want two computers to share the same modem.

[sullen sun]

hey all,

if i have Fedora 13 installed on a desktop and on a laptop, can i organize so that both machines use the same dsl connection? I have an external DSL modem that is currently connected to my PC via an ethernet cable. When I want to use my my laptop I usually unplug the dsl connection from my computer and plug it into my lap top. is there some way i can have it connected to both?

[errorxp]

You could add a wifi adapter to your pc and run it in adhoc mode so your laptop can connect as well.

[sullen sun]

yeah i was thinking that. but given that wifi adapter is more expensive than another cord I was wondering if there is a cabled way I can do it? both machines are in the same room so wifi seems like overkill to me.

[BugRocks1]

There are several ways to accomplish that.

- Buy a switch($10~$100 for home PRO stuff goes to thousands of dollars) and hook up both PC's to the switch and connect that to the router.
- Buy a new network card and put in one of the PC's and use it as a router, switch or bridge.
- If your router supports you can hook both PC's directly to the router, but if it had another port you wouldn't be asking right?

Those are from the top of my head that is not that good and probably there are better ways to do it.

The easiest is the switch one and probably the cheapest, if your ISP lets you login from more then one machine at the same time your are gold, some ISP's charge for that saying it is a feature others do that for free some ISP's let you login on the same account from 3 different machines or locations which is important for roaming.

If your ISP doesn't let you have more then one machine connecting to the account you can still use the switch but you need to configure the router to access the account and configure the PC's to use the ethernet.

---------- Post added at 09:18 PM CDT ---------- Previous post was at 09:16 PM CDT ----------

Cable?

Crossover?

http://www.home-network-help.com/crossover.html

Youtube is great LoL

How to make a crossover CAT5 cable

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9VpJEJAlRo

What a switch looks like:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_switch

---------- Post added at 09:31 PM CDT ---------- Previous post was at 09:18 PM CDT ----------

Hmmm...better update the price of the switches to $50~$200. I saw some costing $10 but they were chinese and I can't find them anymore.

[sullen sun]

hmmm yes very interesting solution there with the crossover cable. i think I might attempt this

is there some sort of setting up process in fedora to allow sharing or will the computers just recognise each other when I plug the cable in?
also why is it necessary to hack a cable? is this illegal or something?

(and no I wouldnt be asking if my modem had two ports )

thanks!

[errorxp]

when you directly connect two computers you will need another network card, otherwise there will be no internet.

[BugRocks1]

Originally Posted by sullen sun

hmmm yes very interesting solution there with the crossover cable. i think I might attempt this

is there some sort of setting up process in fedora to allow sharing or will the computers just recognise each other when I plug the cable in?
also why is it necessary to hack a cable? is this illegal or something?

(and no I wouldnt be asking if my modem had two ports )

thanks!

It is legal, you can even buy those cables if you want too but they are expensive from what I heard.

The setup is mostly configuring your network to listen to the right network adapter(card) and using the right protocol like PPP(Point to Point).

If you want plug and play go the switch way. Think of it as the T conector of the network world.

[trigpoint]

Just buy a wireless router, then you can use your laptop anywhere.

It gives you the added advantage that your pc is not directly exposed to the internet, but is effectively fire-walled behind the router. It also allows you to set up a network to transfer files between the PC and your laptop.

They are next to the frozen peas

[PatMcLJr]

errrrr, FYI, wireless is the biggest PITA I have encountered in Linuxland
it is so frustrating, it works, it quits, you need this, now you don't, this card works that one doesn't and this one only kinda works, and finding the information can challenge your skills to the limit.
Unless of course you have one of the supported devices, then you simply plug the darn thing in and your done.

my 2 cents,
Pat Jr.

[trigpoint]

Originally Posted by PatMcLJr

errrrr, FYI, wireless is the biggest PITA I have encountered in Linuxland
it is so frustrating, it works, it quits, you need this, now you don't, this card works that one doesn't and this one only kinda works, and finding the information can challenge your skills to the limit.
Unless of course you have one of the supported devices, then you simply plug the darn thing in and your done.

my 2 cents

I have read many such comments, but they are different to my experience.

I have always found linux plays very nicely with wifi, in fact far better than my (limited) experience with windows. The vista laptop I have at work prefers to connect to an open AP rather than the WPA secured one it is supposed to.

Admittedly I've been using linux far longer than wifi, or even home laptops have been commonplace and have therefore bought every piece of hardware with linux in mind, or at least buy it online so that I can send it back if it doesn't work.

However most laptops that I have booted off a Fedora Live USB do just work.