One static IP address: how to connect 2 PCs?

Question

Ok, here's the thing:

I have one DSL cable with one static IP address assigned to it. It is not assigned to the MAC so it can be used on any PC.

The thing I want to do is to have access to the Internet with two PCs using this one line.

As I know it you can't just split it with a switch as it requires IP addresses for both PCs.

Is there any way to do this? Like using a router (I have heard about it but don't know how it exactly works)

I prefer hardware solutions over software ones.

I prefer not to use a hub as I was told that it splits the speed of the connection between the PCs and I want to have the line speed for both PCs.

(P.S.: Don't give me cr@p about how illegal it is and I should pay for 2 lines, etc,etc. I know and I am willing to take full responsibility. And even so... if it is so illegal why do they sell components that can do this?)

10 points to who makes me understand what to do exactly.

THANKS!

Answer 1

What your looking for is a router to supports a feature known as NAT - Network Address Translation. The router will use the "public" IP Address you get from the DSL provider. The router will also run something called DHCP so that your networked PCs get their "private" IP address from it. Your private network will use addresses like 192.168.0.x (where x will be a number from 1 to 254).

Your router can be either wired or wireless on the private side, or a combination of both. You can actually put a number of PCs/printers etc.. behind a router. The other advantage to the router is that most provide a firewall, adding that extra layer of security.

It is not illegal to do what your suggesting. Lots of people do it, none of the cable or DSL providers care. It's actually encouraged because the Internet is running out of legitimate IP addresses.

Answer 2

having a static ip from your isp is totally different then the ip addresses on your computers. There is nothing wrong with sharing your internet to more than one system using a router as probably the best option but using a switch can work just as good. Hook your dsl line into the router and the router will sharethe line to all the computers hooked to the router simple as that. If you use a switch you will want to set a static ip address on each computer since you wont have a router to automatically hand out ip addresses. This way each computer has a different ip address so they don't conflict on the network. These ip addresses don't have anything to do with your isp ipaddress these are internal ipaddresses within your own network. hope it helps some

Answer 3

there is nothing wrong with having more than one computer running. And yes the easiest way to do this is with hardware. Buy a router and assign the static ip address to that, then use DHCP on the computer side of the router. Or if you want you can assign static ip address to the machines also. Good Luck.

Answer 4

Hi,
I would go with a router. The router acts just like a computer. The Static IP is put on the router and your connection should look something like this.
Cable Modem-------> Router --------> PC's
The router would be doing all the connection and it would be giving your computers a set of ip addresses as well, so you don't have to put the static ip on any of the computers. The computers should be set to "Obtain an IP address automatically".
Hope this helps...........
Cheers

Answer 5

There is nothing illegal about using multiple machines. you need a router which will connect to the line and then allocate internal private ip addresses to them.

Answer 6

I don't think doing the following is illegal, but the solution is to set up a network, so get a router.

Once you get the router, just follow the instructions bundled with it (router specific, sorry), and set up the network. That is all there is to do there.

Answer 7

Holy crap dude, your're messing with three different distros and you don't know networking? Good luck with that. This is going to be a learning experience for ya.