Setting up home LAN?

[JTH]

Hi,

I have two machines, one upstairs and one downstairs in my house (although there's not that much physical distance between the two). Anyway I have two D-link 10/100 etherlink cards lying around that I bought to set up a LAN between the two but never got around to it. I had planned just to connect the two for home usage (LAN games, file sharing etc.)

Anyways, I've decided now to just go for it and do it. As I said I have the card but what else do I need? I assume a hub, although someone told me that for two computers I mightn't need a hub? And some cabling? I'm using XP home on both machines.

Thanks, JTH :)

[Propain]

If its just to hook up 2 pcs then all you need is a crossover cable . if your mobos dont have On-Board 10/100 ethernet then you could use the NIC cards to connect.

http://www.duxcw.com/digest/Howto/network/cable/cable1.htm


cheers

[JTH]

I already have two D-Link 10/100 cards. So I just buy this crossover cable and I am sorted??

[MulderMan]

yep, connect the crossover cable up to each computer and run the home network setup wizard in xp.

[RJ]

Yes that'd be all for the hardware part. The rest is just setting up windows. .particularly folder sharing.

RJ

[Propain]

if ya already have cable then bring it in to a PC shop and ask them if they can make it for you for a small fee .

[Markoman01027]

Make sure the LAN connection in Network and Dial up Connections is enabled and properly set up.

You want to make sure both systems are on the same workgroup, but different computer names. Both should have File-Pring Sharing enabled, and both systems should have Netbeui protocal installed.

[JTH]

One thing: I'm unfamiliar with Netbeui protocol??

[JTH]

I've found this one on Ebay: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3089857393&category=3704

Would this be good for what I want it for? It says Cat5e if that's okay. Just to confirm with above wire I can fileshare, share broadband internet and play LAN games? Can I do all of those three things?

JTH :)

P.S. Do these plug into your USB ports?

[flanzig1]

Yes, that cable should work.
NetBIOS: Go into network properties/tcp/ip properties/netbios tab/select to activate

[JTH]

Great thanks. Is a 10/100 card fast enough for smooth 2-player gaming?

[demandred55]

Yes, that's still the standard speed. They are starting to come out with Gigabit Lan now, but it is not yet popular.

[JTH]

Okay, thanks everyone for the help. I will yet ye all know if I have any problems when the wire arrives!! One final question is this: do XP machines transmit data back to Microsoft when you connect to the internet, assuming you have already registered?

[ZeratulsAvenger]

What kind of data? When you do a Windows Update it will make sure that you are a valid, non duplicate XP machine. Apart from this I don't know of any other time.

[JTH]

Just for Windows Update? What do you mean by a non duplicate XP machine?

Thanks!

[ZeratulsAvenger]

Umm... 2 Machine running the same copy of XP(same serial #)

And that's the only one I know of... I doubt they will be prying to see what files you have if thats what your worried about ;)

[JTH]

Okay thanks everyone :)

[Panama Red]

XP has several Services that provide MS with info. If you want to control them, check out www.blackviper.com and go to his XP Services guide. I disable many on all machines. Also, whenyou run Adware or Spybot on a fresh install, they will pick up MS items that are designed to gather info for MS.

[JTH]

Thanks for the info Panama Red, I'll be sure to use the above link; it will no doubt prove useful!

[ZeratulsAvenger]

I never knew any of those services did that... I always turned them off cuss.... well I mean a guy with a cool site name says something... your gonna do it ;)

Maybe I'll have to re-read some of the pages again. Thank for the info :)