Networking without a router?

[enat66]

Is there a way that I can network my computers (one would be Win98 and the other would be linux) and share my internet connection (cable, RoadRunner) without a router? I have a built-in ethernet on this computer and a spare network card lying around...I could buy a 3rd one so that the main machine would have 2 ethernet ports and the secondary one have 1 port...would I be able to run the cable modem to the computer then a ethernet connection from that to the other computer? Is this a bog down on the primary system? Or could I (since my modem allows ethernet or usb connections) hook one computer up to the usb port and the other to the modem with the ethernet?

Thanks in Advance

[will2041]

It is very much possible. I would personally go with an Ethernet connection into a computer with two network cards. The modem into one, then use either a direct cable connection (be sure it is a cross-over cable) or hub to connect the two computers together. Just assign a static IP to each computer (easier that way). All you would then need to do is install some sort of internet connection software. Windows has it built in or you could go with an outside source like Sygate. If you need more details, I'm simply brimming with info today!

[enat66]

How would that go over with my isp...Road Runner...currently I have a dynamic ip....Thanks

[will2041]

You would be able to set the IP information on the card that has the modem hooked up to it as dynamic (DHCP). The other card connecting to computer2 could be set as static. RoadRunner would have no idea what you were up to!

[ceh383]

To share the internet connection, you need to run some sort of PROXY software on the machine with two NIC's. I don't think Windows built-in ICS will work with the second box running Linux. You could run Sygate or if you like free software you could use Analog-x Proxy

[enat66]

Thanks to you both