I've been tryin to hook up an old computer (400mhz winME) to the new one (winXP) so I can share my dsl. I bought an ethernet card for the old comp and set it up and whatnot and hooked it up to the ethernet card already in the new one, but can't figure out how to share a connection. Kinda broad description but any help would be appreciated.
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Correct me if i'm wrong, but i think that you're going to need to get a switch and split the original connection for both pc's.
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Best thing to do is get a router. You can get a cheap one for as cheap as $20.
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Also referred to as a switch.
You can just pick up something like this http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...201-103&depa=0Comment
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switch router and hub are different things but essentially do the same...just in different situations...dont confuse the guy...
since your dealing with broadband...id go with the router since it was made for broadband connectionComment
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Originally posted by Jeremizzle
A hub and switch are pretty much the same thing, but a switch and router are by no means the same thing. Most consumer (linksys, netgear, etc..) routers have switches built into them, but if you go buy just a switch (or hub) it will not serv the same functions as a router.
A switch allows you to connect many PCs together to communicate between each other. With a 100mb switch each PC will a 100mb connection. A hub works the same way, but with a 100mb hub, the bandwidth is shared between the PCs. This is why switches are better than hubs.
A router lets you connect a PC (or many PCs) to an external network (ie. the internet).Comment
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A hub and switch are very dissimilar - except for that you can plug multiple things into them. They resemble each other, but operate very differently. A switch has more in common with a bridge, than a hub - in a sense it is a multi-port bridge. The initial idea behind a switch is getting rid of a singular collision domain, and basically when multiple devices talk at the same time - they do not interfere with each other.
To do this, a switch has to be smarter than a hub - it can separate traffic to the correct port, where a hub does not do this. It's kinda like having 10 toilets for 10 people, versus 1 toilet for 10 people and only one can go at a time - and sometimes they try to go at the same time and neither can get to the toilet.
What switches can do has gone to the next level, if you look at Cisco switches for instance. They have their own operating systems and command sets - there's a lot of features and things to configure. Can't do this with a typical hub.
Routers can separate and manage traffic - between other routers... like your Cable Modem or DSL router. A switch can't do this on its own.
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Miscue for the block!
In short, a Hub and Switch serve the same function (even if they operate differently). Where as a Router serves a totally different function. I tried to dumb it out, 'cue tried to make himeself look more geeky
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Originally posted by MuzikmanMiscue for the block!
In short, a Hub and Switch serve the same function (even if they operate differently). Where as a Router serves a totally different function. I tried to dumb it out, 'cue tried to make himeself look more geeky
Well... next time you're by a wiring closet - unplug all the cables going into the switch and rearrange them at random. If a switch served the same function as a hub, then this recabling should have no effect.
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As long as it's an auto sensing switch, it will not have any effect.Comment
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Autosensing aside, if you swap cables on a closet switch in an environment that uses VLANs, you're going to ruin someone's day.Comment
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Yes, if you are using Vlans, but to be honest, I try to avoid Vlans as much as possible. They annoying to manage and there are better ways to achive the same outcome (though usually more costly).Comment
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