I need help configuring a 2 computer network with both a switch and a router

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Request for Question Clarification by maniac-ga on 12 Jan 2005 18:38 PST

Hello Jons5150,

What kind of help are you asking for? Until you explain a little more
fully, it is difficult to prepare an answer that will fully satisfy
you.

For example:
 - Do you need help selecting cables to hook all this together?
 - Do you need help setting configuration options for the router?
 - Should your 2 computer network be "stand alone" or hooked up to the
internet? If the latter, are you limited to a single IP address or are
two OK?
 - Do you need help setting up a firewall (on each system individually
or on the router if it provides that service)?

The answer by Crythias describes a typical set up but there are a
number of situations where that is not appropriate - for example if
you use a dial up modem or if your ISP provide you only a single IP
address.

Please explain the type of help you need and the equipment / software
you are planning to use.

  --Maniac

What kind of computers do you have? What OS? Also, why do you need a
switch? Does your router only have 2 ports (WAN, LAN) and does not
have a built-in switch?

It'd be beneficial to know which brand/model router you are using...

Essentially, it's like this: 
PC1-(cat5 cable)-switch port1 
PC2-(cat5 cable)-switch port2
router LAN port-(cat5 cable)-switch port3
router WAN port-(cat5 cable)-cable/dsl modem.

Plug everything in and go. This assumes that the PCs have never been
configured with an IP address, and the router is providing DHCP as
default. The TCP/IP configuration of PC1 and PC2 should be set to
"Automatic", and the router should be configured appropriately to talk
to the cable/dsl modem. If you have a DSL modem, you might need to
configure the router to connect using PPPOE. Your high speed internet
provider should be able to walk you through some basic steps over the
phone.