Stupidly basic networking query

[cheddar]

OK be easy with me here I have some simply questions about networking. My Girlfriend has a cable modem and I just built a new pc, so we want to share the internet connection.

What I basically want to know is whats the easiest way to do this. I am not really sure on networking, even the basics.

The PC's are like 15 feet away from one another, we dont care about cables.

Her cable modem is attached to her PC via a ethernet cable, and it has a USB connector as well. Can I simply run a USB line from the modem to my PC and use it like that or do I need a router of some kind?

I would like to share files etc but after building a new PC money is tight and I dont want to spend silly money setting this up.

If we get the router is it wasy to setup, is this the way you do it?

1. Plug cable modem into router
2. Run ethernet cables to both PC's

I am worried we'll need logins/passwords, information from the cable supplier etc. I am used to DSL not Cable, by the way we are in the USA if that matters.

Thanks

 

[benjo plz.]

the best way to achieve what you want is to just get a cheap DSL router for a couple of bucks, and plug the modem into it. Should work fine out of the box.

 

[tolien]

Just make sure it's a "DSL/cable" rather than an ADSL router you get.

You shouldn't need any information, just connect the router to the modem in place of the PC and connect the two machines to the router. You might need to register the router's MAC address, tell the router to clone the PC's MAC address or jump through some other hoops - it'll depend on the cableco.