From Leo's mailbag:
> From: A Computer User
> Sent: December 26, 2005
> To: Ask Leo!
> Subject: load distribution in a router
>
> Leo,
> I have a Cisco cable modem with built in 4 port router that
> was supplied by my ISP. I am using this unit both for
> internet access and to support an in-house 3 computer
> network. The setup works perfectly but my question is this:
> am I correct in assuming that the internet capacity delivered
> to the modem from my ISP is shared by the three computers so
> that the demand on ISP resources would be the same whether 1,
> 2, or all 3 computers were in use? If I am correct, it would
> follow that the "price" here would be paid in the form of
> reduced speed by those using my in-house network.
I may not be following your question exactly, but...
To your ISP, you "look like" one computer. You're correct in
that the capacity of your broadband connection is shared by
your three computers. If only one is using the broadband connection,
that one has all the bandwidth available. If all three are using
the internet, then that bandwidth will be shared, and the internet
will appear slower to each.
All of this should be unrelated to the speeds on your local
network communicating only between the three machines. Unless
your router REALLY sucks (unlikely) PC-to-PC communication
should be largely unaffected by what's happening on the broadband
connection.
Hope that helps.
Thanks for asking,
Leo
Article 1001
| Category:
Networking
