Networking just two computers

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
G

Guest

I have two computers in the same room, one with XP and the other with windows
2000. And I am trying to get them set up to share the DSL internet
connection and a printer. They both have ethernet cards. I am just not sure
what else I will need. Router or hub? Do I need a print server or will a
router suffice? Never done this before and really need some guidance? It
shouldn't be too hard, right? Please help!
 
networkbzb said:
I have two computers in the same room, one with XP and the other with windows
2000. And I am trying to get them set up to share the DSL internet
connection and a printer. They both have ethernet cards. I am just not sure
what else I will need. Router or hub? Do I need a print server or will a
router suffice? Never done this before and really need some guidance? It
shouldn't be too hard, right? Please help!
Click to expand...

Likely, your DSL provider has supplied you with a network bridge, or router
(they probably call it a modem for simplicity). If this piece of equipment
has more than one ethernet port - you have all you need. If not, you will
need either a router or a hub. If you are not interested in networking these
PCs, then a router should suffice.

Basically, you will connect the ethernet port from the supplied
bridge/router to your new router. Then from the new router, you will connect
to each computer's NIC. It's pretty simple.

The only thing to keep in mind is that your IP address is going to be
different. It will be supplied to you by your router instead of the normal
one you get from your DSL provider. This will only cause a problem if you
have a static IP address from your provider, and your computer is set up to
get a static IP. If this is the case, you will have to tweak these setting
to those that the new router is giving you (as opposed to the static IP that
you are currently getting).

Hope this helps.
 
I have two computers in the same room, one with XP and the other with windows
2000. And I am trying to get them set up to share the DSL internet
connection and a printer. They both have ethernet cards. I am just not sure
what else I will need. Router or hub? Do I need a print server or will a
router suffice? Never done this before and really need some guidance? It
shouldn't be too hard, right? Please help!
Click to expand...

A router will allow the 2 computers to share Internet service, and connect with
each other. How does the printer connect - is it cabled to one of the
computers, or does it have an Ethernet cable?
 
networkbzb said:
I have two computers in the same room, one with XP and the other with windows
2000. And I am trying to get them set up to share the DSL internet
connection and a printer. They both have ethernet cards. I am just not sure
what else I will need. Router or hub? Do I need a print server or will a
router suffice? Never done this before and really need some guidance? It
shouldn't be too hard, right? Please help!
Click to expand...

For some basics, see:

- A basic tutorial on routing for a home network:
http://home.comcast.net/~bobwbsgs/homenet.txt

- A good intro to home nets
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/home-network.htm
 
Likely, your DSL provider has supplied you with a network bridge, or router
(they probably call it a modem for simplicity).
Click to expand...

It is a "MoDem", as in, "modulation-demodulation". DSL does not put raw
Ethernet packets on the wire, it does actually modulate, and demodulate the
information in two frequency bands; one for download, another for upload.
If this piece of equipment
has more than one ethernet port - you have all you need. If not, you will
need either a router or a hub. If you are not interested in networking these
PCs, then a router should suffice.
Click to expand...

In most cases, a DSL provider only supplies a single public IP address. For
this, a NAT router of the one-to-many IP address variety (most common
routers sold at consumer electronics stores) will be necessary.
Basically, you will connect the ethernet port from the supplied
bridge/router to your new router. Then from the new router, you will connect
to each computer's NIC. It's pretty simple.
Click to expand...
The only thing to keep in mind is that your IP address is going to be
different. It will be supplied to you by your router instead of the normal
one you get from your DSL provider. This will only cause a problem if you
have a static IP address from your provider, and your computer is set up to
get a static IP. If this is the case, you will have to tweak these setting
to those that the new router is giving you (as opposed to the static IP that
you are currently getting).
Click to expand...

Many DSL providers offer static IP addresses as part of a multiple IP
address package. There are some special NAT routers to handle this kind of
configuration.
 
I have two computers in the same room, one with XP and the other with windows
2000. And I am trying to get them set up to share the DSL internet
connection and a printer. They both have ethernet cards. I am just not sure
what else I will need. Router or hub? Do I need a print server or will a
router suffice? Never done this before and really need some guidance? It
shouldn't be too hard, right? Please help!
Click to expand...

A NAT router will let you share the Internet connection. Almost all include
a four port switch for connecting multiple Ethernet devices. Some even come
with print servers; though that should not be the sole reason to get a
particular router. Most router manufacturers also make Ethernet print
servers, which allow you to add one, or more printers directly to the LAN.
In this way you won't need to have a computer powered just because it
shares its printer.
 
The printer is an hp laserjet 4p and has bpth a parallel and serial port.
Unfortunately, no ethernet port. It is presently connected to the pc with
windows 2000 via the parallel port. What options do I have for the xp pc and
win 2000 pc to share the printer?
 
The printer is an hp laserjet 4p and has bpth a parallel and serial port.
Unfortunately, no ethernet port. It is presently connected to the pc with
windows 2000 via the parallel port. What options do I have for the xp pc and
win 2000 pc to share the printer?
Click to expand...

First, get Internet connectivity working for both computers. You need a DSL
modem with Ethernet, and a NAT router.

Once both computers have Internet access, then work on connectivity between the
two. When you have connectivity working, setup sharing.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/08/networking-your-computers.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/08/networking-your-computers.html
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/dealing-with-physical-network-problems.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/dealing-with-physical-network-problems.html
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/07/windows-networking.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/07/windows-networking.html
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/file-sharing-under-windows-xp.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/file-sharing-under-windows-xp.html

Take it one step at a time. Ask questions as you go.
 
Hi - I have a very similar issue I'm trying to resolve:
I want to access my old win2000 machine files from my new xp machine. Both
are connected to a Netgear wireless router via ethernet cable; both see the
Internet, but cannot see each other.

I tried running the Network Setup Wizard from xp, but the setup disk it
creates cannot be read by the win2000 machine. Can you point me in the right
direction?

Other info on my setup:
on xp machine, I can see the "Residential Gateway", but cannot see the
network I attempted to create (MSHOME)
win2000 machine is NTFS (does this make a difference?)
There is no "Sharing" tab on the win2000 machine's LAN property box
Both machines have Norton Internet Security installed (I tried turning it
off).

Any ideas?
 
Hi - I have a very similar issue I'm trying to resolve:
I want to access my old win2000 machine files from my new xp machine. Both
are connected to a Netgear wireless router via ethernet cable; both see the
Internet, but cannot see each other.

I tried running the Network Setup Wizard from xp, but the setup disk it
creates cannot be read by the win2000 machine. Can you point me in the right
direction?

Other info on my setup:
on xp machine, I can see the "Residential Gateway", but cannot see the
network I attempted to create (MSHOME)
win2000 machine is NTFS (does this make a difference?)
There is no "Sharing" tab on the win2000 machine's LAN property box
Both machines have Norton Internet Security installed (I tried turning it
off).

Any ideas?
Click to expand...

Rob,

Norton Internet Security includes several components. The firewall, NPF, is
known for not reacting properly to being "turned off". There's another
component - "worm protection" - that has been known to cause problems. If
you're behind a NAT router, you'll be best off un installing NIS completely, and
following all instructions available from Symantec. At least til you get this
working.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/your-personal-firewall-can-either-help.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/your-personal-firewall-can-either-help.html

You could check for another misconfigured or overlooked personal firewall, or
other security component. There are several other possibilities too, and any
might be the cause of your problem. Read this article with an open mind.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/10/irregularities-in-workgroup-visibility.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/10/irregularities-in-workgroup-visibility.html

Or you could look at "browstat status", "ipconfig /all", "net config server",
and "net config workstation", from each computer, and diagnose the problem.
Read this article, and linked articles, and follow instructions precisely
(download browstat!):
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp
 
Chuck,

Got it working - thanks!
--
-Rob


Chuck said:
Rob,

Norton Internet Security includes several components. The firewall, NPF, is
known for not reacting properly to being "turned off". There's another
component - "worm protection" - that has been known to cause problems. If
you're behind a NAT router, you'll be best off un installing NIS completely, and
following all instructions available from Symantec. At least til you get this
working.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/your-personal-firewall-can-either-help.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/your-personal-firewall-can-either-help.html

You could check for another misconfigured or overlooked personal firewall, or
other security component. There are several other possibilities too, and any
might be the cause of your problem. Read this article with an open mind.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/10/irregularities-in-workgroup-visibility.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/10/irregularities-in-workgroup-visibility.html

Or you could look at "browstat status", "ipconfig /all", "net config server",
and "net config workstation", from each computer, and diagnose the problem.
Read this article, and linked articles, and follow instructions precisely
(download browstat!):
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp
Click to expand...
 
Back
Top