- 1). Determine your needs. The location of the computers relative to the DSL modem and the number of computers you plan to include in the network determines the number and length of Ethernet cables you will need. If you will be connecting four computers, for instance, you will need five Ethernet cables (one Ethernet cable will have to connect from the modem to the router/hub/switch).
- 2). Purchase the needed networking equipment. You may either choose a hub, switch or router as your signal distributor. This device distributes the DSL signal to the computers in the network. Also ensure that the computers have an Internal LAN (Local Area Network) card/network adapter installed in them. Otherwise, you will need to install a network adapter before the computer can detect a wired Internet connection.
- 3). Turn on the modem, router/hub/switch and then the computers in the network. Connect the first Ethernet cable from the modem into the "Ethernet," "Internet," "WAN" or "WLAN" port of the router/hub/switch.
- 4). Connect the Ethernet cables from the numbered ports in your router/hub/switch into the Ethernet ports in each of the computers in the network.
- 5). Wait for the computers to detect the Internet connection. If you are using a router, insert the router installation CD into the optical drive of your computer to finish the router configuration.
- 6). Configure the computers to obtain an IP address automatically so that you do not have to manually configure the IP address for each computer. Navigate to the desktop, right-click the "Network" icon and click "Properties." Select "Local Area Connection" and then select "Properties" in the "Local Area Connection Status" window.
- 7). Select "Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv4)" and click "Properties." Select "Obtain IP address automatically" and "Obtain DNS Server automatically." Click "Apply" and then "OK." Do the same to all the computers in the network.
- 8). Test the Internet connection. Open a Web browser in each of the computers and see if they can detect the Internet connection.
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