Bridging Ethernet ports possibile?

[m0cker3]

I am considering a DS1512+ and was wondering if it is possible to connect an Ethernet cable from the router to the NAS and then from the NAS to my PC and access the internet on my PC?

Now to explain why I would want to connect it this way. I am an OTR (Over-The-Road) trucker, I live in a space that prison inmates would call cramped, off of a never-big-enough power inverter. I don't have the luxury of space or spare wattage for extra hardware. I have mobile internet with an integrated WiFi router that has but a single RJ45 port. My Shuttle XPC is similarly not-so-well endowed.

I don't foresee a time that the NAS AND the Shuttle will be accessing the internet at the same time so I am not worried about any performance loss. (If I am in the truck using the Shuttle I won't be accessing the NAS remotely, and if I am out of the truck the Shuttle is off.) I just want to enjoy the faster gigabit NAS connection without having to give up my wired internet.

[Dad Man Walking]

I'm no expert but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express one night. Probably had more room than your road-warrior accommodations, from the sound of it.

First, I would venture a guess that you won't be able to bridge your ethernet connection through the 1512+. The underlying functionality it would have to support would be that of a switch. And it probably was not designed to work as a switch. The second port is there for a single purpose, to double-up the transfer capacity with a switch that supports link aggregation.

I'd guess that the mobile broadband connection is far slower than a good wireless connection (wireless-G or better, anyway). How about getting a wireless USB dongle for the Shuttle PC and connect to the router that way. The 1512+ could then plug into the router, which does it's router/switching thing and everybody is happy. Except for the slow transfer speeds you'd get between your PC and the NAS. If higher speeds are essential to you, you might then try to set up Windows ICS (Internet Connection Sharing) on the PC and plug the NAS into the PC as the downstream device sharing the internet connection. That would let the NAS see the internet, but I've not played with it myself and I don't know if it would let the two devices (NAS and PC) see each other but it's something to explore.

10-4 good buddy! (Is that lame? Don't you just use cell phones now?)

[coolspot]

Probably easier to replace your 3G WiFi router with one that has a switch built in.

http://www.tp-link.com/en/products/deta ... R3220#spec

Unfortunately not sure if you have enough space for one.

You can probably shop around for one that uses less power and is smaller, but the TP-Link ones generally work well.

[m0cker3]

I think that your first suggestion Dad Man, is my best option. I guess I will just have to run an extra cable to plug in when I need to transfer the bigger stuff.

I would never call a Holiday Inn Express guest lame, we still have the CB, handiest thing for local information we can get. The newer trucks are super fancy with our Qualcomm satellite communications.

Unfortunately coolspot, the current modem is proprietary, so I am not sure if it can be replaced. The handiest thing about it is that it is hard-wired to the trucks electrical system, bypassing the outlets. Although I may call them this week with some questions and mention your recommended replacements.

Much appreciated!