Networking 2 Computers*

[Anonymoususer]

Ok to begin let me clarify, I have 2 PC's,. 1 DSL Connection, both have Network Cards, now everytime I need to use the internet using either of the computers, I have to take the DSL Box off, all the wires and crap and then hook it up to the other one, so far sooo good, now I don't have any router or hub or anything and my question is IF their is some way to network the computers with only 1 DSL Box, somehow to manipulate the computers IP Addresses into thinking that they are online...is it possible...

[binks120]

you will need 2 nics in one of the pcs and also need to give me more info on pc spec like what os you are running but yes its quite easy to do also you will need to get a crossover network cable from your local store
in summary you need
1. another nic installed into pc that connects to adsl
2. a crossover cable between the new nic and other pc
3. to tell me what os you are using on both machines

[Faustus]

Just get a DSL router, set it up and plug both PCs into it. Its alot easier to maintain then using one to share out the connection. That way you can use either connection without having to have both computers on. If it worth doing, its worth doing right.[/img]

[holistic]

The cheapest way
Crossover connection

http://www.anandtech.com/guides/viewfaq.html?i=105
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/home-network3.htm


For a few more $$$
Get a hub you won't have to leave the main computer on to use the other on the internet. Also you can hook up a 3rd and 4th computer (depending on hub). You will only need regular ethernet cables and no extra NIC cards.

][

[flaninacupboard]

Well we needed to share out the connection between 3, sometimes four computers. in the end a server seemed the best option. we have a P-266 with two NIC's, one in the modem and one into the primary hub. total cost, £24. £4 for the extra NIC, £20 for the hub (although in reality we already had the hub, so it was just the extra NIC) and the P-266 was just an old machine running 98 that had been in dis-use for 2 years or so. most people have one of these crap old computers kicking about! it also runs protein folding 24 hours a day, and operates as a firewall. heartily reccomended system!

[Anonymoususer]

I was talkin to the guy and to have a wireless network setup both computers need to have wireless Network Cards according to him and that is gonna cost around 100$ to 200$, but as I mentioned I don't know that much about networking, so you guys gotta explain about these crossover cables and NIC's ?...

Here are the computer specs.


1st PC, Windows 98 Second Edition, 20 GIG Hardrive, 450MHZ, KMD Processor, has a Network Card which is what I use to run the DSL.

2nd PC, Windows Xp Professional, 80 GIG Hardrive, Intel Pentium 4 2.4GHZ Processor, has everything up to date, BUT I use the USB2.0 ports to run the DSL through that, because then I wouldn't have to take out the ethernet cable everytime from the old one.

BTW both these computers are in different rooms, and their is a wall between them, which might cause problems with the wireless netwroking...

[gmatov]

Wireless can be a bitch. Not because of the walls, they will generally transmit about 100 feet, walls or no.

You really should get a DSL/Cable router, they can be had for 50 bucks or less. (Mine, I think, was 20 after rebate.)

The use of 2 NICs in one computer caused me trouble before I got my router. I would lose my connection, have to uninstall the second NIC.
That was with the second PC trying to access the 'net thru the main PC.
After I got the router, it was a simple matter of making sure I had a working cable connection, then add the router, configure with the setup disk, all OK. When I went to the next PC to configure, I found that it didn't need it. It worked fine then, and still does.

The only hangup you may have is the running of the wires. If you have rights to drill holes, (ownership ), I would suggest wall outlets, with jacks. If not, drill a smaller hole and snake the wires through that and crimp on the jacks.

[rallynavvie]

You can also network them together without a second NIC if you have FireWire support on both machines. The only problem is that FireWire cables are infinitely more expensive than cat5 (ethernet cables). Wireless networking isn't really all that bad if you want to put the money into it. Depending on how fast your DSL is or if you ever plan to get a faster connection you don't need the latest and fastest wireless equipment. The older 802.11b stuff will be OK. The other advantage to wireless is adding more computers or laptops to your network is as simple as having the right equipment on it and bringing it in the house. I've noticed my wireless will pick up pretty well from out in my yard even. And I don't even have broadband out here in the boonies, I just use the wireless network to share files between computers in my house. The only downfall to wireless is how you set up your security since someone with an equipped laptop could park next to your house and pirate your bandwidth, but there are simple ways to prevent this.

Wiring your home for ethernet is a great idea if you are the owner and are allowed to do such a thing. You'll then need a hub, but hubs and routers really aren't that expensive anymore for what we need them for. And you don't need to set up a computer as a server really, but if you have an extra PC that isn't doing anything a hardware firewall is a great thing to have if you know how to use it. But forget trying to crossover the two PCs to network them, the hub/router is really the simplest route.

[VideoTechMan]

Yes, I would say that simply getting a router would be a better idea. I have a wireless router now and while it works really good, the only advantage to that is if you have a laptop and you can move aroud the house. My router can also hook up cables too, so I found that to be better and I simply bought a 50ft cable to go around to the other room. Also, wireless networks doesnt transmit as fast as the wired networks (wireless transmits about 11Mbps compared to 100 Mbps for wired networks). It beats the necessity of having 2 NIC's which can be a hassle to configure. A router will usually assign IP adresses to however many computers you have connected to it.

VTM

[Anonymoususer]

Ok so basically all I need is a router, and a 50ft Ethernet Cable...yeaa I was thinking about wireless but it's gonna be a little expensive, with installing the wireless network cards and all1, but I like the router and cabe method much better. Is their anything I should know...

[flaninacupboard]

actually one of the main reasons we chose to go the server route was because the 98 server can't see the hard drives on the other machines (all running NTFS) so they're fairly secure from attack.

[Richard_G]

You lot certainly like to make life difficult don't you? Connect the network cards in the two machines together using a crossover cable. Run the Windows network setup and enable Internet sharing on the machine with the DSL connection.

Job done....

[rallynavvie]

You still need a second NIC in the "server" machine in order for that to work. Either that or a dual-head NIC. I don't see how that's any less difficult than just getting a $30 hub to plug the computers into. The other advantage, as stated before, of using a hub like that is so that the "server" machine doesn't have to be on in order to have the other PC connected to the web. Hubs are a heckuva lot simpler than running Internet Sharing, all you do is plug in your PC

[Richard_G]

You still need a second NIC in the "server" machine in order for that to work. Either that or a dual-head NIC.

Why???

I have my pc that has my DSL modem plugged into a USB socket and a single NIC. The NIC is connected, using a crossover cable, to a NIC in my daughters pc. Mine acts as the server and with internet sharing enabled we can both use the internet connection at the same time.

Both machines are now running XP Pro, but before I upgraded it for her, my daughters machine was running 98SE. It wasn't quite as simple to configure but still worked perfectly.

[flaninacupboard]

but what if your machine is not on and she wants to go online?
oh dear.
yes, she can use yours instead, or go turn yours on and then use hers, but that's not practical for some of us.
Even with a hub it's not ideal, the type of cable modem we have is a bit funny. after a machine has accessed it, it is "locked" to that machine, so if the other machine wants to use the connection they must reboot the modem. not very handy when it's up two flights of stairs in someone elses bedroom and you remember you really should email those files into work at 2am........
Hence, we run a server.

[EddyH]

so where is this magical place selling routers (not hubs) for prices in double figures?
need some of that sweet low price action..

[Gazorgan]

The Linksys router is religously under $50 US. It supports DSL/Cable modems, has a 4-port 100 Mbps hub built in. Very simple to settup, and works with about any internet application you could ever want.

Unless you are fairly savvy in the computer department, don't try the 2 nic option.

[vance43211]

http://www.microcenter.com/search_results_e_compare.phtml?category_title=Hubs+%2F+Swit..._title=&page=1

[gmatov]

Out of curiousity, how much, in VAT, does it cost you, a Brit, an Australian, whatever, to buy a product from an American outlet? I really don't know, and wonder if it would pay you to buy from BB or CompUSA or somebody, and pay the tax.

I know we get PCPlus and other mags which give VAT inc, and ex-VAT prices.

What's your option? Not that I'm trying to even out the trade deficit.

Cheers,

George

[flaninacupboard]

well VAT is charged at 17.5%, we also get charged import duties on various items, and international shipping is very pricey. buying from a large outlet in the UK is more cost effective than buying from a -huge- outlet in america.

[gmatov]

That's what I was afraid you'd say. And, I suppose Best Buy and the like haven't come to Old Blighty yet.

My Linksys cable router was 50 -10-20 rebate, 20USD final price.
With an operating internet connection, install the router and software, reboot and all setup at default settings. Went to 2nd machine to install software, tried connecting first, found it already working.

Very simple. Has to be. I got it going.

And, every machine I bring in for repair, with a net card, is recognized as a new client.

Cheers,

George

[flaninacupboard]

i tend to get the majority of my stuff from www.ebuyer.co.uk which is fairly comprehensive, and not too expensive.
Everything is more expensive in this country, either because it's been imported from somewhere, or because it's made in this country the production leve is low, so overheads are high.
Just a fact of life for us

[gmatov]

That about covers it, huh? It's imported, costs more, it's home made, it costs more. Catch 22.

Seriously, 90% of everything here is imported, also. And, it seems 90% of that 90% is imported from mainland China's factories. And that runs from 10 cent CD blanks, to 1000+ Audio-video systems or components, to clothes.

Fact of life, the companies can have them made cheaper over there, they do so, and the hell with whether you can earn a paycheck to allow you to afford to buy the crap, because they've moved all the production facilities off-shore.

Not to be political, but politics is a fact of life, too. We'll all get new jobs in the "service industry" serving the fatcats. If I last 3 more years, I retire, live off the money the gov takes from my kids, gives to me. Sheesh, what a world.

Cheers,

George

Does anyone know why this thread doesn't wrap to the window? I hate scrolling sideways.

[flaninacupboard]

it doesn't wrap because of vances' long url.

Yes, while a lot of stuff in america may be imported, you also buy a lot of damn stuff! wheras you may buy a shipment of 1,000,000 ready made and boxed hubs, we'd be looking at 10,000. in fact the figures may be even further apart than that, the UK is a pretty small place!