I haven't worked with alot of networks before, except for what's already setup at work, but i'm finally gonna have my laptop AND desktop in the same household.

So far i've been using my laptop for home computing. but i like the stability of my desktop. what i'd like to do is setup my own home LAN.

I know there are a lot of cheap and (supposedly) easy networking kits available. So that isn't a real problem.

what i'm wondering is, if i eventually go with DSL, should i just go with a product like a DSL router (Linksys) or go with a network kit and just plug in the DSL modem to the hub.

what i don't understand is whether i can get the same effect with a DSL router as with a standard network kit. Can i share files, printers and drives with a router, as with a standard hub? Is a DSL router the same thing as a hub or what?

thanx in advance...

First of all--if it's avaliable in your area--get a cable modem; they're faster, cheaper, and lot easier. If you need to get a DSL line and want to share it between two-computers, you will need a external DSL modem. The DSL modem will have a RJ45 port on it so that you can hook your DSL modem to your hub. Then from that you plug your hub into each computer (just hook the DSL modem up like a third computer). That's the simplest way to do it; however, now you'll have to decide whether you want to register an additionl IP address for your laptop.
--Chris

Cable isn't always cheaper than DSL. Where I live, DSL is $10 cheaper with free install. I pay $39 per month for my DSL service.

Don't use Linksys - folks here and elsewhere are less than positive about many of their items, especially their DSL kit...

D-Link make a well reviewed DSL Gateway/router for domestic/SoHo applications (DI-701).

The link below contains some comments from usrs:

http://www.macintouch.com/accessrouters.html#dlink

from: http://www.macintouch.com

(I don't work for D-Link; just appreciate a decent product...)

Useful sites:

http;//www.wown.com -(excellent tutorial site; includes assorted ICS issues and 'modem' sharing...)
http://www.timhiggins.com (useful links and deals with ICS/DSL as well)
http://www.dslreports.com (has very useful graphics displays on possible 'hook-ups' etc.). A good DSL info site.

Avoid buying a kit; you can do as well and maybe better buying the parts separately... Reltek make good inexpensive NIC's. Whichever you buy, ensure it's NE2000 compliant; most Linksys NIC#'s aren't... Netgear and D-Link cards usually are. If a card is NE2000 comliant it will happily advertise the fact. (NE2000 is an industry standard...)

Good luck

Hi
If you connect your laptop and your desktop computer together, you can get access over the LAN to the other computer.
If you purchase a DSL (ISDN), and connect it to your desktop, you can easily access the Internett (dial up) from your laptop via the lan. Windows 98 SE has this functionality.
Another thing you can try is WinGate, a bit more advanced than Windows 98.
So if your only connecting two computers you don't need a hub, or router. You can solve this with two NIC and a modem/ISDN.

Rune