Network question?

[kuddlesworth9419]

Is it possible to connect my new PC to my main rig with an ethernet cable to get an internet connection. My new build will be running Linux Mint and my main rig has Windows 7. To be honest I know this is a longshot but it wouldbe cool to do instead of buying a wireless USB stick when I already have a good wireless card.

[Sharif]

Or buy a switch,there cheap 

[soup]

Not really sure what you mean.  But I will have a go at what I think you mean.  You need the wire coming into your house (from your ISP) to go to a modem and then into a router (this modem/router can be combined into one unit) this you connect your machines to either wirelessly or via the ethernet ports on the router. 

 

EDIT:-

  I would say you will need a router rather than a switch as you need the wireless functions.  (You talk of having a wireless card so I assume you have wireless some where in the set-up).

[kuddlesworth9419]

Actually I found a way to do it. There is an option in Windows 7 to bridge a computer together so they share an internet connection or something. There is also another way where is you have an ethernet cable and right click the connection in the network sharing center and go to properties there is a sharing tab that you can check which will allow any PC connected to it to use the same internet connection. I haven't tried it yet though.

[dalekphalm]

Is it possible to connect my new PC to my main rig with an ethernet cable to get an internet connection. My new build will be running Linux Mint and my main rig has Windows 7. To be honest I know this is a longshot but it wouldbe cool to do instead of buying a wireless USB stick when I already have a good wireless card.

Assuming that your main rig either has two NICs, or a Wireless Card, then yes this is possible. You would be using "Bridge Connection" to allow internet traffic to flow through the Wifi Card into the NIC which then transmits the data over to your new PC.

 

HOWEVER, THIS IS A BAD SETUP. If at all possible, just go and buy a Gigabit Ethernet Switch. Then take the incoming ethernet connection that would normally go to your main rig and put that into the switch in port 1 (The ports actually don't matter but it's easier to explain this way). Then take two additional ethernet cables in ports 2 and 3, and connect those each to your two PC's.

 

If you don't have ethernet running to your main PC, and are doing things over Wifi right now, then I highly recommend simply getting a Wifi card for your new PC also.

 

Bridging connections is just asking for trouble and complications, unless you're doing it strictly for learning purposes and not as a regular way to connect the PC to your network.

[soup]

Do you have two NICs then?  Most PCs only have one (some do have more though)

[Blueprint]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure this is possible. You could either buy an ethernet switch or you could bridge your internet connection using your windows 7 rig. I have done this with my xbox 360 before where my PC was wireless, I hooked up a wired ethernet cable from my 360 to my pc and bridged the connection, meaning I could get internet on my 360 and my pc using just one connection to my router. My 360 got access to the internet via my PC. The easiest thing though would be to get an ethernet switch I think, I use one at the time being and it means if you only have one ethernet port on your PC, both your main pc and your other pc can be wired.

 

Blueprint

[ShadowCaptain]

yeah just get a swtich, I bought an Asus gigabit one for £10-£15

[kuddlesworth9419]

Assuming that your main rig either has two NICs, or a Wireless Card, then yes this is possible. You would be using "Bridge Connection" to allow internet traffic to flow through the Wifi Card into the NIC which then transmits the data over to your new PC.

 

HOWEVER, THIS IS A BAD SETUP. If at all possible, just go and buy a Gigabit Ethernet Switch. Then take the incoming ethernet connection that would normally go to your main rig and put that into the switch in port 1 (The ports actually don't matter but it's easier to explain this way). Then take two additional ethernet cables in ports 2 and 3, and connect those each to your two PC's.

 

If you don't have ethernet running to your main PC, and are doing things over Wifi right now, then I highly recommend simply getting a Wifi card for your new PC also.

 

Bridging connections is just asking for trouble and complications, unless you're doing it strictly for learning purposes and not as a regular way to connect the PC to your network.

Well thanks for the reply. I will probably just get a wireless card then. I am getting a new phone line upstairs eventually though so I will be able to do that.

[Altecice]

EDIT:-

  I would say you will need a router rather than a switch as you need the wireless functions.  (You talk of having a wireless card so I assume you have wireless some where in the set-up).

 

Thats not true. A switch is all you need, Routers are for joining/managing two network segments (which he is not doing as its still all under one LAN) 

[soup]

Thats not true. A switch is all you need, Routers are for joining/managing two network segments (which he is not doing as its still all under one LAN) 

 

He is joining two networks his home one and the Internet.

[dalekphalm]

He is joining two networks his home one and the Internet.

What?

 

He already has a router. It's his Wifi. That has to come from somewhere, and guess what, it comes from a router?

 

I don't mean to sound rude, but please be sure of your information before giving incorrect advice. I'd be more than happy to explain things in more detail if you'd like.

 

What he wants to do is use his existing PC to bridge the network connection to his new PC. The network already exists, and he already has wifi. Getting a router would be a pointless expenditure for @kuddlesworth9419

[soup]

 Getting a router would be a pointless expenditure for @kuddlesworth9419

 Where did I say he has too get a new one?

[dalekphalm]

 Where did I say he has too get a new one?

Okay in that case your post is incredibly confusing to read.

 

It sounds like you're implying that he needs a new one. Especially since the user you were quoting was recommending he get a switch. You said:

"I would say you will need a router rather than a switch as you need the wireless functions."

 

This is just a very confusing sentence that isn't very clear about what you're trying to say. If you meant he should use his pre-existing wifi router then I apologize, but you did not make that clear at all.

 

He already has a router. He already has Wifi. Anyway at this point I think the OP has the information he needs.

[soup]

Okay in that case your post is incredibly confusing to read.

 

 

Yeah fair one (...not in my head etc).  Was sort of trying to give the basics, to what I thought, and said, was a very confusing OP.  The reply about needing a router rather than a switch was more general, and not really in answer to the OP more a sort of disscusion about equipment needed.

 

Edit :-  Just re-read my post and it makes absolutely no sense (even to me and I wrote it) perhaps I had had 'too much cough medicine'[1] or something.

 

[1] I do not smoke or drink and I only take prescription drugs when I really have to.