On Vi, 11 feb 11, 13:37:10, Jason Hsu wrote: > I'm in the process of setting up an old computer as a firewall and > server. It needs to connect to my DSL modem AND my main computer. > However, this old computer (like every other computer I've had) only > has one Ethernet port. I know this is old hat for many of you, but > I've never done this before. > > What do I need to connect my firewall/server computer to a DSL modem > AND another computer? I do use an Ethernet cross cable to connect my > main desktop computer to my laptop when I need to transfer files. > Since the Ethernet port of my laptop no longer works, I have to use a > USB-to-Ethernet adapter.
You need at least one more ethernet *port* (USB adaptor or internal card) for the server. If you only have one more computer to connect (the laptop?) a cross-over cable will be enough, but if you have to connect more then you will have to get a switch. Get one with auto MDIX (auto-crossover) so you can reuse the cross-over cable. You might also consider buying a home gateway to take care of the network stuff and connect the "server" to it as just another computer. > If I use a regular Ethernet cable to connect the firewall/server > computer to the DSL modem, would it work to use an Ethernet > cross-cable and USB-to-Ethernet adapters to provide the connection to > my main computer? Are there USB-to-USB cross cables? No, but there are USB-to-Ethernet-to-USB adapters that come very close. Regards, Andrei -- Offtopic discussions among Debian users and developers: http://lists.alioth.debian.org/mailman/listinfo/d-community-offtopic
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