Simple network issue...do I need this switch?

[rallen88]

Ok, maybe I'm just buying stuff I don't need...

I am "attempting" to set up a simple network of two PCs. I have a cable internet connection which can either be shared or not (not a big deal). Here's the problem...

I have purchased a simple switch (Netgear ethernet switch FS105) but am struggling with the proper setup.

Do I run the cable modem directly to port 5 on the switch and then hook both PCs up to other ports?

Or should I just forget this idea of using the switch and just get a cross-over and link the two that way...

Part of the problem with this setup is being able to set the IPs on the machines to see each other since my @home service does not assign static IPs.

Or is my mild network retardation becoming glaringly obvious?

Any help greatly appreciated!

[radbasa]

To put it simply, you don't need the switch.

For two PCs, all you really need is a crossover cable. But if you have broadband through ethernet, you need a third NIC. One PC would have two NICs, one to the cable modem, the other NIC to the other PC.

You would leave the cable modem NIC to go dynamic IP and have static IPs for the NICs that connect the two PCs.

You can then have ICS and file and print sharing. Though turn off file and print sharing for the NIC connected to your cable modem.

[DVNT1]

That Netgear switch isn't a broadband router. Therefore you must have additional IP addresses from your ISP (one for each PC you want on the Internet). If you only have one IP address (which is most common) from your ISP then your current setup will not be adequate to share the Internet access. As radbasa mentioned you could add a NIC to the main PC and use ICS (or another Internet sharing software). This means the other computers depend on that PC always being on when they need access to the Internet.

With a broadband router your LAN is assigned IP addresses that are different than your ISP's. Your single ISP given address goes to the broadband router which does the Internet sharing to the LAN clients. This is the easy route to go and these broadband routers can be very cheap. Some come with a multi-port switch built in.
Some members found these for $49 after rebate.

[This message has been edited by DVNT1 (edited 07-09-2001).]