I and my colleague live in the same building, two floors apart. We both use Windows XP Pro. I have an ethernet cable (less than 100 metres in length), which is crossed over (1-3 and 2-6). I've tested the cable, and the connections seem to be alright. What I need to know is that what exactly do need to do to connect these two computers? Is it as simple as plugging in both the ends of the cable, or does it need any configuration? One more thing, my colleagues IP address for the Ethernet card is said to 'obtain automatically', but mine is configured as static, with the 'Gateway', 'Subnet Mask' and the two 'DNS' fields. We both use the Internet through the ethernet card. My card is plugged in to a router, and my colleague's card is plugged in to his ISP's ethernet cable, which goes to the ISP (I don't know where exactly, but it goes somewhere). Will I/We have to change this IP configuration every time we wish to connect our PCs? Can anyone help? Sorry for the long list of questions. Thanks for reading them though... BTW: The connection will be used to transfer files and play muliplayer games, nothing else.
Plug both computers into the router using straight thru cables. Plug the router into the modem using a crossover cable. Set IPs on both to obtain automatically.
I forgot to mention that I don't want to share my internet connection. But even if I did, your idea wouldn't work, morph. How do I plug in 2 cables into my router, which has only one slot? Modem? I just have a router, not a modem. Did you mean the ethernet card by any chance? Then how would the internet work? I've tried it before and it didn't work.
If you had a router, it would allow you to plug in several systems. Since yours doesn't, i'd say you have a modem, possibly with NAT. Also, i'd like to add that Morph's explanation is 100% correct as i've used that setup for ages between my server and my desktop. And since you just want to connect two systems, plug in that crossover cable, and use windows' wizard for setting up a new network.
Man, I sure hope my "idea" works ash.... that's how all four systems here connect to each other and the internet. As Fiend pointed out, all routers have at least two if not four initial RJ45 ports to connect CAT5 (ethernet) cables to. Modems only have a single output, whether it be USB, Ethernet or both (just one each). You don't have to share your internet connection with him. If you have two separate NIC connections, like Fiend mentioned, you can set up a different network for the two to communicate. If you only have one NIC on each machine, and use a USB internet connection...that will work as well. Btw, if you didn't have a modem, you wouldn't have an internet connection! I think you might be getting the two confused.
Actaully I am confused now. My Router(or Modem) is a D-Link DSL-502T More infotmation on that is here: http://www.dlink.co.in/dlink/Products/broadband/dsl502t.htm I know what RJ45 is, and that has 1 RJ45 port, 1 USB(2.0) port, 1 Phone line jack, 1 AC Adaptor jack and a reset switch. The_Fiend, Which wizard is that? Morph416, What is NIC?
NOW WE'RE COOKING WITH FIRE!!! Ok...I can see where you were confused....YOU didn't tell us that what you have is a modem with a built in router! I am not sure cuz I haven't read the manual on it, whether or not if you're using the USB port for your internet connection, if you can create a network by only using one connection from his computer to the LAN port. (NIC = Network Interface Card - either PCI, or onboard used to connect PC's to a network; it's what you plug your network cables into) However...all confusion aside, you can buy a network switch to connect the computers to the LAN port. A network switch will look like a standard router, but it's only job is to connect computers together in a daisy chain fashion...then send that information to a router. The problem with that device, is that it has only one LAN connection...that's your Local Area Network. In order for you to connect more than one computer so they can talk across that network, you'll need a switch. http://www.dlink.co.in/dlink/Products/Switches/des1005d.htm You'll plug a straight thru cable from the LAN port on your modem/router to the proper port on the switch. From there, connect a straight thru cable to both computers. Here's what our internal network looks like if that wasn't confusing enough for you. Modem to router, computer's 1 and 2 connected to router, router port 1 goes to a switch, computers 3 and 4 connected to the switch.
Lol, actually even I didn't know that it's a modem with a built in router. All it says on the box is 'ADSL Router'. Okay, back to the actual topic, just for one second, please forget that I ever have a router [or a modem, or anything else like that 8-(..] Here's what I want to do: 1. Keep Either the Internet connection OR the LAN connection active. So I am going to use the LAN (NIC, ethernet) card just for one thing at a time -- either to go online, OR to connect 2 PCs. I don't mind changing the IP address or anything else each time I need to do so, my question is - will I need to, and how? I think you got it confused because I mentioned about the router. Well, the only reason I did so is to specify that the NIC card is connected to the RJ-45 port of the 'Modem with built in router'. And according to my ISP, I need to assign a static IP address, Subnet Mask, Default Gateway and DNServers in order to allow the 'Modem with built in router to communicate properly. So my point of mentioning that was -- will I have to change that configuration? To summarize, this is what I have: 1. ADSL Modem with built in Router 2. NIC (Ethernet, LANCard) 3. A RJ-45 Crossover cable, less than 100 metres in length 4. Some sense on how to configure the IP address, or run a wizard :-|
Ok. Hopefully we can get you pointed in the right direction here, so people step in if you have something that will work better. Since the modem/router you are using has only one RJ45 port, you obviously cannot connect two computers to it. You're going to need to buy a Switch. (this is the way we set up our network at the gaming shop since the modem was also had a built in router) Now...if your ISP stated that you need to assign the information to each computer, all you'll have to do is assign each computer an IP within the given range. The only information you'll have to change is just the IP Address for the second computer. For instance Comp 1: IP Address: 192.168.1.10 Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0 Default Gateway: 192.168.1.1 Your first computer's IP is 192.168.1.10, so you could make the second computer 192.168.1.20. That make sense?
OK, I seem to be getting it now. Is this called an 'Ethernet Switch' too? Will I still need a switch if we both have NIC cards? Won't it work if I simply plug in each of the ends of the cable to the RJ45 slots of our respective NICs, and configure the IP addresses as you asked me to?
Using a crossover cable, you should be able to connect the two, create a network for them, then enable file sharing on both computers. If you're still having issues, try installing NetBEUI in the Network Properties on both systems. It's an additional network protocol. You can also try IPX/SPX as well. For playing older games between the two, that protocol needs to be installed. Takes but a few seconds. Now...this works for file sharing, I haven't tested this config myself so I don't know how well it supports games. Transfer speeds will max out at 100Mbs. Hint: For the best transfer speeds, don't let Windows handle the transfer mode. Right click My Network Places, go to Properties. Right click your LAN and then Properties. In the first window, upper part you'll see an icon for your NIC card. Click the Configure button. Click on the Advanced tab, then in the window click on Connection Type. Set to the maximum that card allows...for example, 100BaseTx Full Duplex. (requires actual NIC card drivers, not the default Windows drivers)
#1: I don't see any option called 'connection type'. Screenshot: #2: Actually, when the NIC drivers are installed, XP (via Windows Update) says that it has updated drivers. It identifies it's own set of drivers to be a better match for the NIC. Do you still want me to install the actual NIC drivers? EDIT: Also, here's a shot of the 'Add Protocol' window:
1. Your option is Link Speed/Duplex Mode. 2. Add IPX/SPX. Just to be on the safe side. Windows will use whatever protocols that are handy to communicate with other machines.
Thanks for ALL the info so far, Morph416. Just a few more questions: When the NIC drivers are installed, Windows XP (via Windows Update) says that it has updated drivers. It identifies it's own set of (updated)drivers to be a better match for the NIC. Do you still want me to install the actual NIC drivers that came with it? How do I install 'NetBEUI'? (Is it 'Network Monitor Driver' by any chance?) EDIT: Forgot to close the last bracket
If there are no options to insure a manual selection of Full Duplex mode, which is typical of Windows' versions of it's drivers (such as no control panel in grapics drivers) then yes, I'd recommend using the drivers that came with the motherboard, or PCI card. You can find the last updated version at the manufacturer's websites. How to install NetBEUI. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/301041
Thanks. I think that answers all my questions. I'm going to lay down the cable soon. I'll post here when everything is done.
