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What are
the possible configuration settings for
a home/SOHO network with 3-4 computers
and an ADSL Internet connection?
On this
page I will describe the 4 variants or
options that one has when connecting a
home or small office network to the
Internet via an ADSL or Cable modem.
Carefully read the pros and cons of each
method and decide what's best for you.
In this
page I will not go into PC configuration
details.
Option 1:
Everything hooked to a Hub or Switch
Pros
-
Simple setup
- No
server needed
-
Configure each PC manually
Cons
-
Maximum 4 PC's
-
Fixed IP addresses for all 4 PC's
-
Dial-in required per PC
- No
Proxy
-
Hub ports = the number of PC's + 1
-
Only one PC at a time can be
connected to the Internet
Here we
connect all Ethernet cables (PC and
ADSL) to a hub or switch. The hub or
switch can be any model UTP based hub
preferably with a uplink/MDI crossed
connector. You will need the uplink
connector to connect the ADSL connector.
If your hub does not come with such a
connector, you should buy or prepare a
UTP crossed-over network cable and use
that instead. Your hub should have at
least the amount of PC's plus 1 (ADSL)
UTP ports.
Layout:
Internet
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Splitter
|
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212.143.143.12 (Real IP from ISP -
sample)
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Alcatel modem
|
10.0.0.138
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(Crossed-over cable if hub doesn't have
an uplink port)
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PC1-------------------Switching
Hub-----------------------PC4
10.0.0.101
/
\
10.0.0.104
/
\
/
\
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|
|
|
|
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PC2
PC3
10.0.0.102
10.0.0.103
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The ADSL cable goes to the splitter.
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The ADSL modem is connected to the
splitter.
-
The Ethernet cable from the modem
either is connected to the uplink
UTP connector of your hub, or -
using a UTP crossed cable - to a
regular UTP connector.
-
Each PC is connected to a regular
UTP port of the hub/switch.
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Each PC (maximum of 4!) should be
configured as a ADSL client as
described by your provider. Each PC
should have an unique IP address.
Option 2:
Everything to the Hub or Switch - one of
the PCs is a server
Pros
-
Simple setup
- No
manual PC configuration
-
Almost no limit to the number of
PC's (254)
-
Dialup is done automatically
-
Proxy (WinRoute or similar)
Cons
-
Server software (NAT or Proxy) or
Microsoft Internet Connection
Sharing (ICS) required
-
Configuring the server can be
difficult
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Hub ports = number PC's + 1
This
setup is similar to variant 1 with one
difference: we have a server which
enables us to use a different IP range
for PCs.
Layout:
Internet
|
|
Splitter
|
|
|
212.143.143.12 (Real IP from ISP -
sample)
|
Alcatel modem
|
10.0.0.138
|
|
(Crossed-over cable if hub doesn't have
an uplink port)
|
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PC1-------------------Switching
Hub-----------------PC4 (SERVER)
10.0.0.101
/
\
10.0.0.104
/
\
/
\
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|
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|
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PC2
PC3
10.0.0.102
10.0.0.103
-
The ADSL cable goes to the splitter.
-
The ADSL modem is connected to the
splitter.
-
The Ethernet cable from the modem
either is connected to the uplink
UTP connector of your hub, or -
using a UTP crossed cable - to a
regular UTP connector.
-
Each PC is connected to a regular
UTP port of the hub/switch.
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One of the PC's is to be configured
as server either using software like
WinRoute or Microsoft Internet
Connection Sharing (Windows 2000, XP
and ME have this standard included).
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