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