Networking PC and Laptop

[JamesT]

Hi all, Hows it going?

Im new here And in need of advice. I recently just bought a Laptop. And i already have my main PC. I wish to share the internet connection i have on my PC with my Laptop. Ive got 512 ADSL Broadband. I want to be able to have internet on my laptop. Here is the specs for each Unit.

PC

FuJitsu Siemens
AMD Athlod 1200+
40gb HD
128MB Ram
ADSL Modem
4 x USB
Windows ME



Laptop

Acer Aspire
Athlon XP 2000+
40gb HD
512MB Ram
2xUSB
56k Modem
Windows XP


I dont really need file sharing. All i want, is to share the internet. Can anyone help me out? And maybe give me a list of methods on how to set this configuration up?

Thanks very Much.

James T

[DreamCaster]

Hola JamesT and welcome to the board

There are a few routes you could go here. One of the more popular ways is to setup a router for both systems to share. Your adsl modem connects to the wan (wide area network) port of the router and your systems connect to the lan (local area network) ports. Most routers should automatically assign local ip addresses for your systems and allow both online together. The other big choice would be if you'd like a wireless connection or not. This is handy with a laptop, but not necessarily needed on the desktop system. I'm sure others will chime in here as to what their brand preferances are. I currently use a linksys 4 port and have 4 systems connected to it

Hope this helps
~Peace
DC

[LPDad]

Listen to DC.
I have a linksys setup the same way.
It is by far the easiest and most flexible way to go.
look around you should be able to find a nice linksys 4 port for $50

[JamesT]

Linksys? Apology for my stupidness.

[RipperRoo]

has the laptop got a network card on the motherboard ?
if not you will need a PCMCIA Network Card, they are available in wireless versions as well as RJ45 network cable connections.

absolute bottom line, to get the laptop on the net as well as your main pc you will need a PCMCIA Network Card (RJ45) a Crossover cable and a PCI network card in your main PC.

but DreamCaster is right when he says a router is the best option, as that way you wont need both pc's on just to get the laptop on the internet - plus Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) on windows realy sucks.

another option for you is client / server, this requires much more hardware, but is modular and infinatly more flexible.

for this you will need a network card in each machine (as with the ICS and router options above) you will also need a pc to act as your server (this is the pc connected directly to the internet).
this pc isnt required to have a high spec, as long as it has a hard drive over 1gb in size and enough free PCI slots to add one or maybe two network cards. I presume your modem connects to your pc with usb? this being the case you need just one network card in your server, but a slightly newer pc, one with onboard usb.
the operating system for your server would be a Linux based firewall/router such as Smoothwall - its free but you need a cd burner to put it on disk.

connecting all these together is a Network hub, you plug your laptop and pc into that (via the network cables) as well as the the server pc. smoothwall handles the IP address asignments and the firewall (you set it up and manage it via a web browser, so the server pc doesnt even require a monitor, mine doesnt even have a keyboard and mouse attached).

[igalan]

Originally posted by JamesT
Im new here And in need of advice. I recently just bought a Laptop. And i already have my main PC. I wish to share the internet connection i have on my PC with my Laptop. Ive got 512 ADSL Broadband. I want to be able to have internet on my laptop.

Something that you many want to try is a wireless network. This way you don't need wires. A easy way to accomplish this is to buy two USB Bluetooth (if your laptop doesn't have Bluetooth integrated or 802.11 b/g.) This is what I have at home, and I can surf from my Pocket PC or my Laptop almost anywhere at home. You'll also need a Proxy (a special software to share the Internet connection), but there are some good ones freeware. I have a Class 1 Bluetooth (up to 100 m) in the main computer (with DSL.)

With WiFi (802.11 b/g) is also easy to accomplish this, but the hardware is more expensive.

[LPDad]

Originally posted by JamesT
Linksys? Apology for my stupidness.

No stupidity there--we are all learning...

Linksys is one of the better brands of Routers (and all sorts of other networking equipment) (my opinion....but some of the other brands work very well also..I just happen to use Linksys and it works without problem for me)

[JamesT]

My ADSL Modem connects to my PC via USB. My Laptop has got a network card on the MB and i think my PC does too.

I think i am going to buy the Linksys Etherfast Wireless Ap - +cable/dsl Router/4port Switch, Ebuyer Quick Ref - 51436.

Will this router do the job?

Im not that great at setting up the network so tell me if this is wrong (Attachment 1)

All i want really is to have Broadband access in my bedroom for my laptop.

[igalan]

Originally posted by JamesT
My ADSL Modem connects to my PC via USB. My Laptop has got a network card on the MB and i think my PC does too.
I think i am going to buy the Linksys Etherfast Wireless Ap - +cable/dsl Router/4port Switch, Ebuyer Quick Ref - 51436.
Will this router do the job?

Do you plan to do the network wired or wireless? If you want it wired (cheaper, more reliable, and much more safe) you just need a DSL router with two network ports. US Robotics has one of those not too expensive. This is very easy to set up for Internet access.

If you want it wireless (or mixed: desktop wired, laptop wireless), this give you freedom from wires, but you won't be able to use the network far from the router (like two rooms away.) It's also more expensive and needs a much better set up to be safe (so your neighbour won't borrow your Internet access, or worse, your files).

[JamesT]

With this DSL router, i suppose im going to need two RJ45 Crossover cables?

I just found out my PC hasnt got a network card but my Laptop does. I only need Internet access on my laptop in my bedroom.

[igalan]

The the easiest and cheapest way is getting a DSL router like the U.S. Robotics SureConnect USB/Ethernet ADSL Router. You just need to use the USB to connect the DSL to your desktop, and one Ethernet port to plug your laptop.

[JamesT]

So can i use a RJ45 cable to connect from the router to my laptop?

[igalan]

If your laptop has an Ethernet port (and you said it did), yes you can. You only need a straight network cable, no cross-over.

P.S.: We're almost writing in real-time .

[JamesT]

Heh yeah. Ive seen a router on ebuyer.com, http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...8449&offset=10 and i was wondering if you think that is any good. Its got 5 stars and its cheap.

I was hoping to go wireless because then there will be no cables needed but that costs more money and harded to set up i guess.

[igalan]

Originally posted by JamesT
Heh yeah. Ive seen a router on ebuyer.com, http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...8449&offset=10 and i was wondering if you think that is any good. Its got 5 stars and its cheap.

I don't know if it's good or not, never seen this brand. But it doesn't have USB, so you'll need a network card in your desktop.

I was hoping to go wireless because then there will be no cables needed but that costs more money and harded to set up i guess.

If you want it wireless on your laptop it's not that difficult, but so much expensive. You need a wireless PC-CARD for your laptop, a network card for your desktop and a wireless AP/DSL router.