 49.99 at Circuit City and its doing fine.
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Response Number 7
Name: John Date: April 1, 2002 at 22:03:33 Pacific
Reply:
would i be able to share my cable connection over a hub using a proxy server? Thanks...
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