>Thank you all for your information. Can I just clear up one thing. Have I >wasted >a purchase of a network hub. Will I not be able to share my broadband >modem to >PC and Mac via a simple ethernet hub?
A plain hub by itself will not allow an internet connection to be shared. Not unless your ISP is allowing multiple computers to be connected at once (doubtful on a normal home connection). However, many broadband modems have a NAT router built in, that is, a device that can mask multiple computers so they look like one connection. Provided your modem has that feature built in, then all you need is the hub (once you activate that feature). If your modem doesn't have that built in, then you need a device to do it. These are generally reffered to collectively as "routers". You can get one at your standard computer places (computer stores, office stores, catalogs). LinkSys is my personal favorite brand for home use, but NetGear and DLink both sell inexpensive models as well. If your modem doesn't have the feature, you will want to buy a router regardless of if you plan to share the connection. The reason being... it is no longer safe to stick your computer directly on the internet. You want it behind some kind of a firewall, even if it is a really basic one. Any router will have at least NAT abilities, which is better then nothing at all (and just about all the current models on the market have more advanced firewall features then simple NAT). Depending on how many computers you plan to put online, you may be able to return the hub and just get a router. Most routers have a 4 port hub built in. HOWEVER, if you plan to use AppleTalk to access file sharing or printers, then you may want to keep that hub, as most routers will NOT pass the AppleTalk protocol over its hub ports. So you would connect your computers to the hub, and the hub to the router. That would let all the computers access the internet AND let you use AppleTalk internally. -chris <http://www.mythtech.net> -- The iMac List is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | - Epson Stylus Color 580 Printers - new at $69 | & CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> iMac List info: <http://lowendmac.com/imac/list.shtml> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/imac-list%40mail.maclaunch.com/> --------------------------------------------------------------- >The Think Different Store http://www.ThinkDifferentStore.com ---------------------------------------------------------------
