Brian Wescombe said:
How do I set up a direct connection between two computers (both running XP
Pro) ? I've got a cross-over LAN cable but I'm stuck now!
All computers usually need to be joined to the same Workgroup.
Enable NetBIOS protocol on both computers. Make sure your firewalls will
allow that protocol on the LAN.
Enable File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks.
On NT, 2000, and XP: Each computer has its own "computer name" (My Computer
| Properties | Network Identification | Properties). Names must be unique to
each computer on the LAN.
The easiest way:
Establish an User Account (usually a limited one) on your computer for each
"computer name" that will connect to your machine. Each account on your
machine may define shared resources of its own for others to use (usually, a
folder). Best to use passwords for the user accounts, especially if visible
over internet. When the remote user tries to connect, the remote user will
supply their own "computer name" for the login and the assigned password.
Unless using a separate "domain controller" pc, the remote user would enter
nothing into that part of the login dialog.
The slightly more complicated way:
You don't have to use the remote "computer name" when defining user accounts
on a NT/2K/XP system, they can actually be anything unique on your computer
as long as the remote computer is not 95/98/ME systems (in which case you do
have to use the "computer name" for the login part of the logon dialog).
Internet Explorer should be set to use authenticated login if IE will be
used over the connection. In this case, user passwords for accounts having
shared resources should be very strong (more than 8 characters, combination
of upper and lower case characters and usage of numbers) to ward off
dictionary attacks and other hacking attempts.
