How to share Internet ?

  • Thread starter Pegasus \(MVP\)
  • Start date
P

Pegasus \(MVP\)

Peter said:
I just get a 1 port ADSL modem router from the ISP. From the
specification, it says that I can use it for Internet sharing.

However, as there is only 1 port (1 port for connecting ADSL signal and 1
port for Ethernet), I would like to know why they say that modem is a
router ? From my basic understanding, a router should connect more than 1
machine.

Thanks

An ADSL modem is a device that can process an ADSL-type
signal delivered on the phone line. It assigns an IP address to
your PC that is determined by your ISP. PCs connected to the
Internet via an ADSL modem are vulnerable to hacker attacks.

An ADSL modem/router is an ADSL modem plus a router.
The router acts as an interface between your internal network
and the Internet. It is like a barrier: Your internal IP address
(e.g. 192.168.0.10) is not visible to the outside world. It can
therefore be used by several PCs connected to the internal
network. It's much harder to hack through a router than it is
to hack through a modem.

Most ADSL modem/routers have several output ports but
they don't have to. If yours has only a single port then you need
to buy a switch so that you can connect other PCs too. Switches
are very cheap these days.
 
P

Peter

I just get a 1 port ADSL modem router from the ISP. From the specification,
it says that I can use it for Internet sharing.

However, as there is only 1 port (1 port for connecting ADSL signal and 1
port for Ethernet), I would like to know why they say that modem is a router
? From my basic understanding, a router should connect more than 1 machine.

Thanks
 
P

Pegasus \(MVP\)

Peter said:
I just get a 1 port ADSL modem router from the ISP. From the
specification, it says that I can use it for Internet sharing.

However, as there is only 1 port (1 port for connecting ADSL signal and 1
port for Ethernet), I would like to know why they say that modem is a
router ? From my basic understanding, a router should connect more than 1
machine.

Thanks

P.S. Have a look at your clock. You're posting in the future.
 
T

Tim Slattery

Peter said:
I just get a 1 port ADSL modem router from the ISP. From the specification,
it says that I can use it for Internet sharing.

However, as there is only 1 port (1 port for connecting ADSL signal and 1
port for Ethernet), I would like to know why they say that modem is a router
? From my basic understanding, a router should connect more than 1 machine.

It sounds like you have an ADSL modem that is not a router. My
understanding of the language in the specification is that they are
saying that you can use it with a router, which you can. Home routers
are widely and cheaply available, and many have wireless capabilities
too.

When you get a router, you'll connect it to your ADSL modem with a
single ethernet cable. Be careful to get that cable into the proper
port on the router! The router will have multiple (probably four)
other ethernet connections that you use to connect your computers to
it.
 
P

Pegasus \(MVP\)

Tim Slattery said:
It sounds like you have an ADSL modem that is not a router.

Not necessarily. I have seen several ADSL modem/routers
with just a single port.
 
H

HeyBub

Peter said:
I just get a 1 port ADSL modem router from the ISP. From the
specification, it says that I can use it for Internet sharing.

However, as there is only 1 port (1 port for connecting ADSL signal
and 1 port for Ethernet), I would like to know why they say that
modem is a router ? From my basic understanding, a router should
connect more than 1 machine.

Use an external "router" or, better, a "switch" (a "switch" in this context
is a super router).

Here's a cheap, simple example (we're talking $15.00):

http://search.ebay.com/search/searc...=compare&copagenum=1&coentrypage=search&fgtp=

This is for a Linksys BEFSR41 switch.

Not only does this device make the process painless, but it adds a hardware
security layer, preventing outside intrusion via your internet connection.
 
P

Pegasus \(MVP\)

HeyBub said:
Use an external "router" or, better, a "switch" (a "switch" in this
context is a super router).

No, a switch is not a router. Routers will perform some IP address
translation but switches won't: What comes in goes out.
 
T

Tim Slattery

Not necessarily. I have seen several ADSL modem/routers
with just a single port.

Sounds strange to me. As OP said, a router allows multiple computers
to connect to it and switches packets among them. This thing has only
one ethernet connection, so you can connect only one computer to it.
What kind of router is that?
 
G

Gary S. Terhune

If such an animal exists, it's a cheap one that requires an added network
switch to distribute to more than one device. A router does a lot more than
just switch packets to the destination. What we normally think of as a
router is a router with a built-in switch.
 
P

Pegasus \(MVP\)

Tim Slattery said:
Sounds strange to me. As OP said, a router allows multiple computers
to connect to it and switches packets among them. This thing has only
one ethernet connection, so you can connect only one computer to it.
What kind of router is that?

--
Tim Slattery
MS MVP(DTS)
(e-mail address removed)
http://members.cox.net/slatteryt

A 4-port ADSL router is really three devices in one box:
- An ADSL modem
- A router
- A four-port switch

Some manufacturers offer them without the switch, perhaps
to price them more attractively.
 
H

HeyBub

Pegasus said:
No, a switch is not a router. Routers will perform some IP address
translation but switches won't: What comes in goes out.

A "switch" (in this context) "is used interchangably with router, but
'switch' is really a marketing term without a rigorous technical definition
(though a switch is commonly understood as a network hub with switched
ports, which might or might not also perform additional routing functions)."
 
P

Peter

Dear all,

Many thanks for your advice. The ADSL modem router I get from ISP is
"Netcomm NB1 ADSL2+ Modem Router".

Regards
Peter
 
G

Gordon

Peter said:
Dear all,

Many thanks for your advice. The ADSL modem router I get from ISP is
"Netcomm NB1 ADSL2+ Modem Router".

If you want to share Internet access without using ICS then you need to buy
an switch as well. Plug your PCs into the switch, and plug the ethernet
cable from the Router into the switch. it's as easy as that...
 
A

Andy

I just get a 1 port ADSL modem router from the ISP. From the specification,
it says that I can use it for Internet sharing.

However, as there is only 1 port (1 port for connecting ADSL signal and 1
port for Ethernet), I would like to know why they say that modem is a router
? From my basic understanding, a router should connect more than 1 machine.

Thanks
<http://www.netcomm.com.au/ADSL/NB1_new.php>
The NB1 can be used to connect a single computer (Windows or
Macintosh) or with the built-in router can share a single Internet
service to multiple computers (a separate networking switch is
required).
 

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