Do networked PCs require the Internet?

  • Thread starter Thread starter M.L.
  • Start date Start date
M

M.L.

Please excuse me for this dumb question but I need to know if I must
be connected to the Internet to share files and folders on the
following types of networks. I have a desktop (connected to DSL modem)
and laptop, both using WinXP Home:

1. File and printer sharing using DSL modem and wireless router

2. VPN

3. VNC (I think this one needs to be)

Any help appreciated. Thanks in advance.
 
Please excuse me for this dumb question but I need to know if I must
be connected to the Internet to share files and folders on the
following types of networks. I have a desktop (connected to DSL modem)
and laptop, both using WinXP Home:

1. File and printer sharing using DSL modem and wireless router
Click to expand...

The router is the gateway device for the (Wide Area Network (WAN)/Internet
and LAN (Local Area Network) your machines connected to the router. The
gateway router provides the plumbing for the machines to do resource
sharing on the LAN. However, the O/S on each machine must be configured to
do resource sharing. So, the router allows the machine to share resources
without the machines accessing the Internet/WAN. And you DON NOT want to
share resources like that and the router is protecting the LAN from outside
attacks but allowing the machines on the LAN to do RS.
The link has other *home* networking topics.

http://www.homenethelp.com/web/explain/about-NAT.asp
2. VPN
Click to expand...

There are two types of VPN(s) and they both must have valid VPN end-points.
Hardware to hardware like two routers using VPN or software to software
like AT&T Extranet or O/S to O/S like Win2K Pro Workstation and Server
edition in a VPN connection.
3. VNC (I think this one needs to be)
Click to expand...

No if you're talking about Remote Desktop Sharning (RDS), which can be done
with two machines on the LAN or one machine over the Internet/WAN and the
other one on the LAN.

Duane :)
 
Hi

Home Network consists on two or more computers that are connected together
and able to communicate one with the other in order to exchange information.

You do not need Internet connection to have Network.

You do not need VPN to connect between your two computers. VNC program is
used to remotely control one computer from an other, it is not necessary to
use VNC in order to share files, and printers.

Look at the picture in the link bellow, you would see three wired computers
connected to a box (Wireless Cable/DSL Router) and one computer connected
Wireless. The box is also connected to a DSL Modem. You can disconnect the
DSL modem from this box and the four computers still would be able to
communicate between themselves.

Connection Diagram: http://www.ezlan.net/~network/router.jpg

May be this can help a little more.

http://www.anandtech.com/guides/viewfaq.html?i=105

Hubs, routers, switches, DSL, LANs, WANs...? -
http://www.anandtech.com/guides/viewfaq.html?i=48

The page above was written by me ages ago. You might ignore the prices and
Brand recommendations. The principles however are still the same.

Jack (MVP-Networking).
 
Please excuse me for this dumb question but I need to know if I must
be connected to the Internet to share files and folders on the
following types of networks.
Click to expand...

You don't need to be connected to the internet to share files at all.
You /can/ share files getween these two via the internet but its a
very dangerous game as it also exposes your files to 3rd parties.
I have a desktop (connected to DSL modem)
and laptop, both using WinXP Home:
Click to expand...

if you want to share files between these, you need to network them.
Simplest method: buy cheap switch & 2 lengths of CAT5 cable, plug
network sockets of PCs to switch. Cost around £20.
1. File and printer sharing using DSL modem and wireless router
Click to expand...

sure, you can put in a router & wireless cards in each Pc, and connect
them together via the router. However the internet is not necessasry
- in fact all you're doing is using the router as a switch.
2. VPN
Click to expand...

Again, the net is not needed for a VPN, but this is overkill anyway
for home networks.
You /could/ use a VPN to share files between PCs via the internet, but
its generally used for doing so between home and the office, and
requires quite a bit of admin.
3. VNC (I think this one needs to be)
Click to expand...

VNC is simply remote control software. You don't need the internet for
it to work - I used it to remotely administer a mixed bunch of W98,
MacOS9 and XP machines.
 
You don't need to be connected to the internet to share files at all.
You /can/ share files getween these two via the internet but its a
very dangerous game as it also exposes your files to 3rd parties.


if you want to share files between these, you need to network them.
Simplest method: buy cheap switch & 2 lengths of CAT5 cable, plug
network sockets of PCs to switch. Cost around £20.
Click to expand...

The computers are already networked, one wired, one wirelessly. I'm
interested in knowing if my networking configuration is safe.
sure, you can put in a router & wireless cards in each Pc, and connect
them together via the router. However the internet is not necessasry
- in fact all you're doing is using the router as a switch.


Again, the net is not needed for a VPN, but this is overkill anyway
for home networks.
You /could/ use a VPN to share files between PCs via the internet, but
its generally used for doing so between home and the office, and
requires quite a bit of admin.


VNC is simply remote control software. You don't need the internet for
it to work - I used it to remotely administer a mixed bunch of W98,
MacOS9 and XP machines.
Click to expand...

I want to thank everyone who replied. I'll be checking the previously
mentioned links for more info.

However, I do have two last questions:

1. When an Internet connection is "always on" how do I check its
properties to ensure that File and Printer Sharing is turned off?
Fortunately, my Internet connection is launched from a shortcut and I
can set the properties appropriately, but I know others who have
always-on connections with no specific launching shortcut.

2. The workgroup name is MSHOME. If the laptop is taken to a public
wireless network, would people using the MSHOME workgroup name
be able to access the shared folders on my computer?

Best regards and thanks again to everyone who offered their
assistance.
 
The router is the gateway device for the (Wide Area Network (WAN)/Internet
and LAN (Local Area Network) your machines connected to the router. The
gateway router provides the plumbing for the machines to do resource
sharing on the LAN. However, the O/S on each machine must be configured to
do resource sharing. So, the router allows the machine to share resources
without the machines accessing the Internet/WAN. And you DON NOT want to
share resources like that and the router is protecting the LAN from outside
attacks but allowing the machines on the LAN to do RS.
The link has other *home* networking topics.

http://www.homenethelp.com/web/explain/about-NAT.asp


There are two types of VPN(s) and they both must have valid VPN end-points.
Hardware to hardware like two routers using VPN or software to software
like AT&T Extranet or O/S to O/S like Win2K Pro Workstation and Server
edition in a VPN connection.
Click to expand...

Would XPHome to XPHome work for VPN?
No if you're talking about Remote Desktop Sharning (RDS), which can be done
with two machines on the LAN or one machine over the Internet/WAN and the
other one on the LAN.

Duane :)
Click to expand...

Thank you for your helpful replies and links. For VNC I was thinking
more along the lines of RealVNC with Putty for SSH tunneling, not XP
RDS. IIRC, the RDS needs at least one WinXP Pro computer to function
as the server. Would two non-networked computers need to use the
Internet for VNC?
 
Would XPHome to XPHome work for VPN?


Thank you for your helpful replies and links. For VNC I was thinking
more along the lines of RealVNC with Putty for SSH tunneling, not XP
RDS. IIRC, the RDS needs at least one WinXP Pro computer to function
as the server.
Click to expand...

Well there is MS Netmeeting that has RDS that's on the O/S as well but I
understand that you must configure it on the XP machine for it to work. On
Win 2K and down O/S(s) one doesn't need to do this special configuration of
NM's RDS. You can search Google or dogpile.com for more info on the how to.

Would two non-networked computers need to use the
Internet for VNC?
Click to expand...

If you're talking about can one machine on the LAN VNC with another machine
not on the LAN for a VNC connection, then yes, since the Internet (Wide
Area Network) WAN is just a bigger network than your LAN.

However, to do VNC over the Internet, the router must have the inbound port
open to the public Internet for it to work. That is called port forwarding
on the router, which you should be able to go to the router's Tech Support
Knowledge Base link to find out how to do it or call them on the phone on
the how to. Port forwarding is talked about in the link above too. Keep the
machine out of the DMZ.

Duane :)
 
Well there is MS Netmeeting that has RDS that's on the O/S as well but I
understand that you must configure it on the XP machine for it to work. On
Win 2K and down O/S(s) one doesn't need to do this special configuration of
NM's RDS. You can search Google or dogpile.com for more info on the how to.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I'll look into using NetMeeting RDS. It might be the most
convenient route to take.
 
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