Can you connect a PC and a imac to a broadband modem?

[dickie]

:confused:

[azzey]

Welcome to The PC Guide Discussion Forums!

You'll need to buy a broadband router from a company such as D-Link or Linksys which will allow you to connect both computers. If you have a laptop, you might consider buying a Wireless router instead, so you can enjoy your internet wirelessly.

[Whyzman]

Moved thread to a more appropriate forum.

[PrntRhd]

Dickie,
Azzey is correct since PCs and Macintosh computers both support the TCP/IP protocol.
TCP/IP is the protocol of the Internet.

[mjc]

If you are lucky your modem may also include a router...please include the make and model of it.

[dickie]

Hi mjc, Its a Motorola Surfboard SB5100i Cable modem, it has a 1 ethernet and 1 USB socket, the PC is attached to the ethernet socket at the moment (the imac is a new purchase). I also have a Edimax 5 port 10/100 base-TX- Fast Ethernet Switch (RoHS Complient)

thanks

[PrntRhd]

A home router will connect them better than the switch:

1) Because the Mac and PCs can receive IP addresses via DHCP assigned by the router.
2) Because the addresses will be NAT addresses making the LAN with private addresses. This is safer from Internet scan threats. Home routers also have hardware firewalls which also make it safer.

[jlreich]

Yes if you use just the switch connected to your modem you will find that only one computer will be able to access the internet. Unless of course you want to pay big bucks for extra IP addresses from your ISP. If you have a router all computers will be able to access the internet without any extras. ;)

[dickie]

Will a router work alone or will i still need the ethernet switch?

[jlreich]

You don't need the switch. You can use it as well if you like. Or if you have more computers than the router has ports, you can hook it up to the router to increase how many machines you can have on your network. The router will still take care of dishing out private IP addresses to all machines.