Internet and Networking FAQ (Under construction ATM)

[FA-MAS]

In order for us to help you and to reduce redundant questions, if you are posting about a connection problem, please answer the following questions in your post:

For Dial-Up users:

1. Post your OS. Eg, Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.

2. Post what modem you have.

High-speed users:

1. Post your OS. Eg, Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.

2. What type of connection do you have? Cable, Satellite, Other, or DSL. If DSL, does your ISP uses PPPoE?

3. Post the equipment you have. Information such as what cable/DSL modem you have.

For network users:

1. Answer the previous questions about your connection.

2. Post what additional equipment you have. Eg, routers, switches, hubs, etc.

3. If possible, post a drawing of how you physically have it setup. If that's not possible, describe with as much detail as you can how you have it physically setup. Including what type of cables you have running between your equipment.

3. How many computers/devices are you networking? What OS's do they run?

[FA-MAS]

Internet Networking:

Fristly, I must say:


There are only 2 ways this will work.
1. Your ISP doesn't use PPPoE and they will assign you more than one IP address, one for each computer.
2. The Cable/DSL hardware your ISP gave you does the PPPoE for you. If that's the case, that equipment puts your computers in a NAT and assigns them internal IP addresses.

If you don't meet either of those, you do not want to use a Hubs or a Switch in this particular setup. Especially if your DSL Provider uses PPPoE. If you set it up this way and your ISP uses PPPoE, you should only be able to connect through a PPPoE client such WinPoet on one of the computers at a time. Most PPPoE DSL providers only allow one PPPoE session per Cable/DSL line. To use the second computer on the internet, you would have to disconnect the PPPoE session (WinPoet) on the first, then initiate a PPPoE session on the second computer. There have been situations where this setup has allowed the first computer to connect and have the second comptuter use the connection. It rarely works correctly that way. Plain and simple, Hubs and Switches do not route packets. If you have this setup, I suggest you look into one of the other methods outlined below.

The preferred way of internet networking:



The use of a router is the best way to go. It will allow you to share the internet connection and be able to use the connection on more than one machine simultaneously. The only downside is the cost of the additional equipment. While not prohibitively expensive, it is an additional cost.

Another way of internet networking:



Basically, either way you go, something's going to have to route the packets. With this particular setup Computer 1 has to have 2 ethernet cards and be running some type of routing or proxy software. Programs such as WinRoute, WinProxy, or even Windows' own ICS. The downsides are, Computer 1 has to have more than 1 ethernet card and it has to be running routing software. Also it has to be on all the time, otherwise Computer 2 cannot use the internet.

More to come. . .

[The Wizard]

Broadband speed boosters:

Regardless of what you might read, the best way to increase your broadband speeds is by increasing your DefaultRecieveWindow value in the registry. There is a page dedicated to this, and I have tested this thoroughly on mulitiple M$ OS's. The link to the site is:

http://cable-dsl.home.att.net/

Increasing your MTU or TTL (Time To Live) will only slow you down. He can explain it much better than I can. Enjoy!