Mike McCarty wrote:
To put it another way, I was trying to help a newbie understand the tradeoffs which would enter into a decision of whether to use a crossover cable, a hub, a switch, or a router. I find that many don't really know the differences or even appreciate that there are differences between hubs, switches, and routers. Mike
In the interest of helping the newbie(s), it's also worth mentioning that you should make sure about what you already have before you decide what you need to buy. I say that because sometimes ISPs provide ADSL modem/router combinations and people don't always realize that their ISP-provided modem is also a router. Mine is, complete with the standard html configuration interface that usually comes with home routers and all the typical capabilities (firewall, etc.). The modem/router has only one ethernet port, so I needed a switch to connect two machines and make a little network, but the modem/router does the NAT. For me, it would've been a waste of money to get another router -- and probably more difficult to set-up. (I've never tried to connect two routers, maybe it's trivial, but for a simple home network it seems excessive.)
-- Michael M. ++ Portland, OR ++ USA "No live organism can continue for long to exist sanely under conditions of absolute reality; even larks and katydids are supposed, by some, to dream." --S. Jackson