Setting up hubs?

Question

i want to split a single internet connection so i can make it both a pc and laptop to have connection.. is it possible? i need a hub?configurations to make?

if i use hub? router?what are their differences?

Answer 1

If you want to split a broadband internet connection there are two ways.

The Easy Way is to purchase a Router, not a Hub, and connect the two computers to the Router and the router to your broadband internet modem.

The harder way is to connect one computer to the broadband modem using a ethernet port. And on that same computer have a second ethernet port connected to the second computers ethernet port.

Then after manually setting the IP addresses and subnets on both computers you go back to the first computer and bridge the two ethernet ports together by going to network connections and right clicking on one of the network ports and select bridge and then select the other network port.\

If you dont have any knowledge of networking I suggest the easy way.

A hub will only allow you to make the physical connections to network computers together.
A router has a built in DHCP Server to automatically configure your computers for networking and will also allow you to share an internet connection without it going through a host computer first.

Answer 2

You can buy a router or use windows inbuilt internet sharing capability (ICS).
If you choose ICS you need 2 network cards on the pc connected to internet and the rest is easy.Read about it here:
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp_ics/

I recommend a router.