I want to set up a network between my two dell xp pro desktops using a wired cable modem. Can you give me wire to wire instructions using wizard etc? Thank you
I have ADSL not cable but I'm assuming that the principle is similar. (1) Ensure that your modem has 2 or more RJ-45(ethernet) ports. I think that they are available as 4port,8port, etc. This is the probably the easiest way but not the most cost effective. I'll elaborate on this at the end so as not to confuse you. (2) Ensure that both PCs each have ethernet cards (3) Connect the cable between an ethernet port in your moden and the ethernet port in your PC. Repeat for other PC. Turn on both PCs and configure both PCs individually to acces the internet via your cable modem with the account information from your cable company. (4) Go to control panel->Network connections->setup a home or small office network and follow the connection wizard in both computers to configure your network. If you encounter any problems with this then just post back and let me know. Do this for both PCs. You will have to name your network(eg Home or any name of your choice but this has to be the same for both computers and keep the same letter case for both). You will also need to name both your PCs so as to give them a different id on your network( eg workstation1 and workstation2). You will be asked to restart after completion of the network configuration on each PC. You can go ahead and do so now or later. Follow the pics below. The print may be a little difficult to read but once you run the wizard on your own PC it will make sense to you. Choose the same options as I have done. (5) Once you have completed the configuration then go to your shared folder documents and right click, then select properties. Click on the Sharing tab, then check the option for share this folder. Select the user limit of your choice. Set it to maximum for now. Under this Permissions option check all the boxes to allow full control,change and read. Once you are up and running then you can go back and alter this for other users. Do this for both PCs (6) Right click on the start menu->properties->start menu tab->customize option->advanced tab->start menu items and check the box for my network places [bold]if you want this shown in the start menu [/bold]as opposed to going to control panel to access this menu. (7) Restart both PCs if you haven't already done so. (8) Now go to My Network places in the start menu and you should see 2 folders(eg SharedDocs on Workstation1 and SharedDocs on Workstation2) (9) You can drag & drop or copy and paste files, folders, etc from anywhere on the hard drive of one PC to the Shared Documents folder on the same PC (say Workstation1) and it will be viewed in the 'SharedDocs on Workstation1' folder on the second PC (ie workstation2). Hope this helps somewhat. If I can be of any further assistance then feel free to ask. Best of luck.
So as not to clutter my first post with more info I have decided to elaborate on the modem connection in a separate post. I have described one method so far but there are others such as using a USB modem which connects to one PC and then using a cross-over cable between the 2 PCs(it looks just like the regular cable except that depending on who makes it it might be a different colour. The important thing is that the way the wires are oriented in the RJ-45 jack is different at both ends so as to create a cross-over). I have never done this and I don't know how to but I believe it can be done. Here's further info about a crossover cable http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/228856 As for how you connect to the internet, the method I have described above allows each PC to connect to the net independent of each other but share the same bandwidth. So ensure that each has its own antvirus, antispyware etc. Now if you wanted to you could make one of them a proxy server and connect the second to the internet through the first and use the first one as a proxy server & firewall for the second and any other. Can be done but I have never done it and have never researched it. BTW here are some network security programs which are very useful if not a must have based on your needs: (1) Zone Alarm from http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/home.jsp (2) Security Administrator from http://www.softheap.com/secagent.html The second is especially useful for a small business where you only want to give access to desktop icons for the employees to access the database software but deny access the start menu and all other aspects of your computer especially if you use it with Tweak XP from http://www.tweakxp.com/ which allows you to put the 'Logoff', 'Shutdown' buttons on the desktop. Security administrator can disable hotkeys, access to task manager, the start menu etc.
