Can I create a network without a hub/switch or router? I m..

The situation is this: I have a PC with cable modem connected via a
long inverted or crossed over, I don't know how this UTP cable layout
is called, it's when both endings are different and you use them to
connect 2 PC. Anyway, this cable goes to my moms PC and she enjoys
Internet thanks to my connection.

I'm going to add a 3rd, slower computer, to use as a always on server,
so the cable modem is going there, as is the other network card in
which the modem connects.
So my question is, if I add a 3rd network card to this server PC, can I
use 2 inverted cables to connect to the other 2 clients PC?
The server is gonna be windows 98 SE, one PC is win 98 SE too and mine,
the best, is XP. I do this because I don't wanna keep mine always on,
so please, don't try to convince me to use the best as a server... ITS
A NOOO

The idea behind this is to save me from paying the HUB.
Please, don't tell me they are not THAT expensive. I rather save the
money for something else.
Any ideas about how to do this, greatly appreciated.

On 7 Feb 2006 19:59:07 -0800, "Starriol" <starriol RemoveThis @yahoo.com> wrote:

>The situation is this: I have a PC with cable modem connected via a
>long inverted or crossed over, I don't know how this UTP cable layout
>is called, it's when both endings are different and you use them to
>connect 2 PC. Anyway, this cable goes to my moms PC and she enjoys
>Internet thanks to my connection.
>
>I'm going to add a 3rd, slower computer, to use as a always on server,
>so the cable modem is going there, as is the other network card in
>which the modem connects.
>So my question is, if I add a 3rd network card to this server PC, can I
>use 2 inverted cables to connect to the other 2 clients PC?
>The server is gonna be windows 98 SE, one PC is win 98 SE too and mine,
>the best, is XP. I do this because I don't wanna keep mine always on,
>so please, don't try to convince me to use the best as a server... ITS
>A NOOO
>
>The idea behind this is to save me from paying the HUB.
>Please, don't tell me they are not THAT expensive. I rather save the
>money for something else.
>Any ideas about how to do this, greatly appreciated.

If you put just a wee bit of effort out I bet you could find a brand new
wireless router for free or nearly so (rebates included). That would solve all
of your problems much more rationally.

Beyond that, I doubt you can run two instances of ICS on any Win98/ME system,
so putting yet another nic in your always-on system is not likely to give you
the configuration you want. In fact I'm not sure that NT/2K/XP workstation
versions are any more capable in that regard. None of them are true servers,
after all.

Perhaps if you can find a proxy server application that can handle multiple
host nics you'd be cooking. But that'd likely cost more than a (what I still
bet could be had for free) router...