GOOD2USE Knowledge Network Hardware Requirements for connection sharing using a broadband routers
Good Knowledge Is Good2Use
1 x network card and network cable per computer
Each computer must have an Ethernet Network Interface Card (NIC) installed, and must be connected to the router with Ethernet cable.
1 x broadband router
It is the router that allows multiple computers on a network to use the same internet connection. Broadband routers typically perform multiple tasks, and those suitable for home and small office use will often have a built in four port switch, router (and firewall), and either a cable or ADSL modem. It is usually preferable to use an all in one solution than three separate devices.
1 x switch (if not included with the router)
If the broadband router does not have a built in switch, then a separate one will need to be purchased. You must make sure the switch has enough ports to connect all the computers and the router together. See Figure 4.
1 x broadband modem (if not included with the router)
If the broadband router does not have a built in modem (either a cable or ADSL modem), then you will have to purchase a separate modem. Most routers will require that the modem has an Ethernet port to connect to. However many broadband modems are either PCI (internal cards) or external devices with USB connections. These types of modems will not work with typical routers, so care should be taken when making a purchasing decision. See Figure 4.
Figure 4: Broadband Internet connection sharing using a hardware router with separate switch and modem
