Folks,
I've browsed the NET and Ethernet howtos. I'm still confused.
Here is the current setup: The Cisco 675 router, from my ISP, is
connected to the Sony eth0 (3Com905B) and has an IP address
of 192.168.200.2. It has been this way for two years, even though
eth0 is supplied an address by the dhcpd router during boot.. (I've
noticed that the address presented by the router to the internet
changes occasionally). I have inserted a 2nd 3Com905B into the
Sony as eth1. I've also noticed that even though I haven't
configured eth1 yet, it is auotprobed at boot and just before Lilo
shows on the screen I get a one line message telling me to "press 'N'
to boot from the net" However, after booting ifconfig doesn't show a
second card. Eth0 has the IP of 192.168.200.2. and I plan to give
eth1 an IP of 192.168.200.3.
My new PC, the Beast, also has a 3Com905B as eth0 (from now
on I will refer to this card as Beth0 and prefix 'S' when referencing
the Sony NICs). I plant give Beth0 an IP of 192.168.200.4.
What I want to do: Hook them together so that either machine can
access the internet and email via the Cisco router, and files can be
transfered back and forth between machines.
Method one:
I've read that I can create a 'null' UTP cable by crossing lines 1 & 2
and 3 & 6 on one end of a UTP cable. This supposedly would allow
me to connect Beth0 to Seth1 without the need of an active hub.
I don't yet know how to configure a routing table which would allow
the Beast to access the internet.
Method two:
Using an active hub (I've got the NetGear DS104 in mind) with the
Cisco, the Sony and the Beast plugged into a port on the hub.
I really don't know if the Cisco 675 can work properly while connected
to a hub and not an ethernet card in a PC. I don't think the hub would
'query' the Cisco for an IP address. (Am I misinformed?) Also, what the
routing table would look like is another unknown.
Method three:
Leave the Cisco connected to Seth0. Connect Seth1 and Beth0 to
ports on the NetGear DS 104. Question: How does the Beast
access the Internet via the Cisco? If the Cisco wasn't involved I think
I've read enough to set the routing table up for this one, but.....
Method four: