Four computers through one MAC address.
 

Hi,

I'm off to university in September and I have just recieved information about my internet access in the student halls accomodation.

The ISP for the student building states that each room has an ethernet port to connect to the internet and that the subscription entitles you to use ONE MAC ADDRESS ONLY.

This is a bit of a pain because I want to use my Linux machine, my Linux laptop, my Mac and my PC! (oh and maybe set up a wireless access point on the side too...;) )

Is there any way that I can connect four computers to a network using one MAC address? Possibly an ethernet router or something?

Thank you in advance.

Regards

Marcus
:Pengy:

You will need to subscribe to a larger service with them.

There are ways of using gateways/routers to do this, but equally ways of counting how many pcs are behind the gateway, so in the end you need to subscribe.

I've talked to the IT dept at the university halls on the phone and I don't think they're particularly savvy about more complex network stuff.

What equipment would one need by way of a router/gateway to appear as one mac address?

Thank you:)
M

-==Mod edit. Removed to comply with LQ Rules.==-

Basically, you need a NAT router. Those are pretty common these days; any ordinary router, wireless router, etc. will do. You can even set up a computer as a router.

Excellent, thanks. I'll have a look on ebay....:)

We can't discuss or help you knowingly break University rules, so please make sure you don't ask us to. See LQ Rules

So I've edited some of spoon's comments to reflect this.

A NAT router is definitely a "1 MAC address" solution.

OK, no problem.

With a NAT router, will that accept ethernet input? I can only find ADSL routers with NAT. They would require an ADSL line which I would not have. Is an ADSL broadband router a modem and router in one?

Ta,

Marcus

I think most "routers" on the Internet are probably NAT routers, even if they don't say so. Maybe they are also called gateway routers or something, I am not sure.

Thank you :) I have now found one - the Linksys BEFSX41.

http://www.store.demon.net/products/...-internet/124/

£10GBP off ebay.

That should be ok:)

Cheers for all the help

why don't you try first running a little proxy programm in one of your pc running as a router.
-==Another Mod Edit==-

ok, I'll give that a look. ta. Is there such software available for SUSE linux?

don't know for sure but i think you can do nat modifying iptables. I remember a linux proxy called monowall but I don't know if you have to dedicate a machine for that. let me know what you find out.

If a pc is used as a router, the proxy isn't really required.
Overall, the router is a better suggestion until the Uni is sure you can operate that way ok.