Acmlm's Board - I2 Archive - Hardware/Software - Routers.
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Colin
Posts: 5865/11302 |
Need to bump this. 
Anyways, it's time to get said router but now I'm facing a roadblock - the Celeron 300 machine.
Now, obviously the setup's going to look like this: DSL modem connected to the multi-port router (eliminating the need for a hub) and then a wireless USB adaptor connected to the Celeron so that I can pick up the signal on the old PC. Obviously my parents would need to turn the power bar of my computer on so that they could access the net (I think - don't think they'd have to load XP) but for the most part that should work.
However, the Celeron POS only has 64MB of RAM, and that's a problem. I was looking at Linksys routers today and I can get one for $69, which isn't bad - and of course the adaptor that goes with it is $69 as well. (I was looking for a package deal but no luck yet.) However, the adaptor says that it requires 128MB of RAM, which I'd assume is for the software itself, but still... It's one of those grey areas.
Anyways, two questions.
1) Can you use any adaptor with any router, or should they be the same brand? (Conversely, would any Linksys adaptor work with any Linksys router.)
2) If I'm only connecting ONE computer (aside from the main one that has the DSL modem) to the router, I'd only need a one-port router, right?
I could check Google but I hit quite a few strikes early on in my search. |
Colin
Posts: 5597/11302 |
Excellent information. 
I shouldn't have many problems with port settings because I've messed around with firewalls enough to know what's good/not good. If anything there'd just be a small transition period.
Good stuff. Thanks guys.  (It's not my money I'm spending but at least I know which approach to take now.) |
FreeDOS
Posts: 926/1657 |
If you have an old 486 or Pentium around not being used, you can use that with floppyfw as a router.  |
Ran-chan
Posts: 5962/12781 |
Humm, guess what we have at the dorm, then. _ |
alte Hexe
Posts: 1973/5458 |
NETGEAR IS THE DEVIL. |
HyperLamer
Posts: 2444/8210 |
A better explanation: TCP waits for you to send back an "OK, got it" message (ACK) before sending another, UDP just sends them all and lets you sort it out. Most IM and game programs use UDP because it can be much faster, whereas programs that need stability more than speed (any standard http browser for example) tend to use TCP.
Or you could just set up both for whatever ports you need. (You might also want to block some of the common attack ports. Only one I know off hand is 31337.) |
Ailure
Posts: 6634/11162 |
Heh, there is both a router and a switch in my network. My router did have a in-built switch but the ports wasn't enough. ^^;
Port forwarding is dead easy to do, as long you read the documentation. And as long you don't confuse UDP and TCP (Zsnes works best with UDP BTW).
TCP is like safe, while on UDP it dosen't care if it arrived or not. Thought UDP is better for things that needs to go fast (online games, voice chat, ETC)
I have no recomendation for which Router you should take, as long you don't take the brand I have...  |
BMF98567
Posts: 532/1261 |
Well, here's my original network setup:
I now have a 4-port router that eliminates the need for a hub, but the rest is still basically the same. Modem connects to router, router connects to computers' Ethernet jacks. It's pretty simple, really, and there are lots of tutorials available online for first-timers (just do a search for "home networking" or something similar).
The Linksys EtherFast Cable/DSL Router is pretty cheap, and works well. My first setup used a BEFSR11 (1-port), in combination with a cheapo ASOUND "Petit Hub." When my brother got his PowerBook, he bought a 4-port Wireless-B router (BEFW1154), which replaced both the old router and the hub (the new router has a hub built-in).
Overall, I'd say you're looking at not more than $50-$60 to set up a simple home network. |
Mel
Posts: 649/991 |
DO NOT GET D-LINK
DO NOT GET D-LINK
DO NOT GET D-LINK |
Xkeeper
Posts: -2930/-863 |
Well, you can probably get a good Linksys one for, say, 50$, and with that one all we had to do was plug it in and go...
If you want to do ZSNES or whatever it's more complicated, but I won't go into detail (basically yhou have to set port forwarding]
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Colin
Posts: 5572/11302 |
Translation: I want you guys to educate me on them as they're one hardware part that I don't *fully* understand.
The situation is like this... I have my modem (SpeedStream 5200) and now I want to get a router so that I can hook my OLD PC (Celeron 300) up to the Internet for parental use. So how exactly does it work... Is it basically "plug adapter/receiver into USB slot of old PC, connect modem and router, enjoy" or is it a bit more complex than that?
As well, any good suggestions on types of routers to get would be useful; we're not looking to spend a fortune here, but we just want something affordable and that'll do the job hassle-free. |
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