Absolute Beginners Guide to Upgrading and Fixing Your PC

2017-07-07 02:10:07

Upgrade #4: Sharing a Broadband Connection

If you have more than one PC in your home, you probably want them both to be connected to your new broadband Internet connection. Fortunately, a broadband connection provides enough bandwidth to connect multiple computers to the Internet simultaneously.

There are several ways to share a broadband connection, and they all involve setting up some sort of a local area network (LAN). Which configuration you choose is dependant on how much work you want to take on, what kind of connections you want for each PC, and the type of service offered by your broadband ISP.

note

Home networking was covered in Chapter 15, "Connect the Dots: Upgrading to a Wired or Wireless Network."

The Bridge Configuration

The most common type of network configuration for sharing an Internet connection is called a bridge. In this configuration, the broadband connection is routed first to the broadband modem, and then to your network hub or router. Each PC on your network is also connected to the hub, as shown in Figure 16.2.

Figure 16.2. A bridge configuration for sharing an Internet connection.

The chief advantage of the bridge configuration is that it's easy to set up and configure. It's also a popular configuration for users with wireless networks. (Most wireless base stations also function as network hubs or routers.)

The Combination Modem/Hub Bridge Configuration

If you have a DSL connection, some DSL modems also function as network hubs. To use a DSL modem/hub to connect multiple PCs, you create a modified bridge configuration. The broadband connection is routed directly to the modem/hub, and then each PC is connected to the modem/hub. This type of configuration is illustrated in Figure 16.3.

Figure 16.3. A bridge configuration using a combination modem/hub.

Using a modem/hub is a nice option, if offered by your DSL supplier. It's probably the easiest configuration possible, and it eliminates the need to purchase and install a separate network hub.

The Gateway Configuration

This configuration uses a lead computer as a "gateway" to the Internet. This gateway computer is the only computer on your network that is visible to the Internet, and it manages the connections for all the other PCs.

As you can see in Figure 16.4, you set up a gateway configuration by routing the broadband connection first to your broadband modem, and then to the gateway PC. The gateway PC then connects to your network hub; all your other PCs are also connected to the hub.

Figure 16.4. In the gateway configuration, a lead computer serves as a gateway to the Internet for all your other PCs.

caution

For a gateway configuration to work, the gateway computer has to have two network cards installed one connected to the modem, and one connected to the network hub.

When you set up a small network with the Windows XP Network Setup Wizard, this is the type of network that you create. It's a very secure configuration; the gateway computer can serve as a type of firewall for the other PCs on your network. (It's also the only configuration you can use if you're sharing a dial-up connection; your dial-up modem has to be attached to a computer not to a hub or router. )

THE ABSOLUTE MINIMUM

When you want to speed up your Internet connection, keep these points in mind:

The bottleneck in going online is your Internet connection, not your computer.

Most users choose either a DSL or cable Internet connection, either of which is 10 times or more faster than traditional dial-up.

Cable Internet is generally faster than DSL, and easier to install; in fact, it's the only broadband installation you can do yourself.

DSL and digital cable aren't available everywhere, especially in rural areas; if you aren't serviced by either of these technologies, go with the DIRECWAY satellite Internet service.

After you have broadband Internet installed, you can share your connection between multiple PCs by setting up a simple local area network.