Home Networking

[Bigyin]

Would I be able to play CS against my mate?

yep

[Mr. Peanuts]

And send the other computer messages, which will hopefully disturb subspace so the user can't see the ship flying without having to alt+tab to fix it?

[Kolar]

Lucon Hubs and Routers deal with different things on a network. A Hub is a multi-port repeater, you can think of it as being less intelligent then a router because all it is doing is repeating all signals sent to it from the lan and sending it on all ports. It is used mostly to connects all devices on a segment then have a connection from the hub to a higher level device like a router or bridge.

A router provides some security because of built in firewalls and deals with layer 3 packets but instead of "binding" all of its ports and sending information on a preplanned path like a Hub, it checks the packets to determine how and where to forward it.

Close on the networking without a router bit.

You'll need 3 Network interface cards.
"Computer Server's First NIC" ==========>Modem

"Computer Server's Second NIC" *Via Cross over cable *===========> "Second computer's NIC or dirrectly into a hub"

If you go into a hub you won't need any cross over cables (same CAT-5 cables just the pairs inside are changed around) just normal straight through ones. Other connection from the hub to 3,4,5..... NICs will provide a internet connection and LAN connection when configured, it's a good idea for a friends laptop or if you have any lan parties.

[Mr. Peanuts]

Alright, thanks everyone

[Ewan]

If his modem is a USB modem, he only needs one NIC in each PC

[RabbitRapist]

I have 2 PCs online here, i use a X-over cable.... i guess my PC acts as a hub/router type thing.