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