Shared network between computers.

[nathanstrainrocks]

Here is the situation. I have 3 (soon 4) towers on a rack that need access to the network There is only two network Cat 5e cables running to the setup. The network does not allow switches. (Network Admin does not know their job.) I need these computers to be able to grab software repositories off the internet at least a few times a day. I was wondering if anybody knows if it is possible to share a connection from one computer to another (it is acceptable if it is very slow.) preferably through USB or ESATA, however if I need to find some old network cards I could use a cross-connect. My other query is if it is possible to get a switch that only allows a single connection and rotates it to the different towers every so often. I am also open to other possibilities. ( I am presently just moving the cable over a few times a day. ) Any help would be appreciated.


Nathan Strain.
Turtle Bay Resort IT.

 

[ss202sl]

"Network Admin does not know their job." Or a Network Admin doing their job and not allowing rogue switches to be added to the network? Seems to me you should be talking to the Network Admin and asking how to get these other machines onto the network.

 

[nathanstrainrocks]

"Network Admin does not know their job." Or a Network Admin doing their job and not allowing rogue switches to be added to the network? Seems to me you should be talking to the Network Admin and asking how to get these other machines onto the network.

Small office, we don't have a real network admin. It's just the software guy. I know more about the network than he does. He can't even configure an IP phone. We have someone from spectrum (Previously Oceanic TWC) come out once in a while when something needs to be configured or a switch breaks, however this is "Not their problem".

 

[bill001g]

So what is consider a "switch". put multiple nic cards into the machines and cable them together with one having a connection to the main network. Then bridge all the cards together. By definition the bridged cards become a switch so technically that is not allowed.

It would be simpler to put in a actual switch.