What kind of ethernet cards should I get?

[flameretardant]

I have three computers and I would like to network them all.

One of the computers is a Gateway Performance 1000, with a Pentium PIII 1000MHz, a Home Networking/56k Modem Combo card, it is running on Windows ME right now, but I am going to dual boot it with either Mandrake or RedHat.

One of the other computers is a Gateway as well with a 33.6k modem, and a Pentium6 200MHz. It is running Windows 95 right now and it doesn’t have the memory to dual boot.

The last computer is a Gateway as the first two, this has a 200 MHz pentium processor and is running Windows NT Service Pack 6. It has a modem, but nobody is sure what kind it is, I am going to open it up soon and check if it is necessary to know.

I know that I need an ethernet card for the second 2 computers, any ideas on where I can get this cheaply? Another important thing that I would like is to have them be connected by some sort of wireless device. I know that these things exist, and seeing as how the computers are all in different rooms it would really be a big help. Any ideas on how to do this? Any suggestions for ethernet cards(or something else) to get for the last two computers? Anything would be helpful and greatly appreciated, if you need more information to make a suggestion, just ask and I’ll figure it out for you. Thanks for your time.

Nathan Alexander Czuba

[DrDebian]

Originally posted by flameretardant:
<STRONG>I have three computers and I would like to network them all.

I know that I need an ethernet card for the second 2 computers, any ideas on where I can get this cheaply? Another important thing that I would like is to have them be connected by some sort of wireless device. I know that these things exist, and seeing as how the computers are all in different rooms it would really be a big help. Any ideas on how to do this? Any suggestions for ethernet cards(or something else) to get for the last two computers? Anything would be helpful and greatly appreciated, if you need more information to make a suggestion, just ask and I’ll figure it out for you. Thanks for your time.

Nathan Alexander Czuba</STRONG>

For "normal" 100BaseT Ethernet connections, I can really recommend the SMC Etherpower II, which really is an outstanding NIC. It's well supported under Linux and Windows alike and the manufacturer even throws in a copy of TurboLinux and a network patch cable with the card. Great value for a decent price!

[Coral Sea]

If you want to go wireless, then you'll have to fork out the bucks for wireless NICs and a wireless hub. I'm not sure if there are Linux compatibility problems with any of the wireless devices but you would probably find that information at the manufacturer's Web site once you decide on the brand.

I saw a wireless NIC today that retailed for about CDN$300 (http://www.ncix.com/shop/detail.cfm?id=5851&cart=additem%2Ecfm) and a wireless hub close to CDN$400 (http://www.ncix.com/shop/detail.cfm?id=6129&cart=additem%2Ecfm).

The fastest wireless devices availabe today can handle around 11 MBPS.

[Coral Sea]

Forgot to mention, if you want to go conventional, then you get 10/100 NICs for anywhere from CDN$10 to CDN$100. I have SOHOWare (Macronix chip set) and LinkSys version 2. They both work fine and are very inexpensive. Stay away from LinkSys version 4. A conventional four port hub could be had for CDN$50 to CDN$100. Of course, this means runnig cables between the PCs.

I've read about home networks that use the electrical wiring in your home to communicate between the boxes. I don't know if these systems are any good, what they cost, or if they work with Linux.