Re:
>    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
You may want to consider the LinkSys Cable Modem / DSL Router -- it
includes a 4-port 10/100 _switch_ (better than a hub), and costs very
little ($159 at buy.com). It runs Linux, but you can't see  that -- all
configuration is done through a web browser.

I was running a Linux Firewall / Router (NetMAX) built on a cheapo P-120
when I was accessing the Internet through a modem. When I had DSL
installed, I bought the LinkSys box because I knew it would be quicker than
installing another network card into the Linux box and configuring it
properly. I have >5 Macs, PCs and Linux boxes all surfing the web through
the LinkSys now, and the security appears to be quite good (all external
port scans come up with nothing). The LinkSys box does NAT, VPN, DMZ
support, port blocking, port forwarding, static / dynamic routing, PPPoE,
etc. -- it's quite full-featured, and available just about anywhere -- even
Radio Shacks sells it!

Of course to add a 5th computer to a setup using the LinkSys, you'd have to
have a cheap hub or something hanging off one of the switch's 4 ports, so
we're talking around $200 + the cost of the NICs in the PCs.



 ______________________________________
  Andrew E. Kalman, Ph.D.   aek@netcom.com