Requirement is "hard wired"... is there a way to do this with a router or ethernet splitter without slowing down my connection? Or do I have to use one iMac at a time and keep switching the ethernet cable from the iMacs into the DSL modem? Anyone know? I would be grateful for good suggestions?
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1 DSL, 2 iMacs, NO WIRELESS... How to?
- Thread starter vbagley
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Yes. A switch or router, e.g. from Netgear, LinkSys, would work. If you're downloading large files using the two computers simultaneously, they'd share the bandwidth and slow each other's downloads, but with normal use (browsing, email) you wouldn't notice any difference with having both connected simultaneously. I have four computers often connected simultaneously.
If you're likely to be transferring large amounts of data between the two Macs, get a gigabit switch, which is 10x faster but costs maybe $10 more than a 100Mbit/s switch or router.
In fact, you may not want wireless now, but may in the future, so getting a wireless router like blevins suggested means you could connect e.g. an iPad, or let a friend or family member connect when visiting. You can turn off the wireless when not in use.
If you're likely to be transferring large amounts of data between the two Macs, get a gigabit switch, which is 10x faster but costs maybe $10 more than a 100Mbit/s switch or router.
In fact, you may not want wireless now, but may in the future, so getting a wireless router like blevins suggested means you could connect e.g. an iPad, or let a friend or family member connect when visiting. You can turn off the wireless when not in use.
I'd just use a router or ethernet switch. It doesn't slow your connection down, unless you are trying to use a lot of bandwidth on both computers.
Switch won't work by itself... you need a router to do NAT and DHCP. you most likely only get one IP from your ISP.
Really two different things the OP needs. One he knows about, and one he doesn't. 
First, a request for some clarification. You have a DSL modem that has a single Ethernet port on the back, right? You stated "no wireless". I'm assuming that that's due to some kind of restriction - i.e. workplace or parents or whoever said "no wireless". Is this correct? Or do you simply mean that your DSL modem doesn't have WiFi?
Anyway, if there is some "no wireless" restriction, then the wireless router one person suggested is out.
Does the DSL modem have NAT built in? Do you know what NAT is? (Do a little Wikipedia research...) NAT allows several computers to share a single Internet connection. It changes the packets going out to the Internet so that they all come from the same address. It also provides *some* firewall protection, in that incoming packets are only accepted if they match-up with an outgoing packet. By default, a NAT router won't accept any incoming connections. You can set it up to accept incoming connections, in that case you need to designate which computer to send them to for a given port.
This is of no concern to you unless you are running a server, etc.
If your DSL modem does not have NAT, and also doesn't have some kind of firewall, then you are currently *very* vulnerable to attack.
It would be useful to post your DSL modem model.
If it does have NAT, then I'm a bit surprised that they didn't build in a small Ethernet switch and give you multiple Ethernet ports. If it does have NAT, then you should only need to add an Ethernet switch. Get a gigabit switch, which will make then connection BETWEEN your Macs very fast. (For copying files back and forth, etc.) For the Internet connection, gigabit is a non-issue, since Internet speeds are (typically) way below that of even a 100M switch.
If it doesn't have NAT, then you need a router or firewall. Think "wifi router without the wifi". It's a bit of a specialty product, because they are usually built into a WiFi device, cable modem, or DSL modem.
You can also look for a compatible DSL modem that has a built-in router and switch.
You will have to check your provider's terms of service to see if it's OK to connect more than one computer. Generally, though, the provider won't be able to detect that you are using NAT, so won't know in any case.
First, a request for some clarification. You have a DSL modem that has a single Ethernet port on the back, right? You stated "no wireless". I'm assuming that that's due to some kind of restriction - i.e. workplace or parents or whoever said "no wireless". Is this correct? Or do you simply mean that your DSL modem doesn't have WiFi?
Anyway, if there is some "no wireless" restriction, then the wireless router one person suggested is out.
Does the DSL modem have NAT built in? Do you know what NAT is? (Do a little Wikipedia research...) NAT allows several computers to share a single Internet connection. It changes the packets going out to the Internet so that they all come from the same address. It also provides *some* firewall protection, in that incoming packets are only accepted if they match-up with an outgoing packet. By default, a NAT router won't accept any incoming connections. You can set it up to accept incoming connections, in that case you need to designate which computer to send them to for a given port.
This is of no concern to you unless you are running a server, etc.
If your DSL modem does not have NAT, and also doesn't have some kind of firewall, then you are currently *very* vulnerable to attack.
It would be useful to post your DSL modem model.
If it does have NAT, then I'm a bit surprised that they didn't build in a small Ethernet switch and give you multiple Ethernet ports. If it does have NAT, then you should only need to add an Ethernet switch. Get a gigabit switch, which will make then connection BETWEEN your Macs very fast. (For copying files back and forth, etc.) For the Internet connection, gigabit is a non-issue, since Internet speeds are (typically) way below that of even a 100M switch.
If it doesn't have NAT, then you need a router or firewall. Think "wifi router without the wifi". It's a bit of a specialty product, because they are usually built into a WiFi device, cable modem, or DSL modem.
You can also look for a compatible DSL modem that has a built-in router and switch.
You will have to check your provider's terms of service to see if it's OK to connect more than one computer. Generally, though, the provider won't be able to detect that you are using NAT, so won't know in any case.
Connect iMac #1 to your DSL modem and share its Internet connection with iMac #2 using FireWire.
http://www.macgasm.net/2010/07/26/share-internet-access-firewire/
http://www.macgasm.net/2010/07/26/share-internet-access-firewire/
Yeah there is. Go to BB or OD or Staples or Walmart and get the cheapest switch they have ($20 or less). Plug it into the modem, and then plug both computers into it. I will bet it will work at that point.
If not, then you can always return the switch. My guess is that you have a DSL router without a built-in switch. Again, the actual model # of the router would be very helpful.
Is THIS the modem you have?
I'm no expert, but I'd say that you'd need a router. Spend a little more to get one with Gigabit speeds (aka 10/100/1000T). I've only ever used Netgear and Apple networking products and I can say that setting the network up with either is very easy. I'm guessing that Linksys, Belkin, etc. are all just as easy.
No need to buy your own modem, unless you're paying AT&T a lease fee ... that $5/mo adds up and a DSL modem/router could pay off in a year or so.
+1 IF you don't mind Mac #1 always being on. Keep in mind that if Mac #1 reboots then you loose internet till it finishes its reboot.
It's incredibly difficult to find any technical information on your modem. It's re-branded by phone companies, and I guess they provide their own documentation, if any.
One thing that concerns me is that I found it in one place describe as a "bridge". This means that it does NOT have NAT, and would leave your computer open to attack if you do not use a router between your computer and the modem.
So you really might want to go to ATT and ask them for a list of compatible models that you could buy. Buy one with a built-in router and switch.
I also came across some discussion on how to get this modem to work with a router. It's a bit complicated. Apparently, you need a router that has a "clone MAC address" feature. It appears that it requires a single MAC address to be "registered" - not sure how this is done, whether it has to be done by ATT, etc. But anyway, it will only allow a single MAC address to talk to it, and since your computer is already the registered address, you need a router that can "clone" your computer's MAC address to the WAN side of the modem. Point is, it's set up to work with your computer and your computer only, so you have to fool it into thinking that the router is your computer.
Given the need for "clone MAC address", I don't think it would even work if you switched it between the two computers. Have you actually tried that? I think it might just refuse to talk to the second computer.
One thing that concerns me is that I found it in one place describe as a "bridge". This means that it does NOT have NAT, and would leave your computer open to attack if you do not use a router between your computer and the modem.
So you really might want to go to ATT and ask them for a list of compatible models that you could buy. Buy one with a built-in router and switch.
I also came across some discussion on how to get this modem to work with a router. It's a bit complicated. Apparently, you need a router that has a "clone MAC address" feature. It appears that it requires a single MAC address to be "registered" - not sure how this is done, whether it has to be done by ATT, etc. But anyway, it will only allow a single MAC address to talk to it, and since your computer is already the registered address, you need a router that can "clone" your computer's MAC address to the WAN side of the modem. Point is, it's set up to work with your computer and your computer only, so you have to fool it into thinking that the router is your computer.
Given the need for "clone MAC address", I don't think it would even work if you switched it between the two computers. Have you actually tried that? I think it might just refuse to talk to the second computer.