2 isp's 1 home network

razy60 · 02 Feb 2011

HI, I am a bit confused as to the best way to go, I am moving to a new property soon where i will be sharing with a friend who runs a business from it. He has a broadband connection. As i don't want to use his bandwidth i am getting my own phone and broadband. however the idea is that we can share media files via a central hub(nas of some sort) or from each others shared folders on our own PC's, The question is the best way to do this?.
We would have 2 routers, 2 separate isp's, at least 3 PC's and a ps3 or 2.
what else is required?, network switch, an extra nic for the 2 PC's. connections would need to be cat5/6.
I have read various posts but they seemed to center around people trying to improve bandwidth rather than trying to share files locally, any one with any ideas?

Any thoughts much appreciated

Raz

severedsolo · 02 Feb 2011

Hi razy60,

The way I see it, you have three options.

Either, as you suggested, put an extra NIC on each machine, run a cable between the two and set up sharing the old fashioned way.

Or, get a couple of Wireless USB adapters (they are dirt cheap, at least here) and set up an Ad-Hoc Network. Here's a tutorial on that one: Turn Your Windows 7 PC Into a Wireless Hotspot I know that is probably not an option as you said the connection would have to be Cat-5 but I'm just throwing it out there.

The last option, I'm not even sure will work, but I wonder if you couldn't modify this tutorial; Multi Router Network - Configure When I wrote it, I actually had using the second router as a switch in mind. Obviously if both router's are connected to the internet this is a BAD idea, but you could try configuring them as gateway's. I'm not saying it will work mind, but it's worth a go.

merkat106 · 02 Feb 2011

severedsolo said:

Hi razy60,

The way I see it, you have three options.

Either, as you suggested, put an extra NIC on each machine, run a cable between the two and set up sharing the old fashioned way.

Or, get a couple of Wireless USB adapters (they are dirt cheap, at least here) and set up an Ad-Hoc Network. Here's a tutorial on that one: Turn Your Windows 7 PC Into a Wireless Hotspot I know that is probably not an option as you said the connection would have to be Cat-5 but I'm just throwing it out there.

The last option, I'm not even sure will work, but I wonder if you couldn't modify this tutorial; Multi Router Network - Configure When I wrote it, I actually had using the second router as a switch in mind. Obviously if both router's are connected to the internet this is a BAD idea, but you could try configuring them as gateway's. I'm not saying it will work mind, but it's worth a go.

2 gateways to 2 different isps will not work and may cause performance issues if not network loops. The only option I see working at all is the first option.

severedsolo · 02 Feb 2011

I actually didn't think it would, but thought it was worth mentioning (you never know right?)

There is no reason that the Ad-Hoc option wouldn't work. It's just option 1 with no wires, I'm pretty sure it would work out cheaper than putting 2 new network cards in as well.

tman69 · 03 Feb 2011

razy60:

perhaps easier than anything previously mentioned--set up a VPN connection between your networks--you can do it with some software and you will be connecting via the internet

for info on VPN connection:
VPN Setup - How to Set Up a VPN

for (free)software:
VPN Software Top Free Downloads

I've always had good luck with 'Cisco' VPN software:
Cisco VPN Client - Download Free Software

razy60 · 03 Feb 2011

cheers for the info and pointers some of which i had thought of but needed confirmation some just didn't think of.

Once again thanks for the help

Raz