Network advice?

Hello Everyone,

I want to connect two home office machines running WinXP Pro. They sit next
to each other and are used by one person. I want to use the second computer
as a backup and move data from my new computer to my old computer.

I use a cable modem and want the benefit of a hardware firewall for the
machines. My new computer has a Network card but my old machine does not
have one yet.

My guess is Ethernet and an a router. Can someone suggest some good hardware
to do this job?

Thanks,

Bob

"BobK" <rk1@usernomics[no spam].com> schreef in bericht
news:sJnrc.12336$Fo4.163551@typhoon.sonic.net...
> Hello Everyone,
>
> I want to connect two home office machines running WinXP Pro. They sit
next
> to each other and are used by one person. I want to use the second
computer
> as a backup and move data from my new computer to my old computer.
>
> I use a cable modem and want the benefit of a hardware firewall for the
> machines. My new computer has a Network card but my old machine does not
> have one yet.
>
> My guess is Ethernet and an a router. Can someone suggest some good
hardware
> to do this job?

If it's only 2 computers, and only for backupping data ... You could also
use a crossover cable ... from Network card PC1 to network card PC2. It's a
cheap way too.
But as you said: you can use a router too.

Cable modem -> router -> 2 PC's
I use an E-tech cable router, with 2 Genius Network Cards ... and everything
works as it should ... :-) Firewall is included in the router.
And I only spent like ?60-65 for the hardware.

J.

Take a look at a Linksys BEFSR41, Cable/DSL 4 port
router.
Does what you need and runs about $60.

"Jean" <debat@usenet.INVALID> wrote in message
news:bcprc.121119$vb5.6719595@phobos.telenet-ops.be...
> "BobK" <rk1@usernomics[no spam].com> schreef in
bericht
> news:sJnrc.12336$Fo4.163551@typhoon.sonic.net...
> > Hello Everyone,
> >
> > I want to connect two home office machines
running WinXP Pro. They sit
> next
> > to each other and are used by one person. I
want to use the second
> computer
> > as a backup and move data from my new computer
to my old computer.
> >
> > I use a cable modem and want the benefit of a
hardware firewall for the
> > machines. My new computer has a Network card
but my old machine does not
> > have one yet.
> >
> > My guess is Ethernet and an a router. Can
someone suggest some good
> hardware
> > to do this job?
>
> If it's only 2 computers, and only for
backupping data ... You could also
> use a crossover cable ... from Network card PC1
to network card PC2. It's a
> cheap way too.
> But as you said: you can use a router too.
>
> Cable modem -> router -> 2 PC's
> I use an E-tech cable router, with 2 Genius
Network Cards ... and everything
> works as it should ... :-) Firewall is included
in the router.
> And I only spent like ?60-65 for the hardware.
>
> J.
>
>

"Pen" <pen34us_nospam@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:38Kdnbk-L4DyuzPdRVn-sQ@adelphia.com...
> Take a look at a Linksys BEFSR41, Cable/DSL 4 port
> router.
> Does what you need and runs about $60.
>
> "Jean" <debat@usenet.INVALID> wrote in message
> news:bcprc.121119$vb5.6719595@phobos.telenet-ops.be...
> > "BobK" <rk1@usernomics[no spam].com> schreef in
> bericht
> > news:sJnrc.12336$Fo4.163551@typhoon.sonic.net...
> > > Hello Everyone,
> > >
> > > I want to connect two home office machines
> running WinXP Pro. They sit
> > next
> > > to each other and are used by one person. I
> want to use the second
> > computer
> > > as a backup and move data from my new computer
> to my old computer.
> > >
> > > I use a cable modem and want the benefit of a
> hardware firewall for the
> > > machines. My new computer has a Network card
> but my old machine does not
> > > have one yet.
> > >
> > > My guess is Ethernet and an a router. Can
> someone suggest some good
> > hardware
> > > to do this job?
> >
> > If it's only 2 computers, and only for
> backupping data ... You could also
> > use a crossover cable ... from Network card PC1
> to network card PC2. It's a
> > cheap way too.
> > But as you said: you can use a router too.
> >
> > Cable modem -> router -> 2 PC's
> > I use an E-tech cable router, with 2 Genius
> Network Cards ... and everything
> > works as it should ... :-) Firewall is included
> in the router.
> > And I only spent like ?60-65 for the hardware.
> >
> > J.
> >
> >
>

Thanks guys. Sounds easy enough.

Bob

On Fri, 21 May 2004 13:44:56 +0000, BobK wrote:
> I use a cable modem and want the benefit of a hardware firewall for the
> machines. My new computer has a Network card but my old machine does not
> have one yet.

Get a 10/100 ethernet card for that old machine. I think they're available
really cheap, and any reputable brand (LinkSys, D-Link, etc.) should do.

(See my other post for comments on firewall/router)

--
Juhan Leemet
Logicognosis, Inc.

Best product on the market for what you want to do: Linksys BEFSR41 4-port
router. $59. Easy to set up and probably the best selling unit with its
capabilities in the USA.

--
DaveW



"BobK" <rk1@usernomics[no spam].com> wrote in message
news:sJnrc.12336$Fo4.163551@typhoon.sonic.net...
> Hello Everyone,
>
> I want to connect two home office machines running WinXP Pro. They sit
next
> to each other and are used by one person. I want to use the second
computer
> as a backup and move data from my new computer to my old computer.
>
> I use a cable modem and want the benefit of a hardware firewall for the
> machines. My new computer has a Network card but my old machine does not
> have one yet.
>
> My guess is Ethernet and an a router. Can someone suggest some good
hardware
> to do this job?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Bob
>
>

"BobK" <rk1@usernomics[no spam].com> wrote in message
news:sJnrc.12336$Fo4.163551@typhoon.sonic.net...
> Hello Everyone,
>
> I want to connect two home office machines running WinXP Pro. They sit
next
> to each other and are used by one person. I want to use the second
computer
> as a backup and move data from my new computer to my old computer.
>
> I use a cable modem and want the benefit of a hardware firewall for the
> machines. My new computer has a Network card but my old machine does not
> have one yet.
>
> My guess is Ethernet and an a router. Can someone suggest some good
hardware
> to do this job?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Bob
>
>

One step further, someone else said that if you were just wanting to backup
data, buy a PCI network card and a crossover cable.. well, you could just
buy a USB crossover cable, if both of the computers have USB. Pretty simple
to use, and cheap.

On Fri, 21 May 2004 19:20:48 -0400, "Chris Martin"
<christopher.martin@REMOVEadelphia.net> wrote:

>One step further, someone else said that if you were just wanting to backup
>data, buy a PCI network card and a crossover cable.. well, you could just
>buy a USB crossover cable, if both of the computers have USB. Pretty simple
>to use, and cheap.
>

But less flexible later, possibly not any cheaper, and certainly a lot
slower.

"kony" <spam@spam.com> wrote in message
news:kp7ta0pm6s924lr9vt682pk87a2m0tk6dk@4ax.com...
> On Fri, 21 May 2004 19:20:48 -0400, "Chris Martin"
> <christopher.martin@REMOVEadelphia.net> wrote:
>
> >One step further, someone else said that if you were just wanting to
backup
> >data, buy a PCI network card and a crossover cable.. well, you could just
> >buy a USB crossover cable, if both of the computers have USB. Pretty
simple
> >to use, and cheap.
> >
>
> But less flexible later, possibly not any cheaper, and certainly a lot
> slower.

Depends on what you mean by flexible.. throw the cord in a drawer and use it
again whenever you want.. pretty flexible =). As far as being able to be
used for other things, USB crossover's can be used for a few other things..
you can actually play games and things between them. I certainly agree with
you that the NIC and router have many advantages over the USB crossover
cable, though. But for pure simplicity of transfering files.. plug in the
cable, select all the files you want to transfer, drag them over.. goto bed.

On Sat, 22 May 2004 03:55:24 -0400, "Chris Martin"
<christopher.martin@REMOVEadelphia.net> wrote:

>"kony" <spam@spam.com> wrote in message
>news:kp7ta0pm6s924lr9vt682pk87a2m0tk6dk@4ax.com...
>> On Fri, 21 May 2004 19:20:48 -0400, "Chris Martin"
>> <christopher.martin@REMOVEadelphia.net> wrote:
>>
>> >One step further, someone else said that if you were just wanting to
>backup
>> >data, buy a PCI network card and a crossover cable.. well, you could just
>> >buy a USB crossover cable, if both of the computers have USB. Pretty
>simple
>> >to use, and cheap.
>> >
>>
>> But less flexible later, possibly not any cheaper, and certainly a lot
>> slower.
>
>Depends on what you mean by flexible.. throw the cord in a drawer and use it
>again whenever you want.. pretty flexible =). As far as being able to be
>used for other things, USB crossover's can be used for a few other things..
>you can actually play games and things between them. I certainly agree with
>you that the NIC and router have many advantages over the USB crossover
>cable, though. But for pure simplicity of transfering files.. plug in the
>cable, select all the files you want to transfer, drag them over.. goto bed.
>

I'd call that easy, but not flexible. Flexible as-in, you're building a
small network with either device, but the USB cord won't allow expanding
the network, nor connecting other system without disconnecting one of
them. That is, unless you get the USB type that converts to ethernet
cable, two of 'em, instead of the straight USB cable with just the bridge
chip. Plus USB is so much slower than 100Mbit, but these days it may be
more reasonable to compare USB2 to GbE, so either may be acceptible
solution. I haven't seen (or looked for) any USB2 bridge cables though.