ICS for ethernet DSL connection - 2nd network card required?

[Paul Kraemer]

Hi,

I have a desktop PC that is connected directly to my DSL
modem via ethernet (no hub, switch, or router in between
the PC and the DSL modem). I'd like to use Windows XP's
Internet Connection Sharing to share this internet
connection with my laptop. I was hoping that rather than
having the DSL modem connected directly to my desktop, if
I connected it to an ethernet hub and also connected both
the desktop and the laptop to this same hub, I would able
to enable ICS on the desktop and it would work. I
haven't gotten to far yet, but I'm wondering if I will
need to add an addtional ethernet card to my desktop in
order to get this to work. Currently, it just has the
one ethernet port that is used for the DSL connection.
If I enable ICS, will this same ethernet port be able to
handle the connection from my laptop? Or do I need a
separate ethernet card to handle comms with the laptop
and then relying on ICS to route traffic from this new
ethernet card to the original ethernet port that is used
for the internet connection?

Thanks,
Paul

 

[Jim]

The easiest and best way to do this is to use a DSL
router with a built in 4 port switch found at the nearest
best buy for about $50. You set this up to the type of
DSL service you have (PPPOE, Static, Dynamic) and then
plug both computers into that and you have instant
internet on both machine.

Jim

 

[Sono]

Hi Paul,
In order to enable ICS, you need to have an additional
ethernet card installed in your PC.
If you want to use a hub, you'd need a router to share the
internet instead of the ICS. (some routers come with more
than one port 3-8 that you can use instead of a hub).
There's could be an another alternative.
If your DSL modem has USB connection you can use it to
connect to your PC or Laptop and connect the PC and laptop
directly to each other using the network cards. (I'm not
sure if it works but it worth a try).
By the way, if you connect your computers directly to each
other you'd need an RJ-45 crossover cable!

 

[Hans-Georg Michna]

I have a desktop PC that is connected directly to my DSL
modem via ethernet (no hub, switch, or router in between
the PC and the DSL modem). I'd like to use Windows XP's
Internet Connection Sharing to share this internet
connection with my laptop. I was hoping that rather than
having the DSL modem connected directly to my desktop, if
I connected it to an ethernet hub and also connected both
the desktop and the laptop to this same hub, I would able
to enable ICS on the desktop and it would work. ...

Paul,

yes, it would, if properly set up and if your ADSL connection
uses a protocol like PPPoE. You'd essentially be running two
different networks using two different protocols over the same
cable and switch (or hub). I did that for some time.

However, I have to agree with Jim that you're much better off
buying a router. They are not very expensive these days. That's
what I'm using now, and I never look back.

One problem with your plan is that internal network traffic
would reach the ADSL modem and possibly go out through it,
depending on the modem's design, creating a performance and
security worry. A switch, rather than a hub, would alleviate
part, but not all of it. At least the broadcasts would still go
out.

Please have a look at http://www.michna.com/kb/WxCable.htm for
some more details. Note that some cable issues don't apply to
ADSL.

Hans-Georg