Hi all folks,

FBSD 5.2
ADSL, Dynamic IP
Connection via ADSL modem.
==================

Other than with 2 NICs doing MARQ to share broadband among PCs, can a cheap switch-hub do the same job.

If YES, what will be its specification

Kindly advise. TIA

B.R.
satimis

FreeBSD on a linux forum? No wonder you don't know if you can use a swich to share your broadband ;-)
the answer is simple: not with a switch or hub alone. But there are dozens of cosumer appliances that can do it. they consist of either a ADSL modem, a NAT processor and a small hub. Some don't have an onboard modem, but speak the protocols (PPPoE PPPoA etc.) to coonect to/with an external modem. If you already have a spare computer that you have setup to do firewaal and nat, don't bother with a router thingie, as it is much less configurable than your own build box. mine craps out over dns when i start mldonkey ;(

You have several options depending on your configuration and your ISP
If you have a ethernet modem i.e. non-USB but connects via CAT5 cable to a NIC on the PC then:

You can use a any 10/100 switch or hub to connect to each PC. If you have gigabit NICs then use the appropriate switch / hub. Most broadband is only 10MB anyway. This assumes that your ISP will assign multiple dynamic IP addresses. You should configure each PC with a firewall.

You can also use a hardware router with built in firewall and multiple ports.
It connects between the modem and your PCs. This allows one dynamic IP address for all of your PCs. Your PCs will use a local IP address like 192.168.0.1. This is better because if you want to share file and printers it keeps the local traffic from being broadcast to the world.

Instead of a hardware router you can configure a regular PC to be a firewall / router. This will require a NIC for each. i.e. one to connect to the modem and then one for each PC or just one for the PCs and use a switch / hub.

Hi folks,

Thanks for your advice.

I am running Gentoo, Debian, RH and FreeBSD. I have previous experience on LAN on Linux PCs but not Linux and UNIX PCs mixed. This is my first time testing UNIX. I think michaelk's suggestion being suitable to my application.

I have ADSL modem with CAT5 cable connected to a NIC on PC. I can purchase a simple switching hub for broadband sharing. My concern is my ISP only providing dynamic IP. If I notify him then he will impose additional charge. Any suggestion.

TIA

B.R.
satimis

How do you connect now?
What is the ip of your computer, does the modem get a separate ip?
If your modem gets a separate ip, then maybe you could suffice with a switch/hub, otherwise go with a 'hardware' router. It is the least amount of work to set up . In fact it is a really small computer doing all those things you could do with linux, but already set up to work properly. the price difference between a switch and a hub (50 euro vs 20 euro) is too small to pay for setting it all up yourself. Unless you like to tinker ofcourse, but then you'd probably needn't ask here..

Generally in the US an ISP will provide up to 3 dynamic IPs.

A hardware router will use one dynamic for the internet and then you can connect whatever you want on the LAN side. The LAN side will use one of the local IP addresses like 192.168.0.x.x.

With a hub or switch each PC will require a dynamic IP address from your ISP.

HI Jelle,

Thanks for your response.

I can setup broadband sharing with 2 NICs. I am now investigating whether it is possible to setup broadband sharing via a switch direct from ADSL modem without using a router and alerting the ISP. The reason is if the host PC is not on then other PCs can't connect Internet.

NIC on PC -> ADSL modem -> via phone line -> ISP

B.R.
satimis

Hi michaelk,

Thanks for your advice.

Noted with thanks. It looks similar to what I am doing making one PC with 2 NICs as host to share broadband to another PC.

Would it be possisble to test whether my ISP allows additional dynamic IP? If YES, please advise how.

TIA

B.R.
satimis

Maybe you could give some more details on your current hhokup?
What protocols are you using? Only DHCP (where your provider may identify you via your mac addres, but no password etc) or PPPoe or PPPoA where you have to supply a password. If you have to supply a password, you cannot get more than one ip.
Finding out if your provider allows something is as easy as calling them and ask it themselves. We can only speculate.
The disadvantages of using a pc as router are the reason I would go with a dedicated hardware router.

Hi Jelle,

Tks for your advice.

I am investigating the possibility using a switch connected to the ADSL modem for broadband sharing.

Reply to your questions
1) pppoe
2) login and password are required.

B.R.
satimis

That says it all then. You cannot use multiple logins. Go with a hardware router.
What more do you want to hear before you are convinced?

I have a DSL modem going to a switch for broadband sharing. I have a firewall on each PC. I use pppoe and a login for each PC. For security I use ssh to communicate between the PCs.

A router is better because any communication between the computers will be isolated from the rest of the internet. You control the outside world from one point instead of many.