If you need a cheaper solution then one of the computers you can have two network cards. (In case you have an onboard Ethernet port then u need one NIC) One to the network and the other connects to the ADSL and the Internet.
You need to configure each computer with some IP information. You will need to enter three values: IP number, subnet mask and default gateway.
You will also need to provide a DNS server, so hostnames can be translated into IP addresses. The DNS server address can be added in the window "TCP/IP Properties" on the "DNS Configuration" tab.
You give your ADSL computer (to which ADSL is to be connected) the below values. Of course, your ADSL computer can have a second interface (on the side of the ADSL adaptor). Do not yet configure this interface. You will configure it later, as part of the ADSL installation.
IP number: 192.168.0.1
subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
default gateway: [leave this blank]
DNS server address: [leave this disabled]
The second computer you give the values:
IP number: 192.168.0.2
subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
default gateway: 192.168.0.1
DNS server address: 192.168.0.1
Open RUN on your ADSL computer and try pinging the other computer. Type "ping 192.168.0.2 -t". You should get the message "Reply from 192.168.0.2: bytes=32 time<10ms TTL=128". If you get the message "Request timed out." then things are not configured correctly yet.
If things are not working out, then ping the IP address of the computer itself. So use ADSL computer 192.168.0.1 and do "ping 192.168.0.1". If it turns out you cannot even ping the local IP address, then the communication between the PC and the network card does not work yet. In this case you do not have a networking problem, but an incorrect driver installed or an IRQ of I/O address conflict.
Next if all goes well connect the ADSL and configure it you should have the networking by this time.
Internet to be made available to more computers then you would need a switch either 4 port / 8 port as the case may be on your network. On the ADSL computer you can install WinRoute.
Install WinRoute only after you have installed working connections to your networks and Internet using your ADSL line. This because WinRoute will find out what connections you have and then configure itself.
Or another solution is to use a router such as a NETGEAR 614 (or the likes of it) but a bit costly solution.
