[Aside] I had a working DSL modem with 4 ports, but it seems to have quit working after a power outage the other day, despite it being on a surge protector!? The power comes on, lights initially flicker as expected, it communicates fine with the PCs, but the Internet indicator light never comes on. The Wireless indicator is on but our's is not a wireless LAN. This is (was) a Westell VesaLink 327W made for Verizon DSL. I employed the reset button repeatedly but the unit appears hopeless!? They go for $25-$30 on eBay. [End of aside]

But one PC can still get broadband, because I ALSO own one of those little singleton DSL modems and it functions great. Now here's my question. Verizon DSL ethernet cable includes a split-off USB connector on the PC side; and with the special software installed, I assume you can communicate with the DSL modem via USB and would not even need to have an ethernet-capable PC. So what if I use that system to hook the working DSL modem to one PC, and then I could connect the two PCs via their respective ethernet ports. Can an Internet connection be shared in this manner, do you suppose??

Many thanks!

sort of, but you would probably need file sharing etc. if you have ethernet on the router you wish to use, you can buy a box for about £15 online, (an ethernet switch) that will let you share your router to up to 4 or 5 PCs via ethernet. that is what i use, and it works brilliantly.
I reccomend this because any computer can access internet without any other computer being turned on. If you connect the router via USB, then the others to that PC, that main PC would need to be on. Sorry if I have misunderstood you, perhaps you could explain what you were planning to do in a bit more detail....

-Paul

Great answer, thanks! Aye, the need for one PC to always be on is problematic. Yes, i think you understood my question correctly. I like your suggestion that I use a plain router instead of replacing my Versalink 327W. After all, that unit is now proven unreliable. It is obviously specially designed and manufactured exclusively for use with Verizon DSL. I prefer a generic solution and to keep using my simple singleton (1-port) DSL modem.

There will always be only 2 PCs here. My cable is already run so I don't care to bother with wireless. But maybe you misunderstood if you thought that I am already using a router. No, that now-dead Versalink 327W was my router. My singleton DSL modem is no router I'm sure. So I will need to purchase a simple hard-cabled router (or switch? access point?). Such an item is hard to find I think, because wireless is so vastly more popular. How about this item http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?p=EN-RTR104&c=pw ?? Or how about this item, much less expensive, http://www.microbarn.com/details.asp...rce=pricewatch ??

I'm still a bit confused about what I'll need and what specs to look for. You're saying I should plug the 1-port DSL modem into an ethernet port on a simple router (or switch), then plug both PCs in to its other ports, and I will have a working system for sharing broadband??

Again, Many thanks.

Your initial modem or modem/router should be either supplied or at least supported by your ISP.

Mixing USB and Ethernet connections is not a good idea.

Was you original modem supplied by Verizon?

If so I would call them and have them walk you through all these trouble shooting processes.

This might prove quite tedious but if it is their modem they should be able to fix it or replace it.

A switch or a router is no good without a modem.

Many new "boxes" combine the functions but they would also clearly say so.

If you have a working Ethernet modem then you should be able to link it to any router.

The process of doing so will require matching the exact modem to the exact router.

Mostly this requires setting the modem to be a bridge.

Some details at this web site:

http://www.dslreports.com/faqnew

Many thanks for that thorough answer!

Originally Posted by jephree

Your initial modem or modem/router should be either supplied or at least supported by your ISP.
Mixing USB and Ethernet connections is not a good idea.
Was you original modem supplied by Verizon?
If so I would call them and have them walk you through all these trouble shooting processes.
This might prove quite tedious but if it is their modem they should be able to fix it or replace it.

It's a long story but this 4-port DSL modem/router is abandoned property. I can't ask Verizon to support it for me, no. But it is very difficult for me to accept that it really died. But it did occur right after a power failure and there's obviously nothing wrong with my DSL install otherwise.

A couple of months ago, I reordered DSL after revamping some local phone wires. I ordered the less expensive setup which includes only a ONE-port DSL modem, ie. it is not a router and it supplies broadband to only one PC. That setup is working perfectly. My inquiry regards how to serve a second PC. My singleton modem is not a router but heck, it's a node, right? I love the idea of obtaining a simple hard-cabled router (or, what's a "switch"? what's a "hub"?) as a place to plug the 3 nodes into: 2 PCs and that singleton DSL modem.

Originally Posted by jephree

A switch or a router is no good without a modem.
Many new "boxes" combine the functions but they would also clearly say so.
If you have a working Ethernet modem then you should be able to link it to any router.
The process of doing so will require matching the exact modem to the exact router.

No, I'm not accepting that the go-between device has to be "matching the exact modem". Why did you add that, when you had just stated, "then you should be able to link it to any router". I'm sorry I'm not knowledgeable about the terminology, but I want the simplest/cheapest hard-cabled go-between device I can find. How about this thing I cited at http://www.microbarn.com/details.asp...rce=pricewatch? would that serve?

Originally Posted by jephree

Mostly this requires setting the modem to be a bridge.
Some details at this web site:
http://www.dslreports.com/faqnew

I visited the site's Verizon page and it is chock full of threads - can't find out anything readily ..may try again if need be.

I'm inclined to believe that my 1-port modem can serve as a node in my rudimentary LAN and both connected PCs would thereby have broadband Internet. Correct me otherwise. Thank you!

If you want totally independent computers running off a single DSL or cable line you need a modem/router or modem plus router.

Hubs/switches simply connect computer to computer and do not allow independent internet sharing.

See: What is a Hub/Switch/Router? (#1262) below.

Also: Can I hook my modem up to my hub and get online with all my networked PC's? (#1266).

Technically you can hook it up to the hub, however, Verizon only allows you to have 1 ip address, so technically you could only use one computer at a time. If you want to hook up your whole LAN, look into a router.

If you go with modem plus router then your modem connects to a router which then connects to multiple computers.

In such a setup process you need to set your modem as a bridge to the router.

See: How do I set Westell Versalink in bridge mode? below.

How you do this varies on the modem and router. These are settings in the software configuration setup.

A Westell Versalink would differ from a Westell 2600 for example having a slightly different setup process depending on whether it is being bridged to a Linksys 4200 or say a Linksys 4500 for example etc.

You can basically use any router but the setup process will be very specific on your modem model.

The modem is very ISP specific hence that broadband link lists all the ISP supported hardwares and how to configure them.

Verizon options are fairly well covered here:

All FAQs » Verizon Online DSL FAQ » 8. Networking

8. Networking

·What is a Hub/Switch/Router?
·Will Verizon allow me to setup a network to share the connection?
·What is a good router for Verizon infospeed DSL?
·Does Verizon DSL need/use the MAC address from my network card?
·Can I hook my modem up to my hub and get online with all my networked PC's?
·Do I have to install the Verizon Winpoet software on every PC in the network?
·How can I network more than one computer?
·Where can I find help with Networking?
·How do I set Westell Versalink in bridge mode?

...

Thanks jephree, that's great stuff. I see better now what the limitations might be if I proceed. The device i am using now to connect to Verizon since my Versalink went down is the device that they issued me, which is labeled "ADSL2 + MODEM" and is a Westell model F90-610015-06. That device is not covered at the dslreports.com site. But the other info there is very enlightening, thank you. So I will have only one IP addr but when I supply a router it will use some other clear means of differentiating my two PCs and I am NOT violating my agreement. So when I was successfully using the 4-port Versalink 327W, that was not violating my agreement either, and the device acted as a router, and yet my 2 PCs had just one common ip addr.

This is all very convoluted and I apologize. Obviously I just want to restore the cozy arrangement that until very recently I had going, without having to pay Verizon for an upgrade.

How about this simple router under $20 here http://3btech.net/in80wibrrow4.html. That should serve the function, yes? About defining the Westell F90 device as a bridge, I wouldn't exactly know how to proceed because that device isn't listed at the dslreports.com site. I'm not sure that the F90 can be configured appropriately, or at all. I'm not sure what constitutes a bridge or why any node on an ethernet needs special configuring. I (perhaps naively) thought Ethernet was an established general protocol, and so all attached devices sport equanimity (of sorts).

Your previous router/modem is only $35 here:

http://www.dsl-warehouse.com/product...roducts_id=181




...

Again, my earnest thanks for all your help. Yes, I knew that those refurbished units were available for $35 plus shipping. But you know, I believe I'll just go and acquire one of these routers instead. They're far cheaper and a general-purpose device. I'm not 100% sure but I do believe this is the way to go. Yes I wish to be frugal and I can rationalize that the Versalink 327w might be vulnerable to damage from power surges. ['Just a rationalization -- I cannot for the life of me understand what wrecked the old unit, as it was on a surge protector.]