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[unusedd]

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[JWU42]

4 port router...

[marked]

4 port router...

If the internet jack is untrusted, then the router should have an inbuilt firewall.

marked

[trouserless]

assuming you already have a switch or hub, does one of your desktops have two network interfaces? If you do, you could have one nic plugged into the external network (internet) and the other into the internal network where your three other desktops would be plugged in. Route all your traffic through that dual-homed system. If that was a linux system you would have a free stateful inspection firewall too.

[Kettenmonster]

very easy and very cheap: DIGITUS DN-50012 or LogiLink Desktop Switch

[grue]

splice 1 cat5 cable to 4 cat5 cables. You will get terrible packet loss, and lag, but it's damn cheap

[DILLIGAF]

ha, I dont mind cheap.

I do have another realted question. I've got the 4 desktops, and a single screen, keyboard and mouse. What is the best setup to manage all 4? Do I set one comp up as the "home" computer, and manage all the other from there? By manage I mean monitor hashrate, temp etc.

If wanting physical connection to all four a four port KVM switch which allows you to use the one of everything you have for each machine. If doing it via the network then using linux a few terminal windows open one for each machine then you can login via ssh to see what is going on in your terminal windows also will work if using mac to control the machines. If windows then I believe something like teamviewer or VNC allows you to do the same remote on a desktop thing for it.

[ChanceCoats123]

ha, I dont mind cheap.

I do have another realted question. I've got the 4 desktops, and a single screen, keyboard and mouse. What is the best setup to manage all 4? Do I set one comp up as the "home" computer, and manage all the other from there? By manage I mean monitor hashrate, temp etc.

I would keep the monitor, KB and mouse centralized with the rigs around it. When you want to work on a rig, just plug the monitor, KB and mouse in to the desired machine. Typically, I run my miner headless (other than setup) and monitor hashrates and such through a different computer.

[Isepick]

if you have Windows on all those boxes then Live Mesh works pretty good, or just remote desktop if you are on the same lan. Live mesh has the advantage of being able to remote desktop from anywhere you have access to a web browser (work, school, etc)

[cuz0882]

I've been using Logmein for my windows miners. You can control all your pc's from any pc with it. Basically like remote desktop without all the side effects. I was going to use BAMT but I can't raise the voltage on my cards with it.

[Kettenmonster]

How about using Linux remote login?

[neo_rage]

sure, cheap router.