Direct Ethernet Connection

[GB]

I have been trying to set up a direct PC-to-PC network between two machines
running XP home using Ethernet (slipped cable). From 'Network Connections' I
selected 'Create a new connection', 'Set up an advanced connection',
'Connect directly to another computer' but when I get to 'Connection Device'
I am only offered LPT and COM ports.



If you follow the Help on the subject it shows various method including RJ45
and USB leads. What 'obvious' mistake am I making?



On another front can the GigaBit LAN on my Gigabyte motherboard be used as
10/100Mbps LAN port or do I need to change the drivers. I am sure at one
stage I used this port to connect to my cable modem, however, now I only
seem to get connection with the 10/100 port. I reboot the cable modem after
changing connection ports.



Thanks, Graham.

 

[Rick Wintjen]

I have been trying to set up a direct PC-to-PC network between two machines
running XP home using Ethernet (slipped cable). From 'Network Connections' I
selected 'Create a new connection', 'Set up an advanced connection',
'Connect directly to another computer' but when I get to 'Connection Device'
I am only offered LPT and COM ports.



If you follow the Help on the subject it shows various method including RJ45
and USB leads. What 'obvious' mistake am I making?



On another front can the GigaBit LAN on my Gigabyte motherboard be used as
10/100Mbps LAN port or do I need to change the drivers. I am sure at one
stage I used this port to connect to my cable modem, however, now I only
seem to get connection with the 10/100 port. I reboot the cable modem after
changing connection ports.



Thanks, Graham.

Have you set up the IP addresses on your 10/100 ports? Make sure all
your network settings are correct, and that both PCs are set to the same
subnet. Also, you need a crossover cable to attach two PCs directly
(without a switch or hub).
I don't know if a Gigabit NIC will work on a 10/100 LAN, but if it did
work with a cable modem, it must auto-detect the slower connection.

 

[Len West]

If you don't have an existing network (I assume not) then go to network
places and select "set up a home or small office network" and follow the
bouncing ball.
Without a hub/switch/router, you would need a crossover Cat5 cable and not a
regular straight through Cat 5 cable.

 

[GB]

Thanks for your info. I am using a crossover cable (couldn't think of the
word at the time so used slipped) and have been through the St up a home or
small office network though I don't recall a bouncing ball. This set up
bridges but still not seem to work.

Graham

 

[Ralf G]

You started off wrong. Ethernet to ethernet is a basic connection. The
Advanced selection is for alternate types of connections. Bridges are
unneccessary and may also be undesirable for what you intend to do.

Remove whatever connection you have already created and start over.

From Network Connections select 'Create a New Connection' then

Select 'Set up a Home or Small Office Network" then Next and Finish. Windows
will then start the next part of the process with the "Network Setup
Wizard". Just follow the prompts. Unless you intend to use XP's Internet
Connection Sharing, do the same for the second computer.

Each computer has to be set to the same Workgroup (the default selected is
MSHOME) and the TCP/IP settings for the ethernet adapters in both machines
must be set to the same address range and subnet
(192.168.0.xxx/255.255.255.0). You can set the computer name (different for
each computer) and workgroup in -My Computer-View system
information-Computer Name- click the Change button.

If you intend to use Windows Internet Connection Sharing, the process to
install it will also set up your LAN connection using DHCP for automatic
addressing of the second computer. The ethernet (LAN) adapter in the
computer with the existing internet connection must be set to address
192.168.0.1 in TCP/IP (Subnet Mask is 255.255.255.0). Simply use the floppy
disk that ICS setup prompts you to create to automatically configure the
second computer. If you want to set the second computer's address manually
you can use any address from 192.168.0.2 to 192.168.0.255 in Subnet
255.255.255.0.

At this point the network should be complete.

Until you actually 'Share' some resources on each computer there won't be
anything much that you can access in "My Network Connections". File and
Printer sharing must be enabled in TCP/IP and Sharing also has to be enabled
for each individual Folder or Drive and Printer, etc. that you want the
other computer to be able to access. For each computer, in My Computer or
Windows Explorer, select the folder or drive you wish to Share, right click
the mouse, select "Sharing and Security" and follow the prompts.

 

[GB]

Thanks again. Will give it a try.

Graham

You started off wrong. Ethernet to ethernet is a basic connection. The
Advanced selection is for alternate types of connections. Bridges are
unneccessary and may also be undesirable for what you intend to do.

Remove whatever connection you have already created and start over.

From Network Connections select 'Create a New Connection' then

Select 'Set up a Home or Small Office Network" then Next and Finish. Windows
will then start the next part of the process with the "Network Setup
Wizard". Just follow the prompts. Unless you intend to use XP's Internet
Connection Sharing, do the same for the second computer.

Each computer has to be set to the same Workgroup (the default selected is
MSHOME) and the TCP/IP settings for the ethernet adapters in both machines
must be set to the same address range and subnet
(192.168.0.xxx/255.255.255.0). You can set the computer name (different for
each computer) and workgroup in -My Computer-View system
information-Computer Name- click the Change button.

If you intend to use Windows Internet Connection Sharing, the process to
install it will also set up your LAN connection using DHCP for automatic
addressing of the second computer. The ethernet (LAN) adapter in the
computer with the existing internet connection must be set to address
192.168.0.1 in TCP/IP (Subnet Mask is 255.255.255.0). Simply use the floppy
disk that ICS setup prompts you to create to automatically configure the
second computer. If you want to set the second computer's address manually
you can use any address from 192.168.0.2 to 192.168.0.255 in Subnet
255.255.255.0.

At this point the network should be complete.

Until you actually 'Share' some resources on each computer there won't be
anything much that you can access in "My Network Connections". File and
Printer sharing must be enabled in TCP/IP and Sharing also has to be enabled
for each individual Folder or Drive and Printer, etc. that you want the
other computer to be able to access. For each computer, in My Computer or
Windows Explorer, select the folder or drive you wish to Share, right click
the mouse, select "Sharing and Security" and follow the prompts.




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