How can I set up two different LAN connections?

[Bartt]

I have a desktop and laptop, both running XP Home. Only the desktop has
a cable modem connection. To connect the two machines for syncing
files, I disconnect the desktop's ethernet cable (there's only one port
on the desktop's NIC) and plug in a CAT5 crossover cable to establish a
LAN with the laptop. Each time I switch from internet to local LAN or
vice versa, I must change the settings in my Network Connection. How
can I set up two network connections...one for internet and one for
local LAN so that I can activate either one as needed?

 

[Sleepless in Seattle]

Buy broadband router, plug cable modem into router WAN port and then plug
computers into router LAN ports.

 

[Bartt]

I had a router and returned it for unreliability. How can I establish
two different connections with no additional hardware?

 

[Tony Norman]

I don't believe it can be done with one NIC. I know that sounds weird
because you can have multiple connections for a standard Dial-Up modem, but
the LAN connection in the Network Connections is placed there just because
of the NIC. If you want the Network Connections to show a Local Area
Connection 1, and 2, (or have two [2] Local Area Connections), I believe you
are going to have to install another NIC, or get yourself a some sort of a
multi-port network device (switch, hub, or router)

 

[jeffrey]

Hi,

You can`t. You will either have to put an additional network card in the
desktop then have the notebook connected to that other network card.
Another thing you can do is get a simple ethernet hub, just one of those
$20-$40 4 port ones, connect the cable modem to the uplink port, then your
computers to the hub. Depending on the cable modem and your cable service,
both PC`s might get an IP address then you can connect to each PC. I don`t
know how your cable service is setup, but when I used to have cable, I was
to hook an ethernet hub to the modem then the PC to the hub and have them
access the web and each other. Best solution is to get a router from a good
company for example Netgear other solution is to put another network card in
your Desktop or go back to changing cables and network address`s.

Jeff

 

[Bartt]

I guess a second NIC makes sense, although there seem to be analogous
situations where different settings can be applied to one device with a
click. (Just don't ask me for an example right now <g>) Until I can
get a good wireless-N router, I may have to keep changing settings. Thanks.

 

[jeffrey]

Hi,

Try the Netgear wireless router. I purchased one a few months ago and its
working very nicely. I actually don`t use the netgear router as a router
though, more as the DHCP, Hardware Firewall, NAT, and access to my DSL
modem. I have a ethernet switch hooked to the router, then my PC`s to the
switch. But I have that router working hard, since I`m always downloading,
uploading, and playing network games a lot and it hasn`t complained yet.

Jeff

 

[Yves Leclerc]

The N protocol still is not standardized. I know that Belkin has a "pre-N"
router that has three atennas. One for each protocol that gets "synced".