how to setup a two computer network.

[c_frank]

i have a lan cable and 2 computers that both have lan adapters, they are both running on windows xp and i have one dsl modem. for some reason they just dont want to network.

[bigH2O]

If you are trying to connect two computers directly without going through a hub or a switch, you are going to need a cross-over cable instead of a standard Cat 5 patch cord. In a cross-over cable, pins 2&3 are swapped and pins 4&6 are swapped on one end of the cable. If you're not making your own cables, you can buy a cross-over cable from your local computer supply shop.

Beyond the hardware connection, you'll need to complete several steps to get the two boxes to communicate with each other. Go to Start/Control Panel/Network Connections. Under Network Tasks choose Set up a Home or Small Office Network. Then click on the link "checklist for creating a network". It'll tell you step by step what you need to do to get the boxes talking to each other.

Good luck!

[c_frank]

what do you mean when you say a hub.

[c_frank]

if i buy a hub like this NetGear Hub Ethernet 10Mbps 4-Ports EN104TPNA and 2 ethernet cables will i be able to setup a network?

[Zero Tolerance]

With only 2 computers....a hub will suffice. But hubs dont dedicate bandwith of your signal on the wire. A switch will dedicate the bandwith.

If you decide to go with a hub...get a 100Mbps...not a 10Mpbs. Actually I would think that you would be hard pressed finding 10Mbps anything nowdays unless you buy it used or "old stock".

[c_frank]

i have one dsl connection via a dsl modem and two computers that i would like to share that connection with and still network them together using one piece of equipmwnt wither the switch or the hub which is a better choice based on my needs, is there any reason that i would need a router for anything?



thanks

[bigH2O]

You don't necessarily need a router, but you do need some way to provide host routing. The easiest way is with a router, and your DSL modem may have a router built into it. Some do, some don't. Check the specs on your modem to find out. If you don't have a router and don't want to use one, you can make it work by establishing one of the two PCs as a host. That machine will need two NICs in it, one to connect to the hub, switch, or the other machine, and one to connect to the DSL modem.

There's a pretty good article on setting up a routerless configuration for internet sharing in XP here (http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/ics_xp)

[c_frank]

my modem does not have a built-in router, can i just use a router with a built in switch?

[Zero Tolerance]

my modem does not have a built-in router, can i just use a router with a built in switch?

yes you may....and would be the easiest way IMO to do it

[c_frank]

thanks for all of the help, i hooked everything up and it worked fine.