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If you ended up on this page, you probably need some help deciding how
to get started in sharing your cable modem.
Below you'll find a list of alternatives and a short explanation to help
you understand your choices.
Before you make your final choice, you should look at the Special
Applications section, especially if you are going to use online
games, messaging or multimedia applications on your Client computers.
(If you'd like to see what we recommend, check this
page.)
1) Purchasing multiple IP addresses from your ISP.
An IP
address is a unique identifier that your Internet Service Provider
(ISP) uses to tell your computer apart from the millions of other computers
on the Internet.
This whole business of having to "share" your cable modem is
usually due to the fact that your cable ISP will only support one IP address
per cable modem. Some
ISPs, however, will gladly sell you more than one IP address for
your other computers for a nice monthly fee. This is less expensive
than buying an entire cable modem for each computer, but more expensive
than other "sharing" methods.
Advantages
Simplest to set up... and your ISP will help you,
since they sell this service!
Gives you the most flexible connection. You
get the same access from all your computers.
Doesn't require multiple NICs in a computer.
Computers operate independently. Only the computer
accessing the network (and the hub it's connected to) need to be
on.
Works with any operating system, as long as TCP/IP
is supported
Disadvantages
There is usually a monthly cost.
All of your LAN traffic could be exposed to the Internet.
All of your computers are exposed to possible hacking,
if they are not properly secured.
If this sounds like a good deal to you, go to this
page to get set up.
If it's not, you'll have to choose another method. You can either
read on or go back to the selection diagram.
2) Using a Proxy server
A proxy server is a software application that takes the one IP address
that you get from your ISP and routes the data to and from the other computers
on your LAN though it.
Advantages
No monthly cost.
Can be expanded to handle many computers.
Flexible control over who can access the Internet,
when, and where from (access management).
Disadvantages
Requires that the computer running the proxy program
be running for other computers to access the Internet.
Need to set the internet applications in each Client
computer to point to the Proxy computer. (This is a major
pain if one of your Client machines is a laptop that you use in
more than one network.)
Can be difficult to set up.
Doesn't support some applications, especially
multi-player web gaming.
No products available for Macintosh OS. See
the NAT section below.
WinGate
is probably the leading proxy server, and if you have only two computers,
it's free!
It runs under Win95, Win98 and WinNT.
If this sounds like it's what you want, go to this
page to get started or go back to the selection
diagram.
3) Using a NAT program
NATs
are another kind of software application that uses your one IP address
to allow multiple computers to access the net. They are available
for Win9X,WinNT, and MacOS. (The selection is limited for MacOS.
See this page for MacOS NAT products.)
Advantages
No need to change the Internet applications on the
Client computers. (If you have a laptop that you want to run
as a sharing Client computer, I definitely recommend a NAT vs. a
proxy program.)
Handles multi-player
web gaming well.
Easier to set up than proxies.
No monthly cost.
Can be expanded to handle many computers.
Disadvantages
Requires that the computer running the NAT program
be running for other computers to access the Internet.
Access management may not be as flexible as proxies.
Doesn't support all applications. Can be difficult
to add services for non-supported applications.
Linux
is an (essentially) free version of Unix that is available for both the
Intel and Motorola computing platforms. It can be configured in
various ways to allow you to share your cable modem connection.
Advantages
Free.
Very flexible.
Can run on slow, old (486) machines.
Disadvantages
Usually requires a dedicated computer.
BIG learning curve.
Hard, if not impossible, to set up by non-technical
users.
I would recommend this option only if you are the type of person who
loves to tear down engines or build your own computer. Go to this
page for further info, or go back to the selection
diagram.
5) Using NT
If you are using NT Workstation or Server, and
your ISP can route multiple IP addresses to you, you can use
its built-in routing capabilities. Routing of multiple addresses
(usually all or some of a Class C subnet) is not common for cable modem
ISPs, and if they will do it, you'll be charged an extra
fee. So you'll probably have to use one of the other sharing options.
Yes, you can actually go buy a dedicated box to handle sharing your
network connection. This solution may be suitable more for business
applications with many users. Prices, however, are coming within
home user range, as "home networking" is recognized as a growing
market.
Advantages
Higher throughput than software + computer solutions
Doesn't require a dedicated computer.
Only need one NIC per computer.
Reliable and runs without much, if any attention,
once you set it up.
Provides firewall protection
Disadvantages
Higher cost than using part of an existing computer.
Still requires configuration.
May not support VPN or tunneling at all, or may have
only limited support.
For more information on hardware routers and firewalls, go to this
page, or go back to the selection
diagram.
