Silly Question

[Daave]

I have one PC hooked up to a DSL modem. I want to temporarily connect
another PC to my DSL connection. Would an Ethernet switch work for this,
or do I need a router?

 

[John Weiss]

I have one PC hooked up to a DSL modem. I want to temporarily connect another
PC to my DSL connection. Would an Ethernet switch work for this, or do I need a
router?

You will likely need a router.

Other options are to temporarily disconnect the first PC, or to use the Internet
Connection Sharing function of Windows.

I recommend the router. It's relatively cheap, and much easier to configure
than ICS.

 

[wstankich]

You will likely need a router.

Other options are to temporarily disconnect the first PC, or to use the Internet
Connection Sharing function of Windows.

I recommend the router. It's relatively cheap, and much easier to configure
than ICS.

I agree with John...do the router.

Wade Stankich
Information Technology Manager
Astro Shapes, Inc. - Aluminium Extrusions
http://www.astroshapes.com

 

[pcbldrNinetyEight]

I have one PC hooked up to a DSL modem. I want to temporarily connect
another PC to my DSL connection. Would an Ethernet switch work for this,
or do I need a router?

IIRC some modems are routers. If it has multiple ports then plug it in.

 

[Peter]

You will likely need a router.

Other options are to temporarily disconnect the first PC, or to use the Internet
Connection Sharing function of Windows.

I recommend the router. It's relatively cheap, and much easier to configure
than ICS.

However, a switch should work, though. If the DSL modem's network cable
goes to the switch's input socket, then the 2 computers could connect to
separate ports on the switch and it should work.

What you may have to do is:

Turn off DSL modem and completely unplug it.
Plug net cable that currently goes from DSL to computer into the input
socket of the switch instead.
Plug in and turn on DSL modem
Turn on switch.

This should allow the MAC address on the switch to be freshly picked up
as the primary MAC address by the DSL modem.

 

[Daave]

IIRC some modems are routers. If it has multiple ports then plug it
in.

There are three outgoing ports on my DSL modem: one for a phone, one for
a LAN, and one USB. I wonder if the USB port would work...

But something tells me if it would, it would be more trouble than its
worth.

 

[Daave]

However, a switch should work, though. If the DSL modem's network
cable
goes to the switch's input socket, then the 2 computers could connect
to
separate ports on the switch and it should work.

What you may have to do is:

Turn off DSL modem and completely unplug it.
Plug net cable that currently goes from DSL to computer into the input
socket of the switch instead.
Plug in and turn on DSL modem
Turn on switch.

This should allow the MAC address on the switch to be freshly picked
up
as the primary MAC address by the DSL modem.

I knew a router would definitely work, but I was wondering why an
Ethernet switch wouldn't work, too. So, assuming this method would work,
would there be any disadvantages to it?

 

[Paul]

I knew a router would definitely work, but I was wondering why an
Ethernet switch wouldn't work, too. So, assuming this method would work,
would there be any disadvantages to it?

Does the DSL modem have a make and model number ?
What does the manual say about protocols used ?

My DSL modem has only one WAN connector and it carries PPPOE
(point to point protocol over Ethernet). To use it, I either
connect to a router that terminates PPPOE, or I install some
software on the computer (I did that years ago, when I was
using a Mac). Since your device has two interfaces, that implies
it is quite different. For example, if only one interface
can be used at a time, then it could use PPPOE or equivalent.
If both interfaces can be used simultaneously, then ordinary
packets would be expected.

I'm willing to bet the user manual probably has a few words on
the subject. Even a detailed spec sheet might hint at what to
expect.

Paul

 

[Peter]

There are three outgoing ports on my DSL modem: one for a phone, one for
a LAN, and one USB. I wonder if the USB port would work...

But something tells me if it would, it would be more trouble than its
worth.

No, the USB and LAN ports are an either/or option. You use one or the
other to connect to your computer. It is always better to use the LAN
connection instead of the USB connection because, if you connect via USB
to your computer, the computer will also require an additional software
overhead install for it to see the DSL modem.

 

[ToolPackinMama]

I agree with John...do the router.

The router is something you will want even if you only keep the one PC
connected, because it serves as a hardware firewall and will increase
your internet security.

 

[Daave]

Does the DSL modem have a make and model number ?
What does the manual say about protocols used ?

My DSL modem has only one WAN connector and it carries PPPOE
(point to point protocol over Ethernet). To use it, I either
connect to a router that terminates PPPOE, or I install some
software on the computer (I did that years ago, when I was
using a Mac). Since your device has two interfaces, that implies
it is quite different. For example, if only one interface
can be used at a time, then it could use PPPOE or equivalent.
If both interfaces can be used simultaneously, then ordinary
packets would be expected.

I'm willing to bet the user manual probably has a few words on
the subject. Even a detailed spec sheet might hint at what to
expect.

FWIW, it's a Zhone 6381, shipped to me by my ISP.

 

[Chris Hill]

There are three outgoing ports on my DSL modem: one for a phone, one for
a LAN, and one USB. I wonder if the USB port would work...

But something tells me if it would, it would be more trouble than its

many dsl modems have a built-in router, even with only one one
ethernet port. I'd try the switch.

 

[Paul]

FWIW, it's a Zhone 6381, shipped to me by my ISP.

The Zhone manual here, mentions using their software install
CD when using a second computer with the USB port.

http://www.zhone.com/support/manuals/docs/63/6381-A2-GB23-10.pdf

But this document mentions that WinXP has remote NDIS for USB
already built in. So it is possible the USB option would work
out of the box, without the CD (which is the way I like to see
network stuff setup - no crappy drivers or applications running
while I'm working). (Second paragraph, page 17)

http://www.stanford.edu/~jhbrown/Old/WinXP/Docs/NetworkingInWindowsXP.pdf

The only thing I don't get in the Zhone manual, is why they're
hard wiring the LAN addresses in some of their examples. You'd think
if there is a router inside the 6381, that DHCP would be serving
up addresses automatically.

Paul

 

[Peter]

I knew a router would definitely work, but I was wondering why an
Ethernet switch wouldn't work, too. So, assuming this method would work,
would there be any disadvantages to it?

The only difference that I can see is that the router combines the 2
processes of connecting to the internet and feeding out the data into 1,
single unit.

 

[DonC]

FWIW, buy.com has a great sale on a TRENDnet 802.11g wireless router --
TEW-452BRP.
It's used rated at 5 Stars. http://tinyurl.com/yvm2k7 $12.99 after a $30
rebate and free shipping.

I've been using the 432BRP for about a year now and it's great. No down time
and always Very Good to Excellent signal strength 30' through 4 walls. My 2
year old Belkin now sits on the shelf as a last resort backup : )

 

[John Weiss]

The only difference that I can see is that the router combines the 2
processes of connecting to the internet and feeding out the data into 1,
single unit.

A router works as a DHCP (Dynamic Host Control Protocol) server, assigning IP
addresses to the client machines and routing the data packets to the appropriate
machines. It also works as a hardware firewall using NAT (Network Address
Translation), isolating the computers from the Internet. Many routers also
incorporate SPI (Stateful Packet Inspection) as an additional firewall step. A
simple switch will do none of these.

 

[Chris Hill]

A router works as a DHCP (Dynamic Host Control Protocol) server, assigning IP
addresses to the client machines and routing the data packets to the appropriate
machines. It also works as a hardware firewall using NAT (Network Address
Translation), isolating the computers from the Internet. Many routers also
incorporate SPI (Stateful Packet Inspection) as an additional firewall step. A
simple switch will do none of these.

Many modems have all that built in these days.