Networks what does a router do?

what is the job of the router? i have got a 600k ntl connection and i want to share it with my bro's pc will it split the speed in half or will it stay the same my pc is goin to be the main pc if i turn my pc offf will my bro still be able to use the internet

 

Essentially a router is an extremely slimmed-down version of a computer - it contains a motherboard, a bit of memory, and a couple of other components, and has its own ip address through which computers can access the internet. They normally have ethernet connectors (which can either be connected to a switch with the computers plugges in, or directly to the computer(s)).

If you turn your PC off your brother will be able to access the internet just fine, and speeds will stay the same. However you'll find that the internet may slow down substantially on one machine if the other machine is using the internet 'heavily' - playing online games, downloading giant files, etc.

Hope this helps you

-Sam

 

You could always limit his bandwidth if your speeds slow down....

 

And how would one go about this? I've been looking for a way to limit my sister's bandwidth for quite a while now.

 

More info then you could shake a stick at : http://computer.howstuffworks.com/router.htm

 

i've got a dsl 504 and its got no options for bandwidth limiting

what router are you using that has it?, because i want one.

 

I don't do it personally, could use something like NetLimiter though.

 

A friend of mine is endlessly having fights with his brother about one having slow Internet because the other is downloading something. From what I can gather, there aren't always options for limiting bandwidth as they seem to solve things by yelling obscenities at each other and unplugging each other from the network.

 

AFAIK NetLimiter only allows you to limit bandwidth for applications on the actual PC, so that's no good since the person who uses the PC can easily change it.

There's another program similar to that called DU SuperControler.
That same company is working on a new prgram called DU SuperControler for IC Sharing that will allow bandwidth limits on PCs sharing a connection.

EDIT: Just noticed the site was last updated last year!

There is a beta version available if you look in the forums though.

 

The technology in routers which allows you to limit bandwidth is called packet shaping, and you'll will only find it in expensive (£150+) routers as it is generally not deemed a soho feature.