PCA Forums

i have 2 computers linked with a 25 ft crossover cable atm and am wondering what i would need to have dsl to both computers while still maintaining their link with each other. my theory is a router hooked to a dsl box the crosover cable plugged into one port and a short cable from another output from the router to the other computer? i dont know much about routers so feel free to post somthing

just spend the 80 or so bux on one of them linksys fire wall/router/swithc thingys... then just use regular cables to go from it to each computer.

yep, what pugsley said

Not even that much. Walmart sells routers with built-in 4-port switches for $40.

Instructions are very self explanatory.

Basically the modem connects to the WAN jack on the router. Your two computers connect to two of the 4 switch ports (and no, you can't use the cross over cable - you need 2 regular cables going from the computers to the router. The router will come with one cable).

If you use a PPPOE client to connect to DSL (either a 3rd party one or WinXP's built-in one) then you need to configure the new router's built-in PPPOE service - follow the instructions to browse the router's control panel and configure it for PPPOE and enter your username and password.

ok i got the router and cables and the dsl box. now heres the problem the damn router cant find the dsl box. it blinks the lights and looks like its hooked but the computer cannot access the internet. im using win 98.

Did you used to have to logon to DSL when it was conencted directly to the computer?

If you're using a bridged DSL modem that requires you to logon with PPPOE then the router needs to be configured to logon using PPPOE. The main WAN setup menu has the settings for that. You need select PPPOE and enter your login and password. The router will login and maintain the connection automatically.

Some companies now provide modem/routers instead of bridged modems (this used to be standard on commercial accounts but not residential). If they gave you a modem/router then you don't need another router - you already have a router - and all you need to do is connect a network switch after to modem/router.

If you didn't have to logon to DSL when it was directly connected to the computer, then you almost certainly have a modem/router.

Simple way to find out is check the WAN status in the new router while it's connected to the modem. If the WAN IP is 192.168.1.x, 192.168.0.x or 10.0.0.x then it's a modem/router.

You could still put your router after it, but it would be redundant, and you'd have to make sure your router uses a different IP address than the modem/router.

thanks FP, i think you are right about it being a modem/router. so if all i need is a switch could i just plug the modem/router into one of the pc ports on the other router so it just works as a switch?

Well you could connect a router to another router, but that's a bit complicated. You have to make sure the two routers have different IP addresses, and you need to disable DHCP on the 2nd router.

It's simpler to exchange the router for a switch if you're certain that your modem is also a router.

The switch just lets you break out the one jack on the modem/router so you can connect it to multiple computers.

i think the router i had was bad, i exchanged it for a dlink one now its all up and running. thanks for all your suggestions.

Actually it's more likely that the first one was trying to use the same IP address as your modem/router. The D-Link is using a different address. But as long as it works, enjoy!

you may be right, the router i had, i could not find anything to change the address. but the d-link is much better, it has a more clearly written manual and an easy to use http interface, i just changed the first 3 numbers in the ip and it was showtime. now for some reason it acts like the modem/router burned out, you think my messing arond could have actually burned out the modem? the modem setup says dns error, funny it was working with the router till i turned it off (just the computer)and watched tv for awhile. when i came back it was dead. i was like WTF!!

Power cycle (unplug from the power, wait 20 seconds, plug back in) the router and the modem. Do not rely on any power switches on them.

Times out of ten that clears your problem.