Sharing Internet

newbie questions.....

If you connect a notebook to a desktop thru an ethernet cable, will you be able to use the desktop's DSL internet, or is a router necessary?

In other words, is there anyway for a notebook and desktop to share DSL internet without using a router?

Thanks

 

Yes, its possible, but using a router (or a switch, if your DSL modem supports NAT) is much easier. You would need a cross over cable, and you would also need to enable internet connection sharing (a little unstable in my opinion.) Also if the DSL modem is plugged into the only Ethernet port on the Desktop, then you would need an extra network card as well. A much easier solution would be to purchase a small 5 port switch or a wireless router; they usually have a four or five port switch built in, as well as the wireless capabilities. You could plug that into the DSL modem and plug each computer into the switch.

 

There is, but it may be a little more technically involved than you'd like, and you would need two ethernet controllers on the desktop.

Windows internet connection sharing will set up a static IP on one of the desktop's ethernet controllers (if you enable ICS). You would then hook up a crossover (AKA twisted pair) cable to the laptop from the second port and set up a static IP on your laptop which points to your desktop as the default gateway (call your ISP and get the DNS server address, too, because static IPs require that DNS information be entered).

Here's a bit of a walkthrough for setting up a static IP address, assuming that the internet connection sharing on the desktop made the desktop's IP 192.168.0.1:
First, you'll need to set up a Static IP address. Go to Start -> Control Panel -> Network Connections

Right-click on Local Area Connection and go to Properties

Double-click on Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)

Set the option to "Use the following IP address"

IP Address: 192.168.0.2
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway: 192.168.0.1

Set the next option to "Use the following DNS Server Address"
Preferred: 208.67.222.222
Alternate: 208.67.220.220


The "advanced" tab on this control panel is where you will need to go to enable internet connection sharing on your desktop. You need to check "Allow other network users to connect through this computer's Internet connection." I can't recall, but you may want to also right-click on your other ethernet connection, go to properties, click the "advanced" tab and check the same box to allow other users to share the connection.


Also, if you ever want to use your notebook's ethernet connection on another internet connection, you'll have to go back in and set it to obtain an IP address automatically.


This is definitely doable, but I don't recommend it, because it becomes more of a pain than it's worth. Like Danny says, it's easier by far to just buy a hub or router.

 

Well, it depends on how many ethernet ports are on your modem. The vast majority come with just one, so yes, a router, switch or hub is necessary. Although, it should be easy to find a cheap (<$20) switch at Futureshop/Best Buy.