Networking Hardware

Internet Connection Sharing

It is possible to share an internet connection using a peer-to-peer network using ICS (Internet Connection Sharing) and one PC connected directly to the internet (wide area network). However this type of network requires that one PC is allways on and connected to the internet before the connection is shared. As PC's use upwards of 100W the cost of electricity can mount up over time. It is quicker, easier and cheaper to use a small dedicated unit to manage the network, act as a firewall (preventing unwanted connections) and to re-connect automatically when the line drops.

Routers

Such units are called routers, and they connect directly to the WAN either through your phoneline using the RJ45 jack in the case of ADSL/ADSL2+ or via a cable oe satellite connection if your home is so connected. Routers act as a gateway between the internet (WAN) and your local peer-to-peer network. As such it is important that they are secure. Most routers also act as "switches" directing internet traffic to and from the computers on the local network and the wide area network.

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