Connecting my 2 PCs in different areas.

[Andrew Downie]

OK, here goes.
I have a PC upstairs in my bedroom and i PC downstairs in the livingroom. I want to connect them with a couple of NICs. Now, when i discussed this with my Dad who owns the PC downstairs, he was up for it.

Is it just a case of buying the NICs, getting the cable, installing the NICs and plugging the cables in either end and installing the drivers and other software for the NICs or is there more to it than that?

Is the connection between the two machines based on one machine being host and the other guest?

Is there i quick process where the two machines can engage in an active chat situation like MSN or ICQ? Is it in Windows or do i have to have a misc program to do it?

Is there an easy way to make one machine share an internet connection with the other machine. So if one connects to the net, the other just has to open up the browser and they are there?

Do you pick, in Windows, what files you want to share or do you have access to all the files and resources on the machine?

Can you use one machine to access optical drives on the other, with Windows or another misc program?

Is there any other features you can utilise with connecting two PCs and other recommended software to purchase or download for any of the above or other features.

Please help.................

AD :D

[GSXdan]

Are you looking to share your internet connection? If so, you will need to get a router(if you have broadband). If you dont get a router then it is based on one pc being the host and the other being a client. Depending on what OS you are running on the computers, there is a program in windows to chat over a lan but you can also get programs that do the same thing with more options. You can choose to share certain folders or drives in windows and set passwords to get access. As for the sharing optical drives over the network, it can be done, i don't know exactly how to do it, but someone here does.

^dan

[Andrew Downie]

Thanks....

For peoples further information, they are both running Win98. Though, one may be upgraded to WinME.

Cheers

Please help as much as you can..

AD :D

[Tuf]

www.practicallynetworked.com

[Andrew Downie]

That website was good but it didn't really have the answers to my questions above. I'm still in doubt about most of them.


Please help me...................................................!

AD :D

[bonzai]

I think the most important thing is for both of you to have access to the Internet. So the first thing you have to ask is, what kind of access do you have, broadband or modem dial-up.

In the case of cable or DSL, which is the ideal situation, you will need to buy a router, and ethernet cables long enuff to connect the 2 computers. In the most general sense, you will just have to connect the cable modem (device which will provide u Internet from the cable wire which comes from the outside of your house) to your router with an ethernet cable, then connect the router to each of your 2 computers with ethernet cables as well. In this picture, your cable modem and router will probably be sitting with one computer. So what u need to worry about would be finding an ethernet cable long enuff to connect the router to your 2nd computer.

In the case of dial-up, I have never shared an Internet connection through dial-up before, so you may want to find out more somewhere else.

[bigdog92]

you also have another choice if you have a broadband connection (cable or dsl) you can buy a wireless router and a wirless nic. This would save you the hastle of the long cabling but may cost a liltle more. When you give access to folders is based on the user's setup in the computer managment in the administrative tools. With dialup i do not believe you can have 2 computers on at the same time UNLESS you have 2 phone lines. I may be wrong about that but i believe i'm correct.

[Andrew Downie]

Ok, i had a look around the net and on other posts. To connect the two machines together, do i need to get a CAT 5 patch cable or a 'crossover' cable?

I've had a bit of feedback about the internet connection sharing. If you could answer some of the other questions i posted, i would be grateful along with any other feedback.

Thanks.

AD :D

[Iman74]

To save on the trouble with cabling and the possible messy look you can always go with the option of a wireless LAN or a bluetooth lan. It's an expensive route and non nearly as secured as going with cabling but it's convenient when it comes to networking different PC's around the house.

[Confused]

Originally posted by Andrew Downie
OK, here goes.
I have a PC upstairs in my bedroom and i PC downstairs in the livingroom. I want to connect them with a couple of NICs. Now, when i discussed this with my Dad who owns the PC downstairs, he was up for it.

Is it just a case of buying the NICs, getting the cable, installing the NICs and plugging the cables in either end and installing the drivers and other software for the NICs or is there more to it than that?

Are you going to share internet? If so, what type of internet connection do you have? If cable or DSL then best method would be to get a router. You can go wired or wireless. Use straight cables if going wired.

If you are not going to share internet then both PC's would be connected with a crossover cable.

Either option requires a NIC in each PC.

Is the connection between the two machines based on one machine being host and the other guest?

If you are going to share internet and don't want the expense of router, then you would run ICS. PC's would be connected with crossover cable and one would be gateway and other would be the client. If you have cable or DSL the gateway PC would need two NIC's. One for internet connection and other to connect PC's

Is there i quick process where the two machines can engage in an active chat situation like MSN or ICQ? Is it in Windows or do i have to have a misc program to do it?

I don't know. I don't use any chat programs.

Is there an easy way to make one machine share an internet connection with the other machine. So if one connects to the net, the other just has to open up the browser and they are there?

ICS would work but if you have cable or DSL the preferred method would be with a router, either wired or wireless.

Do you pick, in Windows, what files you want to share or do you have access to all the files and resources on the machine?

Yes

Can you use one machine to access optical drives on the other, with Windows or another misc program?

I don't think so. I cain't give a definiate answer though.

Is there any other features you can utilise with connecting two PCs and other recommended software to purchase or download for any of the above or other features.

Please help.................

AD :D

[Andrew Downie]

I am going to share internet connection. I have a 56k dial-up internet connection.

Is ICS in windows?

I am leaning towards one being the Gateway and one being the client. Where would i get crossover cable from?

AD :D

[padawan]

OK, here it goes...
-------------------------
Option 1:

I would buy two 10/100 PCI NICs. They are cheap, and easy to install.

Install the NICs in both computers.

Assign each NIC an IP address. I would recommend 192.168.0.XXX, with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0. Make sure both computers are part of the same workgroup.

Buy a cheap 4 port switch ($20), and place it in a convienent location.

Buy two cables, one for each computer. DO NOT buy a crossover for this setup. Plug the cables in to the computers and switch.

--------------------------

Option 1A:

Complete first two steps above.

Buy a single Crossover cable.

Connect the cable to the computers.


------------------------------
Option 2 for sharing Broadband:

Complete Option 1, except set each computer to Obtain IP Address Automatically instead of assigning then manually.

Buy a Router (cheap, around $50).

Plug the router into one of the ports on the switch.

Follow router config instructions for internet access, but most of it is already done.

--------------------------------

Option 3 for sharing Internet Access

Complete Option 1

Configure the Internet Connection Sharing on the machine connected to the Internet.

Follow the connection wizard, and it will tell you exactly what to do to the other machine. I seem to recall it makes a floppy to setup the second machine.

---------------------------------

ICS is in Windows98. I don't like it, but it might work for you. You can buy a crossover cable at CompUSA for like $15. The Host computer does not need two NICs, since the modem acts as the WAN connection, and the NIC will be the LAN connection.

---------------------------------

To share files in 98 you must enable the option that says something like Enable File and Print Sharing. I haven't used 98 in a long time, so look for something like that. Yes, optical drives can be shared. Once you enable sharing, just click the Sharing option under the driver properties, and it will put a little hand icon under the shared resource. A word of caution, though. I would NOT share the entire hard drive. Share a folder on the drive.

[Confused]

Note;
You stated earlier that they were both WIN98. Keep in mind that they have tp be WIN98SE. ICS is not available in WIN98FE. Also there was a a thread some time back about using ME and ICS. If I remember right, ME would have to be the gateway PC.
Chas

[Andrew Downie]

OPtions:

Could i complete option 1A and then complete option 3?

[bigdog92]

connection 1a would physically conect the 2 computers together with a crosover cable. connection option 3 would use win98 ics to do this.

[piasabird]

Try looking at the website www.homenethelp.com They have lots of tutorials with pictures. I think they have an area where they sell stuff Network cables too.

I do not recommend using a crossover cable because that can be unstable. I would use a Linksys Network Switch or a Linksys Router. Then you would need one short patch cable and a longer patch cable of the type of CAT5 to connect the two computers. In windows 98 you set up the network then set up the intenet connection sharing (ICS) afterwards. Basically you need Client for microsoft networks TCP/IP for the NIC card/Internet, and NET BIEU (spell?) for networking.

Important:
If you ever think you will get broadband Internet, you may want to purchase a Router with a 4 Port Switch.I picked one up over Christmas for about $55.00.

I think a switch cost about $35.00. Sometimes you can get a kit with 2 Network cards the cables and a switch or a Hub for about $60.00. You gotta figure the longer cables are about $20.00 - $25.00 retail. A switch is a little faster than a HUB, but a Hub doesn't cost as much. This is a decision you make based on your conditions. I bought a little 3 foot Cat5 cable at radio shack for $5.00.

You can buy just a crossover CAT5 cable and 2 NIC cards. If you get a switch later, to add another computer you would need a hub or a switch to do that and the Jack on the cable would have to be rewired! You need to think about how you are going to run the cable also. One way is to drill a hole in the floor. and go straight down. You can also put a face plate in the wall and drop the cable through a wall. It depends how fancy you want to get.

Wireless networking is an option also. It is just a little more expensive. The NIC cards and the Wireless access point cost more but you dont have to buy cable! I dont know if you can connect with just 2 wireless NIC cards or not.

[Andrew Downie]

BUt, would 2 NICs and a crossover cable work just as well as CAT5 and hub/switch? Would i be able to do everything i could do with the CAT5 and switch with the crossover and NIC straight connection?

[padawan]

If all you want to do is connect the two computers, sure a crossover and two NICs will be fine. But, I bought a 4-port hub at CompUSA for $5 one day, and it worked great. I'd prefer the hub/patch cable option, but bottom line, a crossover will connect the two computers and allow ICS.

[Andrew Downie]

Take a look at this. Is this any good for a Hub/Patch cable option. Its cheap i know but with longer Patch cables i think it'll do the job.
I don't know quite how the thing works but you can just copy and paste.

[url]http://www.pcworld.co.uk/store/martprd.dll/store/pcw_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1443470143.1042233211@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccgadchdmkijimcefecfgmdffgdfgj.0&page=Product&sku=607939&category_oid=-9980
AD :D

[Andrew Downie]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^BUMP!^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Well, can anyone give me an opinion on this product. I know i'm beginning to get annoying but i really need to get this off my chest.

[glc]

We'd be happy to give you an opinion if you would post a valid link.

[gbirke]

Once the computers are connected. You can use winpopup to chat between them. This is on Win 98se. To run go to Sart, run, type in winpopup. Both computers must be running it.