linking 2 xp pcs together

i would like to link 2 xp pcs together, they would share internet access (broadband) @the same time.

ATM i am using cat 5 patch cable to link the two pcs together through a hub/ router i cant remember what it is.

1 pc into hub, 2 pc into hub, then hub into the surf box which then goes up to the internet.

am i using the wrong cable?

the 1st pc is the main one with 2 network cards, the 2nd is the smaller of the 2 and only has one network card.

the network card is a 10/100 so it should work.

please tell me what i am doinf wrong and if u need ne more info
TIA

 

Pretty simple. You need a Cable router.

The basics are typically:

1. Connect the CAT5 from the cable modem to the WAN port on the router.
2. Connect the two computers to the ethernet ports on the router.
3. Set each computer for DHCP.

 

sorry i aint very good @ this what is DHCP?

 

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol : see http://www.comptechdoc.org/independent/networking/guide/netdhcp.html

The router is a DHCP server. If you set the PCs to "obtain IP address automatically" they will act as DHCP clients to the server which will allocate them each an IP address (and other necessary IP information). Means the PCs do not require IP addresses to be manually entered for them.

As Bob has noted the hub will not allow you to share the internet/broadband connection, you'll need the router.

 

thanks very much.
how do u tell a router from a hub?
is there ne way of telling that it is definately a router?

 

Usually I would expect to find a label saying "router" or "hub"! ;

Failing that I assume you can find the manufactuer and model number somewhere on the device and take it from there (document/web search).

Certainly on a broadband router there would be one port that was very definitely separate from perhaps a block of 4 others; that one would be to give access to a modem or perhaps phone socket and the block of 4 would be clearly the LAN ports. If you have any kind of web-GUI management/configuration pages for the device it's likely a router as hubs are very basic devices without such management facilities.