Trying to bridge my network/internet connection

[Wittin]

basically, i have a BT router with 2 ports (1 usb 1 ethernet), and 3 computers. I currently have two computers successfully connecting to the router, and recieving my internet connection.

Now, i would like to add the laptop to the network. I can only do this using the PC with the USB connection to the router, via connecting the 3rd PC to it using a cross over cable.

Therefore as far as i know, i need to bridge the two networks (usb to pc2 and pc2 to pc3).

I've already done this, and am writing this very thread using the 3rd PC i've connected to the network. however now, pc2 which is connected via usb to the router, and is the network bridge, is no longer connecting to the internet, or even the network.

This is what really gets me... PC2 the one forwarding the internet connection to PC3, so how the heck can't it be connecting to the internet?

heres an overview of the network setup:
Router - ip 192.168.1.1
PC1, connecting via Ethernet - ip 192.168.1.3 - connecting
PC2, connecting via USB - ip 192.168.1.5 - not connecting
PC3, connecting via PC2's network bridge - ip 192.168.1.6 - connecting

I hope someone else can help me to solve this problem, and if you can it will be much appreciated

 

[Wittin]

Please do not recommend buying a network switch, purchasing more hardware is not an option...

 

[Turin]

I actually got 6 computers running off one BT Home Hub at an internet café, but had to buy a switch after that, because performance got bad for the other 10.

But anyway this is a pretty much useless post and won't directly answer your question:

All I did was patch a cable from hub to the main server PC, set up ICS on it and then from the main PC to a hub to the rest of the pcs. (or if you have ethernet ports cross-over straight onto the other computers).

Dunno,
Turin

 

[Dataforce]

I know you said purchasing a switch is not an option/ but may i ask why the hell not? its the sane way to solve the problem.

Alternatively, why not connect PC2 with ethernet, pc1 via usb and then bridge ethernet to ethernet with pc 2/3 ?

 

[Zidio]

what data force said but when "bridging ethernet to ethernet' get asimple Patch cable for like a few quid.