Connect 2 Computers useing Crossover Cable ?

[Brunoboy]

I am hoping to connect other computers i work on through my Asus computer but have never done this before and would appreciate a run down if anyone has time. I have a standard adsl broadband cat5 cable running into my little work room and am sick of unplugging it into various computers i work on. My main comp is the asus 8an-sli premium. This board has 3 onboard network adaptors,1394 net adapter, Marvel Yukon 8010 pci gigabit ethernet controller and Nvidia Nforce networking controller #2. I use the Marvel Ukon as my lan connection, presently plugged in . I have made a crossover connection on a spare cat5 cable. Apparently i can plug into the unused nvidia controller with the crossover cable and connect it to other computers and they can connect through this computer. Mine is a on a home network share so apparently i have to unshare my connection to bridge the 2 adaptors. Im not sure where to start as to settings, unshareing the connection etc. Most of the comps i work on are winxp home. Hope someone understands what im trying to achieve, if its possible etc. Look forward to some tips on where to start. Thanks all.

[Ethereal_Dragon]

I would HIGHLY suggest using a router connected to the modem for NAT, and if you have more than 4 wired hosts, get an 8-16 port switch as well....

From your description, it SOUNDS like you have the DSL coming into a computer directly through the modem, then your PC is on a shared connected through that computer, and these OTHER computers are on ANOTHER shared connection.... is this correct, or is this main computer connected directly to the DSL modem?

You can go the internet sharing through windows route, but it is really more of a headache than it is worth... you can pickup a broadband router for under $50 bucks these days, maybe even cheaper if you have a computer resale shop in the area.... That way, you don't have to keep the gateway PC on all the time.

[Brunoboy]

Thanks for looking Ethereal. Will try to explain better. ADSL broadband router is in another room. Connects to phone line in that room. It is a Datalink 4 port router. 2 computers connected to the router in that room. I then ran a cat 5 cable through the ceiling to my room to connect my computer to, about 20 metres long. So all comps connect to the router directly, always on connection. When i said a shared network i simply meant the usual home network where we can move data from one comp to another. So the router has 1 spare port left. Unfortunately i don't have a phone line connection in this room so i can't just whack in another adsl modem. Don't know if that would work anyway. May have to run another cat5 from where the router is so i have 2 lines running into this room. Hope this makes it clearer. What do you think would be the cheapest and easiest way to go. Money is a problem at present and there are no second hand computer parts shops/recyclers here. Thanks again for trying to help out.

[Saxon]

get a switch, all they basicly are is a way to add more ports to a existing router.

[Ethereal_Dragon]

Yes, your options are to either connect to your PC and do shared internet connection, or as Saxon suggested, get a 4 or 8 port switch (fairly cheap), and connect your main drop to the router to the switch, and all the rest of the computers in your room to the switch. Basically, your router is a router & a switch... the 4 ports is the switch, and all the router does is NAT, which takes 1 public IP address from the ISP, and allows you to have multiple computers use that single IP address to access the internet.... so a basic switch will be good.

Newegg.com - $10 - $25, Switches, Networking Products, Networking

[Brunoboy]

Thanks a lot guys for the advice. That's what i will do, get a switch in this room. Stuffed about with a crossover but more trouble than its worth. A good friend is going to fix me up with a second hand one and a couple of spare in-line cat5's. He reckons all i have to do is disable DHC AND HOME NETWORKING ETC WILL NOT BE AFFECTED. Thanks heaps . Will post back as soon as i have it hooked up and running correctly. Should be tomorrow. Bye.