How do you share a broadband connection across a network

[bel_ami_boy]

I have a simple home network setup as follows:

PC1 (desktop pc) is connected via ethernet to a Linksys WAG54G (version 2) ADSL router.
PC2 (laptop) connects to router wirelessly.
External HDD connects to router via ethernet (acting as a networked drive).

PC1, PC2 and the external HDD share data across the network absolutely fine and each device can 'see' the other.

Until this week we only had dial-up internet access so I used this independantly on each pc and NOT through the network. However on Monday we switched over to BT Broadband. We were supplied with a free BT Home Hub (router) so I thought it safer to initially use this and make sure the Broadband was up and running ok just between pc1 and the BT Home Hub before adding my own network into the equation.

The broadband works like a dream so now what I want to do is share the broadband connection across my network but this is where my knowledge fizzles out. :o(

The BT Home Hub only has 2 ethernet ports so I thought I'd connect up the Linsys router as it has 4 ports and would allow me to connect all my devices. So I left one ethernet cable going to pc1 and the second ethernet cable connected to the Linksys router. The result was I could no longer access broadband on pc1 nor share it across the network.

I have the following question:

1. Is it possible to share a broadband connection across multiple routers? If so, how? If not, then what equipment do I need and how do I share the broadband?

I consider myself to be a network newbie so any help you can give me would be much appreciated.

[ebackhus]

The easiest setup would go in this order:

Modem->Router->PC1/PC2/PC3/etc.

If the router you were given only has a few ports or has fewer ports than you have PCs, a simple hub can be added. In this type of setup you have a layout like this:

Modem->Router->Hub->PC1/PC2/PC3/etc.

Hubs are cheap and can range from 4 ports to 48 ports.

[919263]

Originally Posted by bel_ami_boy

I have a simple home network setup as follows:

PC1 (desktop pc) is connected via ethernet to a Linksys WAG54G (version 2) ADSL router.
PC2 (laptop) connects to router wirelessly.
External HDD connects to router via ethernet (acting as a networked drive).

PC1, PC2 and the external HDD share data across the network absolutely fine and each device can 'see' the other.

Until this week we only had dial-up internet access so I used this independantly on each pc and NOT through the network. However on Monday we switched over to BT Broadband. We were supplied with a free BT Home Hub (router) so I thought it safer to initially use this and make sure the Broadband was up and running ok just between pc1 and the BT Home Hub before adding my own network into the equation.

The broadband works like a dream so now what I want to do is share the broadband connection across my network but this is where my knowledge fizzles out. :o(

The BT Home Hub only has 2 ethernet ports so I thought I'd connect up the Linsys router as it has 4 ports and would allow me to connect all my devices. So I left one ethernet cable going to pc1 and the second ethernet cable connected to the Linksys router. The result was I could no longer access broadband on pc1 nor share it across the network.

I have the following question:

1. Is it possible to share a broadband connection across multiple routers? If so, how? If not, then what equipment do I need and how do I share the broadband?

I consider myself to be a network newbie so any help you can give me would be much appreciated.

The specs of this router are:
Specifications

Network address translation (NAT)
Integrated 802.11g (54Mbps) wireless access point
54Mbps data rate with auto fallback
Fixed antenna
Support for WEP and WPA-PSK
Mac address filtering
Disable SSID
Integrated ADSL modem - 1 x RJ11 connection
4 x 10/100Base-T auto MDI-MDIX RJ45 switched LAN ports
Built in firewall with stateful packet inspection (SPI)
Integrated DHCP server
Virtual private network (VPN) pass through
Integrated VPN server
- Supports VPN passthrough for IPSec, PPTP, and L2TP Protocols
UPnP enabled
DMZ hosting and port forwarding
Web-based and remote configuration
3 year manufacturer warranty
==========
So you would not need a hub.
From the modem, connect the cable to the WAN port of the router.
Shut down everything, reboot from the wall(A phrase I have adopted from Baker). this means start the modem, let it come up fully, then start the router.
before you start the router, plug in the PC's and the Networked storage device.
make sure that the PC's are configured for DHCP and not static IP addressing. (Since you already had a network going, no need to change any of that except the IP addressing part)
In the internet explorer make sure you disable the connection dialup, and configure the browser to use the LAN.

Let us know if this resolved the issue...


919263

[bel_ami_boy]

Thank you. All is now fine.