I have 4 PC110 ArcNet cards (8-bit) and a 4-port passive hub here, can find at least 3 of the cards in 20 seconds or less , you'd have to figure out how to add a 5th BNC connector & buy Coax etc. Probably could just drill a hole and add the connector, I'd think. I'm sure never going to use 'em, got it all in trades. 10/100 cards can be nice, but only if you do a lot of huge file transfers or have some high-disk-usage, diskless workstations, are they "needed" - I find 10Base2 to be plenty for most things I do, it's just these 50Mb huge files I transfer & when I do full HDD backups that get sorta annoying on 10Base2, but then I do most everything "standalone" where the LAN's semi-optional. (All: meant to ask earlier - if you received a "No such mailbox" error from my account earlier, please pass a copy of that to me - I need to harass my ISP on their problems.) $70 for a 486, Damon? $50 with monitor, 'round here, regularly Mark Brandon, Tom wrote: > Why not go BNC and save a bundle on a Hub? If you can find BNC cards for a > decent price (new BNC or combo cards are expensive) then all you need is > cable, no hubs. Or you could look for ARCNet cards, probably find some > giving them away, only 1.5Mbps but no hubs, free cards if you're lucky. > > I really wouldn't go wasting my money on 10\100 cards. With only 5 machines > I doubt your going to be using you're whole 10Mbps, especially if you're > only net sharing. > > If you're not Linux\Unix savvy then Win98 has built in connection sharing > (don't know how good it is). I can highly recommend Microsoft Proxy server > as a works right out of the box setup. No stuffing around with routing > configuration or anything. Setup net connection, install proxy, share away. > But if you don't have NT\BackOffice licenses it's expensive. It'll also > allow programs such as ICQ (2000 only) and other non-proxy aware apps > through WinSock support. It also allows snazzy things like Reverse-Proxying > (servers inside proxy) with a bit of extra config. > > Tom. > > -----Original Message----- > From: Damon Hopkins [mailto:mdhopkin@UNITY.NCSU.EDU] > Sent: Monday, May 08, 2000 12:58 PM > To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU > Subject: Re: [OT] sharing net connection > > Alan Aldaba wrote: > > > > Hi all, > > > > I want to network 5 computers and share internet connection among > > them... what advises can you give me to avoid problems in getting it to > > work. I want to do it in the cheapest but reliable and stable > > configuration possible.. What brands (nic, hubs) do you recommend ( the > > > > most cost effective) ? Any url's, links to tutorials about the subject > > will be most welcome... > > > > All the Best, > > > > Allan > > as far as brands go: > 3 Com 3c905's are EXCELLENT they do 10/100MBps > Netgear hubs > > If you go the linux route (I'd recommend FreeBSD is your more UNIX > inclined) > you'll need it setup like this: > upstream-----[router box]---[8port hub]----[machine 1] > {2 NIC's} \ \ \------[machine 2] > \ \ \-----[machine 3] > \ \------[machine 4] > \-------[machine 5] > > so your need a total of 7 network cards an eightport hub and an extra > machine > keep in mind that the FreeBSD/Linux box doesn't need to be anything more > than a cheap 486dx266 as all it is is a router > you need to get the following setup on it to have it work > DHCP server > IPNAT (IP Network address translation) [OR] IP masquerade > > you could get real fancy and not use DHCP and statically assign the > machines IP addresses but DHCP will be the simplest way > I figure $40 per NIC > $50 for a hub > $50 cabling (IF their close together) > $70 for a 486 > about 5 hours (maybe more/ maybe less) getting the server to work > correctly AFTER everything is connected. > > if you DO decide to go this route make the DHCP server give out IP > addresses that are NOT part of the internet usually 10.0.0.X or > 192.168.X.X. > as far as services go if you use linux I'd recommend turning OFF all > UNUSED services such as chargen,finger, just about everything. for > security reasons. > > How UNIX inclined are you? I hope you know your way around a unix > filesystem if your going to attempt this. you can contact me off the > list if you have some questions. I AM NOT the LINUX GUY! I don't use > linux and haven't in a long time. I DO know a some things about FreeBSD. > > Damon Hopkins -- I re-ship for small US & overseas businesses, world-wide. (For private individuals at cost; ask.)