Basic network questions

[Snaffler]

Hi. First of all, I apologise for this post which I'm sure will only be covering old ground for most posters here. I have absolutely no knowledge of networking, so I have a couple of questions that I hope somebody can help with.

1) What is the best way for me to network my desktop PC with my Laptop? I've read that this can be done with just one cable. Is that right? I hope so!

2) If the desktop and the laptop were networked, would it be possible for the two to share the desktop's internet connection, be it dial-up or broadband?

Thanks in advance.

[Budfred]

I have been told that you can link two computers that both have 10/100 Network cards together without any fancy extras as long as you are using a version of Windows that will support it. If you are using Linux, it almost certainly supports it. Once you have done this, you are also supposed to be able to share internet access as long as the computer connected to the internet is acting as a server. I haven't acutally done this yet because I need to obtain and install a network card in one of my computers, so someone else will have to confirm that it can be done.

Budfred

[Jiggy]

hi there, its good to see another Derby lad here.

what OS are you using on both puters?

1. its called Direct Cable Connection, i dont know if networking with a laptop work in the same way as two desktops, not done that yet.

2. i think most ADSL has a dialer, if so look in properties for share this connection with other users, dont know about NTL cable, im still looking.

others will come.:D

[Julgeek]

Hi Snaffler and others: I'm new to networking, too, and have a few
questions.

First, my computers: "Picard" is a AMD K6 CPU desktop running Win Me. "Geordi" is a 486DX CPU desktop running WFW3.11, and has MS Client network software installed. I have two PCI LAN cards that someone gave to me, also. They're not yet installed in the computers.

I purchased Geordi at a thrift shop, and the hard drive has been partitioned like mad. The computer also has some awesome software loaded. I want to network Geordi and Picard so I can burn Geordi's software onto CD's, using the CDRW in Picard. I then want to reformat
Geordi's HDD, and have just one partition.

How do I hook up these computers so I can accomplish my goal? I need
instructions in plain terms, as I'm a geek in training!

Thanks in advance, Julgeek
Yes, I'm a trekkie...have two other computers, an HP95LX palmtop named "Data" and an AcerNote 760C, 486DX2 laptop named "Q"

[Snaffler]

First off, Jiggy & Budfred, thanks for replying!

Another Derby man in here, cool, its gotta be said though - pretty crappy start start of season for the Rams!

My desktop is running Windows 98 and the laptop XP. Would having different OS's cause a problem? In an ideal world, I'd like to install XP on the desktop, but I only have the "Product recovery" XP CD that came when I bought the laptop. If I were to use this to install XP on the desktop, its will prompt me to register, if I did this would Microsoft have a problem with me running XP twice after only paying for it the once?

And whilst I'm here, these network cards - are they essential for networking? Would I need one for the laptop and one for the desktop as well as a cable? Damn, this is confusing... I'm going to bed.

Thanks for your help so far.

[classicsoftware]

The best and easiest way to do this is:

1) Put a NIC in each computer.

2) Purchase a Linksys 4 port hub router (approx $60.00)

3) Purchase cat 5 cables (Price dependent on length $3.00 to $30.00 3ft-100ft)

If you want to do this, I will give detailed instructions on how to do it.

[Budfred]

You do need the network cards, I have been told that you do not need the router hub if you are only networking 2 computers.

Budfred

[classicsoftware]

You don't "need" them. If you have a broadband connection and want to get the most out of it, direct cable connection between 2 pc's is a pain and it is slow.

With price of all equipment less than $100.00 including Network cards, it doesn't make sense to do it any other way.

Who needs a car, you can get to work on your scooter....

[sleddog]

Originally posted by Snaffler
1) What is the best way for me to network my desktop PC with my Laptop? I've read that this can be done with just one cable. Is that right? I hope so!

Best, or easiest/cheapest? They're not the same :)

If you simply want to connect two computers together to share files, and each computer is already equpped with a network card, all you need is a crossover cable. This you can get from a local computer or electronics store for a few dollars. There are many good websites that explain the basics of Windows network setup, such as http://www.wown.info/

2) If the desktop and the laptop were networked, would it be possible for the two to share the desktop's internet connection, be it dial-up or broadband?

If you connect by dialup then you should be able to use Internet connection sharing (available with Windows 2000, XP, and maybe 98? I can't recall!). Basically Computer A has two 'interfaces' -- one interface to the Internet through the modem, the other interface to Computer B, through the network card and crossover cable. Internet connection sharing ties it all together.

If you connect by broadband then the situation is different, because that Internet connection will use the network installed in Computer A. And you can't have two cables plugged into one network card. :) So you solutions are, either:

1. Install a second network card into Computer A. One network card connects to the Internet, the other connects to computer B. You setup Internet connection sharing again on Computer A.

2. Or, use a router as suggested by classicsoftware. Each computer is connected though its network card to the router, which in turn is connected to the Internet.

Versions of Windows are largely irrelevant. Install and use the TCP/IP protocol and you can connect Windows 95 machines to XP, or Linux for that matter. To use the Microsoft Internet connection sharing, then yes, you will need a version of Windows that supports it. But the router solution also makes that unnecessary.

Again, I suggest you spend some time at the site I mentioned above to gain some familiarity with networking.

[Snaffler]

Thanks a lot for the help there Sleddog, that website looks like it'll get me up to speed.

Muchly appreciated.