How does sharing internet connection work ?

cmscam · 18 Dec 2006 at 00:46

Hello guys.

I have another PC in my house that is connected to my PC so that that PC can use the internet.

How ever, for example, if I'm connected at 8MB will we share 4MB each ?

Thanks.

DanMc07 · 18 Dec 2006 at 02:06

All you need to do is buy your self a adsl/cable router

are you on cable or adsl?

binaryknight · 18 Dec 2006 at 02:32

the bandwith will be shared but i wouldnt say evenly like you suggest

some programs will take priority in hogging the bandwith depending what is running on either pc, for example if one of you is gaming on one pc while the other is downloading a torrent the game will lag

also to be noted is that for general surfing etc its unlikely either of you will be using the bandowth constantly so it will appear that you both have the power of 8mb

Topgun · 18 Dec 2006 at 02:46

Frames are sent/received on a first come first served basis. What this means in practice is that each computer will be able to download at upto 8mbit. Internet bandwidth is analogous to water pressure in your home (admitidly over-simplified). Turning on your hosepipe is going to reduce the flow of water from your kitchen tap. however, the mere act of installing a tap for your hosepipe and not using it will not halve the pressure in your kitchen.

Topgun · 18 Dec 2006 at 02:51

binaryknight said:
the bandwith will be shared but i wouldnt say evenly like you suggest

some programs will take priority in hogging the bandwith depending what is running on either pc, for example if one of you is gaming on one pc while the other is downloading a torrent the game will lag

also to be noted is that for general surfing etc its unlikely either of you will be using the bandowth constantly so it will appear that you both have the power of 8mb

This is not strictly true. You router does not care what the packets of data contain or what application they come from. The reason these applications appear to hog the available bandwidth is that they open loads of connections, therefore increasing the probablility that some packets from that source will go through first.

tolien · 18 Dec 2006 at 10:24

binaryknight said:
if one of you is gaming on one pc while the other is downloading a torrent the game will lag

That has nothing to do with a shortage of bandwidth, but rather a delay in getting through the router because it's processing packets for everything else. Hence why QoS works...