Blueyonder broadband network?

I am at a crossroads in the development of my PC "network" - I would like to add another PC to my existing PC (linked to Telewest Blueyonder broadband internet service) and have both PCs online simultaneously using (sharing) the existing broadband connection.
One of my friends told me that he couldn't get it to work (he has Win98v2 on 2 PCs), another friend told me that she had been informed by Telewest that it was not possible and would require another connection (meaning double the cost), and a friend of my wife had managed to sort it all out to have 2 PCs working on one connection. On Telewest Blueyonder broadband.
So, before I start on this escapade of adding another PC, what do I need to know, and what (hardware) do I need to have to link the 2 PCs together?
I would be tickled pink if someone has succeeded here with this scenario and is willing to explain all.

Have a nice day!

Dodge

 

Dodge

The ISP can not control or even know that you have more than 1 PC sharing the internet.

It is easy to do if you know how, we know how!

Tell us more about your computer now, 98 Win2k or XP? Is it working ok now on this connection!

Is this broadband cable or DSL?

If so do you have a Router!

What is the proposed new computer that you wish to connect?

I am on my way out the door to work but will try to check back from my office today or for sure tonight!

Mike

 

At the moment, I've only got 1 PC. It's an Intel P3-450 system I built myself, and has Windows 98 version 2 with whatever "updates" were recommended by Windows Update!

The broadband connection is by LAN using a network card supplied and fitted by Telewest Broadband. It works fine.

I've not yet bought the 2nd PC, but have the original Windows 98 setup CD-ROM (which I suppose I should install on the new PC when I get it).

My confusion lies along the lines that I may require another LAN card (what sort?) and possibly some software to configure them to share the resource. I'm not purchasing another cable box!! I just want to know what I'm going to need...

Thanks for the response, and your help so far!

Dodge.

 

You have basically two ways to go. Either will work and in both cases your ISP will only see one PC so will only charge you for one IP address. If they say differently, they are talking nonsense.

1. (my choice) Get a cable/dsl router/switch. Good ones made by Linksys, DLink, Netgear, and others. Cost of a 4 port (so you can add a couple more PCs later if you want ) is around $50-$75. Pretty much plug & play. Plug the router into the modem (special port just for that) and plug each PC into the switch.

You will need a network card (NIC) for the new PC. About $15-$20. And an additional cable. The modem<>router cable should come with the router.

2. Use ICS (internet connection sharing) where one PC has two network cards and acts as the "host ". It connects to the modem and controls the network settings on the "client" PC.

You will need 2 NICs and a specially-wired network cable - called a crossover cable usually. Any Radio Shack will have them.

Disadvantages as I see them are (possibly) four. First, the host PC must be running for the client PC to connect to the internet. Second, the setup is somewhat more complicated. But certainly can be done. Third, more folks seem to have problems with ICS than with a router/switch. Forth, you will be limited to a 2 PC network.

In either case, you can certainly get help here with setting it up.

 

Hi Dodge

I said I would be back in touch tonight!

But Newt saved me a bunch of typing!

I could have not said it better!

I highly advise his #1 also!

Good luck!

Mike

 

Thanks, guys!

Someone at work who has it working said they used a router, and also had originally used a system with an Apple Mac as "server" with an "IBM-clone" as slave, with no real troubles.

Personally, I'm happier with the idea of having the first suggestion - I can't be having one PC on all the time so the 2nd one can be online. What if PC #1 goes wrong? I'm off line.

Anyway, I'll bear this in mind when I plan the new PC into the "network "!

Have a nice day!

Dodge.

 

As a sometime sufferer of Blueyonder I'll point out a couple of pertinent facts :

The blueyonder service is cable and has a cable modem as standard.

This modem acts as a DHCP server BUT will only assign addresses to NICs for which you have registered the MAC address with Telewest and will only give out one address at a time

Telewest will not stop you using two PCs or more but nor will they help you by supporting this config

You need to either follow Newt's advice or do some experimenting with statically assigning addresses to your PCs (probably not a good way to start your networking experience)

My final thought is not going to be popular but I feel its only fair to point out that to install Windows 98 onto a second computer from the same CD and licence code that you already have in use on your first PC would be illegal - sorry to be a party pooper but its true (though if MS was really bothered theyd have stopped the process by coding the software licensing properly in the first place LOL)

 

Dodge

Most decent routers today have mac address control/cloning anyway!

Mike

 

If you use win98 the internet sharing is veeeery bad, upgrade to xp pro or home. all you need to share is a free pci slot to addin a net card(any type)approx £7 and if you have a hub or router fine but if not get maplins etc to make you a cat5 crossover cable approx £10 or thereabouts.

In XP you click on your connection to the internet and enable internet sharing, this then makes you act as a dhcp server and will give an ip address to your new card and to any pc attached via cable or hub.

Obviously you need a hub if you wish to share with more than 1 pc at a time.

If you have several pcs and do not wish to have the main pc powered on you need a smart router and put the mac address of this into self care on blueyonder, this is the the interface and all pcs attached can be configured to acces the web via this ip address.
P.S. this also works for all other current broadband providers in scotland , although ntl requires to be installed without any suggestion of a network on the pc(which may involve a clean reinstall of the os as the wan miniport is left behind after deinstalling a network and ntl think thios is for sharing the internet connection!!) as the software required to install the modem and configure the account will not run until this is removed.