2 computers sharing internet connection at same time

I was wondering if its possible to have two computers connected to the internet at the same time using the same telephone line? Its really hard not to be able to multitask, switching between computers. Would i have to network them and then share the internet connection. I have Dial-up Internet connection if it helps. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

 

Dial up uses PPP (point to point protocol) to connect to your ISP's internet router systems. The nature of PPP is that it forms a connection between two points and only two points. So two computers cannot "share" the dial up connection directly.

Therefore you have two choices (without changing to a different connection system).

1. Use internet sharing, so that one computer uses the dial up connection and provides a proxy link for the other computer. This is probably the easiest solution, especially if you have XP.

2. Use a modem router (Nortel or Allied Telesyn for example). The router makes the connection to the ISP and acts as a gateway for the network connected to it. One thing to beware of with this solution is that dial-up is automated and can be difficult to control. You can run up huge phone charges with this system if you are not careful. A fixed rate ISP package would be the best option with this solution. The advantage of this system is that you don't have to keep a gateway PC on, and the connection is probably more reliable than a software proxy system.

Both solutions require the computers to be networked. Neither is particularly robust - personally I wouldn't connect a business via either solution unless there was no alternative or this was a temporary solution.

However, for a home system they may well be fine, though you may find you have to tweak them (do a software version of a TV repair man's bang on the top of the set) occasionally.