Quick network/internet question...

....Is it possible to have a home network, with internet connection to all
computers on the network - without having to have one (main) computer
switched on all the time?

On Fri, 30 Apr 2004 23:41:31 +0100, "Johnny" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>...Is it possible to have a home network, with internet connection to all
>computers on the network - without having to have one (main) computer
>switched on all the time?

Quick answer: certainly. The function is called "routing", and it can be done
quite inexpensively...and can include wireless connectivity as well...

/daytripper

Johnny wrote:

> ...Is it possible to have a home network, with internet connection to all
> computers on the network - without having to have one (main) computer
> switched on all the time?
>
>

yes

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"daytripper" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Fri, 30 Apr 2004 23:41:31 +0100, "Johnny" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
> >...Is it possible to have a home network, with internet connection to all
> >computers on the network - without having to have one (main) computer
> >switched on all the time?
>
> Quick answer: certainly. The function is called "routing", and it can be
done
> quite inexpensively...and can include wireless connectivity as well...
>
> /daytripper

Thanks,

Does it have to be a router with a modem built in?
I see many routers that don't have a modem, so I assume that the internet
connection must come from a 'main' computer - therefore be switched on all
the time?

Am I right in the above? Only a router with a built in modem will do the
job I want?

John.

On Sat, 1 May 2004 10:09:32 +0100, "Johnny" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>"daytripper" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>news:(E-Mail Removed).. .
>> On Fri, 30 Apr 2004 23:41:31 +0100, "Johnny" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>
>> >...Is it possible to have a home network, with internet connection to all
>> >computers on the network - without having to have one (main) computer
>> >switched on all the time?
>>
>> Quick answer: certainly. The function is called "routing", and it can be
>done
>> quite inexpensively...and can include wireless connectivity as well...
>>
>> /daytripper
>
>Thanks,
>
>Does it have to be a router with a modem built in?

It does not - nor would I advise obtaining such a configuration (and to be
honest, I've never seen such a beast).
In any case, integration has its limits, and broadband companies occasionally
upgrade modems and where would that leave a combo device?

>I see many routers that don't have a modem, so I assume that the internet
>connection must come from a 'main' computer - therefore be switched on all
>the time?
>Am I right in the above? Only a router with a built in modem will do the
>job I want?

At this point, I have to ask: what kind of "internet" connectivity are you
thinking of? Cable? DSL? Analog dial-up over POTS?

For each of these (even dial-up) there are solutions that will allow you to
connect some kind of modem to a stand-alone router that drives your local
network. No need for an actual "computer" between the "internet" and your
local network, just a modem connected to a router, which is then connected to
all of your network clients.

And once you have that much in place you can easily expand your network when
needed.

As an example, I have a cable modem connected to a Linksys broadband router
(under $50 delivered these days). To that router I have connected two
computers in my office, a wireless access point (for our laptop fleet), and an
8-port switch, which in turn feeds 7 other rooms in our home.

These days, broadband routers with integrated WAP function are cheap - WAY
cheaper than buying them separate (and I've even seen "name brand" wireless
routers selling for less than wired-only routers, the market is that
competitive)...

/daytripper

"daytripper" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Sat, 1 May 2004 10:09:32 +0100, "Johnny" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
> >"daytripper" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> >news:(E-Mail Removed).. .
> >> On Fri, 30 Apr 2004 23:41:31 +0100, "Johnny" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> >>
> >> >...Is it possible to have a home network, with internet connection to
all
> >> >computers on the network - without having to have one (main) computer
> >> >switched on all the time?
> >>
> >> Quick answer: certainly. The function is called "routing", and it can
be
> >done
> >> quite inexpensively...and can include wireless connectivity as well...
> >>
> >> /daytripper
> >
> >Thanks,
> >
> >Does it have to be a router with a modem built in?
>
> It does not - nor would I advise obtaining such a configuration (and to be
> honest, I've never seen such a beast).
> In any case, integration has its limits, and broadband companies
occasionally
> upgrade modems and where would that leave a combo device?
>
> >I see many routers that don't have a modem, so I assume that the internet
> >connection must come from a 'main' computer - therefore be switched on
all
> >the time?
> >Am I right in the above? Only a router with a built in modem will do the
> >job I want?
>
> At this point, I have to ask: what kind of "internet" connectivity are you
> thinking of? Cable? DSL? Analog dial-up over POTS?
>
> For each of these (even dial-up) there are solutions that will allow you
to
> connect some kind of modem to a stand-alone router that drives your local
> network. No need for an actual "computer" between the "internet" and your
> local network, just a modem connected to a router, which is then connected
to
> all of your network clients.
>
> And once you have that much in place you can easily expand your network
when
> needed.
>
> As an example, I have a cable modem connected to a Linksys broadband
router
> (under $50 delivered these days). To that router I have connected two
> computers in my office, a wireless access point (for our laptop fleet),
and an
> 8-port switch, which in turn feeds 7 other rooms in our home.
>
> These days, broadband routers with integrated WAP function are cheap - WAY
> cheaper than buying them separate (and I've even seen "name brand"
wireless
> routers selling for less than wired-only routers, the market is that
> competitive)...
>
> /daytripper

This is what I was thinking of (router with ADSL modem) :
http://www.simply.co.uk/productinfor...UTER/index.htm
or
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/s...tml?BEL-F5D763

How exactly do you have the (ADSL) modem connected to the router if it's not
connected to a 'main' computer that's left permanently switched on - I mean
my ADSL modem is via USB, and I don't think these routers have USB input to
connect the modem (that's why I assumed that the internet connection would
be passed to the router via a standard network cable).

To explain exactly what I want is: I have 3 computers (will be 4 later), I
would like to connect all 3 via a wired network - but as one is a laptop,
I'd like to occasionally remove that from the wired network and use it from
elsewhere in the house (as it has wireless 802.11b). And to be able to
share my ADSL internet connection across all computers.

Currently I just have 2 computers connected (desktop & laptop) via a
crossover cable and share the internet connection - but I'm not happy with
this as the modem is connected to the desktop, therefore this computer
always has to be switched on if my wife wishes to have the internet on her
laptop (either that or climb under the desk and unplug the modem from the
desktop and plug it into the laptop, which is a PITA).

Sorry to sound a bit thick, I am fairly computer savvy (honest), just not
when it comes to networking!

On Sat, 1 May 2004 19:35:55 +0100, "Johnny" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>This is what I was thinking of (router with ADSL modem) :
>http://www.simply.co.uk/productinfor...UTER/index.htm
>or
>http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/s...tml?BEL-F5D763
>
>How exactly do you have the (ADSL) modem connected to the router if it's not
>connected to a 'main' computer that's left permanently switched on - I mean
>my ADSL modem is via USB, and I don't think these routers have USB input to
>connect the modem (that's why I assumed that the internet connection would
>be passed to the router via a standard network cable).

Well, hell - if you buy the wrong piece you can't expect solutions to just
fall out of the sky ;-) If you bought a USB modem, you're right, it's
unlikely to ever drive a router without a computer in the middle.

otoh, if you bought a modem with a 10/100 port, that makes all of the
difference. Computer: not required. Router: easy as pie.

>To explain exactly what I want is: I have 3 computers (will be 4 later), I
>would like to connect all 3 via a wired network - but as one is a laptop,
>I'd like to occasionally remove that from the wired network and use it from
>elsewhere in the house (as it has wireless 802.11b). And to be able to
>share my ADSL internet connection across all computers.
>
>Currently I just have 2 computers connected (desktop & laptop) via a
>crossover cable and share the internet connection - but I'm not happy with
>this as the modem is connected to the desktop, therefore this computer
>always has to be switched on if my wife wishes to have the internet on her
>laptop (either that or climb under the desk and unplug the modem from the
>desktop and plug it into the laptop, which is a PITA).
>
>Sorry to sound a bit thick, I am fairly computer savvy (honest), just not
>when it comes to networking!
>
Get rid of the usb ADSL modem and get one with a 10 or even 10/100 port on it.
Then buy a wireless-G router, connect it to the new modem, and you're good to
go...

/daytripper (usb: good for....cameras and joysticks, not broadband modems ;-)

"daytripper" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...

> Well, hell - if you buy the wrong piece you can't expect solutions to just
> fall out of the sky ;-) If you bought a USB modem, you're right, it's
> unlikely to ever drive a router without a computer in the middle.
>
> otoh, if you bought a modem with a 10/100 port, that makes all of the
> difference. Computer: not required. Router: easy as pie.
>

Well the modem was free ;o)


> Get rid of the usb ADSL modem and get one with a 10 or even 10/100 port on
it.
> Then buy a wireless-G router, connect it to the new modem, and you're good
to
> go...
>
> /daytripper (usb: good for....cameras and joysticks, not broadband modems
;-)

Cheers

"daytripper" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Get rid of the usb ADSL modem and get one with a 10 or even 10/100 port on
it.
> Then buy a wireless-G router, connect it to the new modem, and you're good
to
> go...
>

I ended up getting a wireless router with built in ADSL modem rather than as
seperates due to lack of free electric sockets!!

Everything works a treat (haven't got round to testing the wireless side
of it yet...)
It was quite a pain to set up - mostly due to having to change my old
network settings.