Stupid Router Question

[SandTiger]

Ok.. ive never dealt with routers before.. only hubs. Back in my old apt.. we networked 4 computers.. with a single dialup connection. Heh. ZOOM.

Im going to build a new computer soon and am going to get a router to share the Cable internet connection. I have just confused myself looking at the router webpages..

Say for example I have 2 IP addresses from my ISP. If i get a router.. will it only split the 1 address to 2 computers? or will it assign each computer a diff IP.

I went to Linksys's webpage.. and there was a router with 4 port auto switch (what ever that means) that said it allows 1 ip to be shared. But then i saw a regular router.. and it said something about dynamic and static ips.. implying that THAT one allowed more then 1 ip.. does the 4 port thingy also allow more then 1.. or only one?

If it wasnt clear.. all I am trying to do is network my Cable Connection beween 2 computers. I will be calling Comcast tonight to find out how many IP's are assigned to my account.. before comcast took over @home.. @home allowed 5 IP's per account!

[BipolarBill]

Stupid router! :p

A router allows up to 253 PCs to share one IP with either dynamic or static internal IPs - your choice. If you have two, the second is not needed unless you need two subnets there (unlikely).

Two IPs come in handy if you do not want to network and instead use one cable modem per PC with two PCs.

[SandTiger]

LOL. Bill.. your a machine man. You are the first one to reply to just about every post :)

Ok.. so if i only have 1 IP im set.. get a router.. and thats it.

But that raises more questions.. what about when i go to Host an online game.. if 2 computers share the same IP.. isnt that going to screw things up?

If yes.. and i Do have 2 IP's aviable.. how do i hook up both computers to use a diff IP.. with out buying another cable modem.

[BipolarBill]

how do i hook up both computers to use a diff IP.. with out buying another cable modem. You'll have to ask your ISP that question. what about when i go to Host an online game.. if 2 computers share the same IP.. isnt that going to screw things up? No. You make the machine hosting the server the DMZ host in the router config. If there's another PC on your LAN that want's to join, he just connects to your internal IP.