| When I first started in computers, one of the | | | | hub does not have built-in firewall or any |
| most confusing things that I ran across was | | | | other such software that can protect the |
| how to set up a home network. The differences | | | | computers behind the hub Computers A must |
| between hubs, routers, Internet Connection | | | | also be running Windows firewall in the |
| Sharing (ICS) and cabling were a mystery to | | | | background which provides an additional |
| me. But after much trial and error and | | | | performance hit. |
| built-up experience I managed to figure | | | | |
| things out and some of that information I | | | | So although the ICS is the cheapest way to |
| will share with you now. | | | | go, it is definitely not the speediest way to |
| | | | go. In fact, to be honest, I would only |
| There are two basic types of networks that | | | | follow this route if the users of Computers B |
| I'm going to talk about in this article first | | | | and C had something against the user of |
| being the infamous ICS or Internet Connection | | | | Computer A and want to get even! |
| Sharing. ICS is usually implemented by | | | | |
| connecting multiple computers through the hub | | | | The second type of setup that I'm going to |
| to a single computer. Let's say we have three | | | | talk about it is the router based set up. |
| computers, Computer A, Computer B and | | | | Nice thing about the router is that most |
| Computer C. Computer A has enjoyed a high | | | | routers are very intelligent. They have |
| speed Internet connection and after a while, | | | | built-in firewalls, parental controls, can |
| Computer B and C want to get in on the | | | | block sites or even allow users to have |
| action! In order to implement ICS, we would | | | | access to your network from the outside if |
| have to connect Computers B and C to a hub. | | | | they know the proper passwords and/or ports |
| | | | to connect through. No additional software is |
| A hub is basically a switch that allows any | | | | required that might add a performance hit and |
| computer hooked up to it to communicate with | | | | all three computers get configured the same |
| any other computer hooked up to the hub. So | | | | way. |
| with all three computers hooked up to it, we | | | | |
| would set the network up on the computers to | | | | To hook up or router you simply plug a cable |
| use ICS. Computers B and C would be told that | | | | from your Internet connection into the router |
| they're going to connect to the Internet | | | | then plug the three computers into the router |
| through another computer that has a | | | | as well. When you set up your computers you |
| high-speed Internet connection. While | | | | tell networking software that all three will |
| Computer A would be configured to enjoy its | | | | computers have direct access to the Internet. |
| high-speed connection as it did before. | | | | There is some setup involved with router as |
| | | | is usual with any complicated piece of |
| Like this, Computers B and C would enjoy a | | | | hardware but usually it is very painless and |
| relatively fast connection to the Internet as | | | | if you follow the instructions, quite easy! |
| would Computer A. The problem here starts | | | | |
| when all three computers are accessing the | | | | The nice thing about router set up is that |
| Internet at the same time. Computers B and C | | | | once it is set, up all three computers enjoy |
| would enjoy a relatively fast connection to | | | | the same speed advantages of being on a |
| the Internet while Computer A would suffer | | | | high-speed Internet. No one computer is |
| some moderate slowdowns because it not only | | | | impacted by the fact that someone else is |
| has to handle its own traffic but the traffic | | | | downloading a file. In fact, all three can |
| of the other two computers as well. The user | | | | download a file at the same time and still |
| on Computer A is going to get quite upset if | | | | enjoy impressive speed while doing so! Face |
| Computers B and C decide to download files at | | | | it guys this is the network that you want to |
| the same time. Because downloading a file is | | | | set up if your wife is on Computer A! |
| such a data intensive process, demanding | | | | |
| large amounts of data be transferred from the | | | | Routers tend to be a little more expensive |
| Internet as fast as possible, Computers A may | | | | than hubs but the advantages of having them a |
| suffer some severe speed problems because of | | | | part your network far outweigh any price |
| the demand being put on it from the other two | | | | difference. So if you must go with ICS, then |
| computers. | | | | do so with pride! But personally, I would |
| | | | recommend spending the extra money to go the |
| Unfortunately because of the fact that the | | | | "router route"! |