Problem How to connect multiple home computers

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Problem How to connect multiple home computers?
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Some Assumptions

• You currently have one high speed internet
  connection to one computer
• You have multiple computers with Ethernet cards
• You want access to TCP/IP services on all
  computers
• You dont want to pay for a second internet
  connection

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Questions

• Are computers near each other?
• I.e. can we just run cat 5 cable (high quality
  phone wire)
• Wireless
• Power line
• Phone lines
• Proximity etc. will determine how we connect them

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Original Configuration

• Internet lt-gt Cable modem lt-gt NIC lt-gt PC

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Possible New Configurations

• Internet lt-gtCable Modem lt-gt Nic 1 lt-gt PC 1
• PC 1 lt-gt NIC1A lt-gt Hub
• PC 2 lt-gt NIC 2 lt-gt Hub
• PC x lt-gt NIC x lt-gt Hub
• Need Routing software to move packets between two
  networks
• PCs 2 N all share IP address of PC 1 on
  internet
• PCs 2 N on a separate subnet with their own IP
  internal addresses
• PC 1 has an IP address on each network
• PC 1 IP address on Net 2 is the gateway address

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Other Possibility

• PC 1 becomes a proxy server for PCs 2 N
• In this solution, PCs 2 N do not have direct
  internet access, all requests are relayed for
  them by PC 1. OK for web access, but not telnet
  etc.

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OR

• You can eliminate the second NIC card (1A) from
  PC 1 and plug cable modem into hub as well as all
  PCs.
• Then configure NIC 1 to be on BOTH networks.
  Cheaper alternative, a little tricky to do and
  now exposes all of your machines and traffic to
  the internet.

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OR OR

• By a mini router (400) and tell cable company
  its MAC (NIC) address
• Plug PC 1 into one port
• Plug hub into the other
• Connect PCs 2 N to hub..

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Conclusion

• Soon internet will have many home/small office
  devices connected to it
• Network will connect refrigerators, ovens,
  lights, video cameras etc
• Demand for IP addresses will explode
• Need new TCP/IP rollout soon
• Never enough bandwidth..
• Unlimited business/social possibilities