DSL & home networking

[cmr68]

I am trying to network my 2 computers, 1 Xp-host the other Me-client. They were network thru a cat 5 thru ethernet with dial up. I just got DSL & I am trying to connect the 2 computers to share an internet connection. I am using an external DSL modem and it is connected to my host computer thru the ethernet. My question now is how do I connect the two computers since the ethernet is now connected to the modem? There is a connection on the modem for connecting using USB but when I installed the software to use DSL it told me to use the ethernet.

[amw2320]

If you only have one network card, you will either have to buy a new one, get your DSL to use the USB port, or maybe buy a usb network adapter.
The cheapest way is obviously going to be getting the DSL to use your USB port as all you will have to buy is a crossover cable. Was there a reason why you were told to use the ethernet instead of the USB?
If you know how to install a pci card you can buy a second network card relatively cheaply and install it in your computer.
If you dont know, you can buy an adapter that changes your open USB port into a network card, this would probably be the simplest, but I dont know how much the adapters are.
For any of those you will need a crossover cable to connect the two computers.

[cmr68]

I went into my control panel in network connections & listed under Network bridge are 3 things: (1) Local Area Connection- Local area network-SiS 900-based fast ethernet adapter, enabled-bridged (2) 1394 Connection-1394 net adapter, enabled, bridged (3) Network Bridge-MAC Bridge miniport, enabled.

[cszeto]

cmr68, you may already be half way to what you are try to accomplish. It looks like you already have your ethernet bridged to the firewire on the XP system. Since the second computer is running ME, if you have a firewire card on it too, then you can network both computers through the firewire cards. There should also be a set of TCP/IP settings on the ME system pertaining to its firewire card.

If you enable ICS on the XP, then the TCP/IP setting should be set for DHCP on the firewire for the ME system.

As for a USB-based broadband connection, you may want to keep in mind that USB 1.0 connections are limited to 1 mbps and 1.1 connections are limited to 10 mbps. You may want to carefully pay attention to the UBS versions, if you wish to maintain the best throughput possible. One other thing to consider is that networking through USB is not built-into any version of Windows. Plus if you wind up going with a router, USB connected ones are pretty rare.

[cmr68]

Not to sound stupid BUT what is a fire wire card? Do you mean an NIC card if so yes, I installed one the first time I networked the computers together. The problem is, since I now am conected to the external modem thru the ethernet jack on my Xp I don't know how to physical wire these 2 computers together. I had them connected directly together thru the ethernet jacks with a cat5. Can I connect them thru the IEEE 1394 jack on my Xp with a phone wire? Or how and what kind of cables/wires do I need and where do do put them? I realy don't want to have to buy a router just for 2 computers (the Me is a room directly above the Xp).

[cszeto]

http://forums.practicallynetworked.com/showthread.php?threadid=1827

[cmr68]

So you are telling me I can connect the two computers with the fire wire? I am not sure if the Me has a fire wire or 1394 port, if not were do I connect?

[cszeto]

If you do not have a firewire port/card on the ME system, then you need to consider the options pointed out by amw2320. The options might also include getting a firewire card for the ME system as a third alternative.