If you have a broadband Internet connection, you may have more than one computer to connect. There are three basic ways to do this. One method utilizes software, which is ok for home users and which are very cost effective. Another uses a dedicated broadband router, which adds more flexibility than the software method. The third method is to use something called a Linux router, which is more advanced and which offers the widest range of features and security options.
Microsoft Windows 98 SE has software built into it called Microsoft Internet Connection Sharing, which allows a computer connected to the Internet to share the connection with other computers. This is an inexpensive option and is easy to use. Additionally, there is very little required in terms of hardware. The connection will differ depending on whether you have two computers to connect or three. With two computers, you will simply need a crossover cable and network cards for each computer. If there are three or more computers to connect, you will need a hub and all the computers will have to connect to this hub via Ethernet cables.
This method of sharing is the least flexible option and is prone to problems if one computer is shut down or disconnected.
If you have more than two computers to connect, a better method of sharing the connection is to use a dedicated broadband router. In this type of setup, all of the computers are connected via a switch or hub and Ethernet cables. The switch is then connected to the router. This router allows all of the computers to connect at any time without delay or interference from other computers. The router acts as a gateway for each computer to the Internet connection. Typically, broadband routers can be very affordable and simple to use.
If you want to connect several computers but need to control access, security and logging, then a dedicated Linux router is the solution for you. The Linux operating system was designed specifically for networking, and therefore offers the best alternatives for this environment. The physical setup is very similar to the dedicated broadband scenario described above where the computers connect to a switch and then the switch is connected to the router, which acts as a gateway. The main difference is that the Linux router will allow the user to have full control over the traffic that is allowed to enter and exit the system and everything that passes through the system will be logged. These systems can be quite complicated and are therefore best reserved for business environments.
