can someone explain to me how routers work?

[E.S.]

getting ready to have 2 computers in the house and both need to be on the internets, but i have no idea how this works :confused:

[GutBuster]

Routers are very simple really. Ever hooked up a cable splitter??? Not the same I know but same principle... internet comes in, split up and sent out to how ever many computers you have hooked up.

 

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/router.htm

[Smoken Joe]

Wow talk about making it look easy. Generaly speaking it is untill you try keeping it secure and having the two talk together or you have a problem that just doesnt make sence.

 

 

 

That sounds a lot more like a hub. The key to a router isnt so much how do you get on the internet that is easy it is keeping the internet off your computer. There are other post about this though.

Basicly if you have the common highspeed connection you conect on lan to the WAN port and the other to to the normal ports. Often you can simply plug the cable into the computers and start brousing the web as long as both have XP. Trying to share files, maintain security, and use file shareing and other non web programs can be challenging to say the least. It is why people make good mony managing them.

 

 

If you have problems we will need to know the internet connection router and the form of connection and the OS of easch computer.

[Squid1]

The thing you want to learn about is "NAT", also called "masquerading". It allows you to use more than one computer on the Internet although your ISP only assigned you one single IP address.

 

Stricktly speaking, a router does not have to be able to do NAT to be called a router, but most do these days.

[MLSman]

The thing you want to learn about is "NAT", also called "masquerading". It allows you to use more than one computer on the Internet although your ISP only assigned you one single IP address.

 

Stricktly speaking, a router does not have to be able to do NAT to be called a router, but most do these days.

 

Much better description of what you want YOUR router to do is internet sharing, commonly done with Network Address translation. A router is called a router...because that is what it is supposed to do....route traffic. Think of it like a train depot...all trains come in on one track, but can go to one of five garages. The router receives a packet, then based on the destination address, will route that traffic to the intended recipient. It is pretty simple..except when you have to do things like setting up ISAKMP keys to establish IPSEC connecttions for packet routing to Cisco routers....AAAHHHHH!!!! Sorry, just had a flashback from hell.

[bobhere]

What operating systems are on these computers? Are you connected to the internet via cable or adsl?

 

With just 2 computers just need a cable. Get ICS (Internet Connect Sharing) wizard going and follow the screens, naturally the second comp will have to have a network card or chip on the board.

[bobhere]

Here is a link to set it up

 

 

http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp_ics/