Make Money With Affiliate Marketing

What a loaded question! Let’s narrow that down a bit and take it from the perspective of someone who wants to work from home and make money online in a home business. That will make it an easier question to answer. 
 Let’s assume you’ve never had a website, don’t know how to get a merchant ...

{questions}

I am wanting to hear from people who have GENUINELY made money from affiliate marketing. I am looking at getting into it and would like to know how much start up i would need to do this.

Obviously they deal with both web publishers and advertisers, but how do both of these contribute to the ad networks income?

I want to connect my ds to the internet via my laptop computer. My laptop is connected to a wired router. I do not want to do out and buy a wireless router or a usb connecter at this stage. Is there a way i can do it?

They don't tell you on their adsense website. But if you know about how much similar ad networks pay, please do tell! I'll give you 10 points.