Two Ethernet Jacks & Two Networked Boxes

Please pardon all evidence of ignorance in the following. I've just left the world of modems
and google hasn't settled the following issue.

I have a space with two ethernet jacks and two mandrake boxes. I don't have a router. What
are my options if I want to network the boxes and get them both on the internet?

I know that a linux box can serve as a dedicated router. Can one of my boxes be a
workstation and a router? I have three NICs for the two boxes.

If not, what are my other options? I could buy a router, or I could hook each box up to a
seperate jack and then set them up to remotely mount each other's drives over the net.

Most of the materials on google pertain to sharing one internet connection. I have two,
so it's less obvious (to me, anyway) that I need a router/dedicated router box.

Thanks.

Ignatius ((E-Mail Removed)) wrote:

> Please pardon all evidence of ignorance in the following. I've just left
> the world of modems and google hasn't settled the following issue.
>
> I have a space with two ethernet jacks and two mandrake boxes. I don't
> have a router. What are my options if I want to network the boxes

One crossover cable, or buy a hub and use two normal network cables. The
second is more flexible in an environment in which you might add things
later.

> and get
> them both on the internet?

One modem, set up the machine with the modem for packet forwarding. Not
terribly difficult.

--
Paul Lutus
http://www.arachnoid.com

Paul Lutus <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> One modem, set up the machine with the modem for packet forwarding. Not
> terribly difficult.

Thanks for the info, Paul. On this last point--I don't use a modem since I have two T1 jacks
in my wall. Or am I misunderstanding the usefulness of a modem in my situation?

I'd like to be able to access my word processing documents and play MP3s off either
computer, and I want them both on the net. Since I have two good jacks I'm wondering if I
should even use a LAN, or if I should just do some type of network file sharing. If there's
no real advantage to a LAN I'd rather not get a hub and have yet another piece of electronics
lying around! Thanks.

If you just moved into an office space with two Ethernet jacks in the wall
then there is probably a building-wide Ethernet network and Internet
connection, so you don't need your own hub or router. Just find the IT guy
and ask him what you need to do to get two machines in your space talking to
each other and on the Internet.
--

wcardwell at nc dot rr dot com

Ignatius ((E-Mail Removed)) wrote:

> Please pardon all evidence of ignorance in the following. I've just left
> the world of modems and google hasn't settled the following issue.
>
> I have a space with two ethernet jacks and two mandrake boxes. I don't
> have a router. What are my options if I want to network the boxes and get
> them both on the internet?

Best bet is to have a separate firewall/router. You can roll your own with
Linux or buy a cheap one from SMC, Linksys etc.

>
> I know that a linux box can serve as a dedicated router. Can one of my
> boxes be a
> workstation and a router? I have three NICs for the two boxes.

It can, however you'll also want firewall filtering, which Linux can do, but
it's best to use a dedicated system for security reasons.
>
> If not, what are my other options? I could buy a router, or I could hook
> each box up to a seperate jack and then set them up to remotely mount each
> other's drives over the net.

One of those boxes from SMC, Linksys etc. will allow you to network locally,
as well as share internet access.
>
> Most of the materials on google pertain to sharing one internet
> connection. I have two, so it's less obvious (to me, anyway) that I need
> a router/dedicated router box.

Those boxes will do all you need. And given your lack of knowedge &
experience, probably the better choice.
--

Fundamentalism is fundamentally wrong.

To reply to this message, replace everything to the left of "@" with
james.knott.

Ignatius ((E-Mail Removed)) wrote:

> I'd like to be able to access my word processing documents and play MP3s
> off either
> computer, and I want them both on the net. Since I have two good jacks
> I'm wondering if I
> should even use a LAN, or if I should just do some type of network file
> sharing. If there's no real advantage to a LAN I'd rather not get a hub
> and have yet another piece of electronics
> lying around! Thanks.

Network file sharing requires a lan of some sort. What are those 2 T1s
(more properly called DS1) connected to? Are they both going to an ISP?
You'll also need something to connect to the DS1. A standard computer NIC
won't do it.

--

Fundamentalism is fundamentally wrong.

To reply to this message, replace everything to the left of "@" with
james.knott.