need help routing a cable modem connected to DTOP to laptop

[vesterlee]

I am new to the routing scene and need some advice on starting this progect. what do I need and how do get started. what router do I need or can I just use a hub once connected how do I get the laptop to access internet and shared files. if I am only assigned 1 IP to my desktop? I have a lot of ?s so please bear with me ok.

[redwudz]

I use a D-Link DI-704 and it's relativly easy to set up, especially the newer models. It gives you a hardware firewall from your cable modem to your computers. If you have ethernet from your cable modem, you plug it into the router and your ethernet cables from it to the other computers. I have 3 networked to the internet, one of them a MAC. Under XP, it only takes a few minutes to set up and you never have to mess with it again. If your computers are some distance apart, you can use a wireless system. A router-switch is much better than a hub as it makes your computers more or less invisable to hackers and the like. Shared files are a little harder to set up, but still not that complicated.

[stiltman]

I am new to the routing scene and need some advice on starting this progect. what do I need and how do get started. what router do I need or can I just use a hub once connected how do I get the laptop to access internet and shared files. if I am only assigned 1 IP to my desktop? I have a lot of ?s so please bear with me ok.

http://www.dslreports.com/faq/networking

googled for you