🚀 go-pugleaf

A- a PC with 2 Nic's running Proxy server software, Linux or Windows NAT/ICS
router
http://www.analogx.com/contents/download/network/proxy.htm
www.linuxrouter.org
www.sygate.com
or M$ ICS in 98se and later

B- a dedicated hardware router, even a little linksys BEFSR will logically
handle that many clients with DHCP

    your limiting factor will be available bandwidth from your provider/ISP
    xDsl/Cable max out at an avg 1.5mbits/sec, and this bandwidth will be
shared amongst all users connected through it at any given time

more info here on howto's, hardware reviews and troubleshooters
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/
http://www.dslreports.com
here's how to link all those Hub's and Switch's to a single LAN port Linksys
"BEFSR11"
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/networking/port_expand.htm

here's some info on the physical/cable infrastructure
http://www.duxcw.com/digest/Howto/network/cable/index.htm

hth
Joe

"Rob Wilson" <rob@robwilson.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:3bf0633e.4633566@news.demon.co.uk...
> If I wanted to connect up to 36 computers to the internet, all with
> win98SE as their operating system, what is the best way to connect
> them.
>
> So far I plan each group of 6 to be connected to a 8 port switch (so
> if the main switch goes down each group of 6 machines can still
> communicate to each other - ie gaming).
>
> Each 8 port switch (for each group of 6 machines) connects to a 16
> port switch which somehow connects to the internet.  This is the bit
> where I am not sure what happens.
>
> I guess I could have a gateway / router or some other setup which will
> enable all the machines to gain access?
>
> Has anyone got some thoughts?  The more detail the better,
> particularly if firewalls and game servers can come into the equation.
>
> Cheers,
> Rob.