NTL Cable Modem sharing

[GroundZero]

Hey all
At the moment i have my crappy PC (the only one i have atm) connected to my NTL Cable Modem via Ethernet. I wish, when i get my new PC to network the Cable modem over both PCs so that the internet can be acccessed by either PC without requiring the other PC to be switched on, or acting as a server for the other.
The NTL service requires a registered Ethernet IP address too, which this crappy PC has atm.

So then, how can i do this network??????

[Zeb]

There are many ways to keep a shared connection whilst your main pc is switched off.

You can get a firewall box, which usually has two plus RJ-45 connections,and also acts as a simple firewall, but they can be costly. ( See Jungle, etc )

The most cost effective way is to find/acquire/beg/borrow an even older pc, with a spec > a 486.

( Min spec, 486 66, 8+ Megs, FD and HD ( 340 megs or bigger )
( CDROM required for install only )

Put in dual network cards, ideally NE2000, Realtek 8019/8139 or 3com, Kingston, etc. Keep to standard cards.

Set the PC to be able to boot without keyboard ( Use bios )
( You wont need it fater installation )

Download a program called smoothwall ( Linux Firewall/router )

http://www.smoothwall.org

It's a small ISO image, burn it to cd ( 22.1 megs )

Boot off the cd, and follow the instuctions. ( beware, this cd will WIPE EVERYTHING on the HD )

Once installed and configured ( Through menus and web interface ) hide pc in cupboard and forget about it...and make sure there is enough ventilation...

Once you have PC, smoothwall will take about 10-20 mins to setup and install, NO LINUX KNOWLEGE needed. ( Just some networking/TCP-IP understanding )

One of the NIC's will go to your CM, and the other to a hub, which will then connect to any pc's on your mini-network.

I run a 24 port 10/100 3com, which allows anyone who visits my house with pc to plug in, and then join me in CS.. ( So far, 5 PC's playing cs off my CM connection with a ping 20 higher.. :-))) )

[Zeb]

You may need to reset the cable box when you put the gateway pc on for the first time.

It will pickup all the IP numbers and DNS, gateway etc automatically.. ( I know, I have NTL cable too... )

Later on, I changed to BSD as a gateway, on a P166 with 32 megs, as the pc was the size of a fat pizza box, but this *requires* a lot more setting up...

If you need a *very* simple gateway, use the LRP, whic only requires a FD instead of a HD, but is a lot more limited, and requires more knowlege of linux.

http://www.linuxrouter.org/

[GroundZero]

So.... would this also work....
Cable Modem >RJ45 >HUB > 2 PCs
where both PCs had the same ethernet Ips.....??

[Joey[kins]]

unfortunately no - the same ip address on your 2 machines would prevent them from seeing each other... the best thing to do is to get a very basic machine (no monitor required after setup) and use it as a firewall - either that or install a utility like winroute on your main machine

[Zeb]

Thx FH.... ;-)

[SmartMonkey]

or for a simple always on solution see this thread
http://forums.multiplay.org.uk/showthread.php?threadid=4531
However you may find it a more expensive solution at around £100 depending which router you need.

SmartMonkey

[GroundZero]

:hapfac01:
Oh man, thanks guyz, u been a good help :)

[wishy]

If your simply happier with windows or don't have any spare boxes / space, you could use winroute
www.winroute.com

[pukka]

i have just setup smoothwall at home and work and it's dead easy just read all the information....

[wishy]

There are so many reasons why support staff say RTFM