XP Home ed. ...Network...

[RJK]

I've been reading some primers on setting up a small home network, and would
like to try networking 2 PC's together, via a router? ...using ethernet
leads i.e. not wireless

They both have XP Home ed. SP3 ...all up to date with MS security patches
etc.
....and at the moment, they both get their internet connection from a Linksys
WAG354G (which is an adsl modem/4 port router),

Can this Linksys do the job, or do I need to buy something different ?

Completely confused about hubs, routers etc,

regards, Richard

 

[RJK]

....i.e.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/813937/
....do I need to buy a hub or a switch, or will my WAG354G do it ?

regards, Richard

 

[HeyBub]

I've been reading some primers on setting up a small home network,
and would like to try networking 2 PC's together, via a router? ...using
ethernet leads i.e. not wireless

They both have XP Home ed. SP3 ...all up to date with MS security
patches etc.
...and at the moment, they both get their internet connection from a
Linksys WAG354G (which is an adsl modem/4 port router),

Can this Linksys do the job, or do I need to buy something different ?

Completely confused about hubs, routers etc,

regards, Richard

You've got all the hardware you need.

Do you have access to a 12-year old male?

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I've been reading some primers on setting up a small home network, and would
like to try networking 2 PC's together, via a router? ...using ethernet
leads i.e. not wireless

They both have XP Home ed. SP3 ...all up to date with MS security patches
etc.
...and at the moment, they both get their internet connection from a Linksys
WAG354G (which is an adsl modem/4 port router),

Can this Linksys do the job, or do I need to buy something different ?

Completely confused about hubs, routers etc,

regards, Richard

It sounds like you've everything you need.

On each WinXP PC, create local user account(s), with non-blank
password(s), that have the desired access privileges to the desired
shares. Log on to the other PCs using those account(s), and you will be
able to access the designated shares, provided your network is
configured properly. Also, make sure that WinXP's built-in firewall is
disabled on the internal LAN connection.

Usually, WinXP's Networking Wizard makes it simple and painless --
almost entirely automatic, in fact. There's a lot of useful,
easy-to-follow information in WinXP's Help & Support files, and here:

Home Networking
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/using/howto/homenet/default.asp

Networking Information
http://www.onecomputerguy.com/networking.htm

PracticallyNetworked Home
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/index.htm

Steve Winograd's Networking FAQ
http://www.bcmaven.com/networking/faq.htm


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

 

[RJK]

You've got all the hardware you need.

Do you have access to a 12-year old male?

....unless that question was a "typo" of some sort, my view has always been
that proven paedophiles should be castrated, then tied to a chair in a large
hall, and all the relations of the minor/s (e.g. parents), given full
access to the paedophile - with baseball bats, and if they don't kill him,
he should then be put to the electric chair.

regards, Richard

 

[John]

I believe it was a joke.
A 12-year-old boy may be able to network your 2 PCs.

 

[RJK]

It sounds like you've everything you need.

On each WinXP PC, create local user account(s), with non-blank
password(s), that have the desired access privileges to the desired
shares. Log on to the other PCs using those account(s), and you will be
able to access the designated shares, provided your network is configured
properly. Also, make sure that WinXP's built-in firewall is disabled on
the internal LAN connection.

Usually, WinXP's Networking Wizard makes it simple and painless --
almost entirely automatic, in fact. There's a lot of useful,
easy-to-follow information in WinXP's Help & Support files, and here:

Home Networking
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/using/howto/homenet/default.asp

Networking Information
http://www.onecomputerguy.com/networking.htm

PracticallyNetworked Home
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/index.htm

Steve Winograd's Networking FAQ
http://www.bcmaven.com/networking/faq.htm


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand
Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

Many thanks for your response, and links. I can see that I am going to have
do more reading before "having a go." I keep looking at various "simple
diagrams" on networking two PC's, and how to connect things up, and how they
will interface, in relation to how things are set up at the moment,
....and then wonder if it would be easier to disconnect the WAG354G, and
connect the two PC's with a cross-over cable, and try networking them like
that first / for practice, | and then add a pci LAN card to my main PC, (so
that it has a second ethernet port), so that I can connect WAG354G, to get
internet access.
....and then I wonder if it would be simpler to buy a hub, attempt to network
the two PC's, and then connect the WAG354G to the hub, to add in internet
access -...which would leave three empty rj45 ports on the back of the
WAG354G, ...which leads me back to thinking that perhaps the WAG354G could
be doing it all i.e. is a router a hub ? ...i.e. can it act as a hub ?
(I've gathered that a "switch" is better than a hub btw).
e.g. do I need to add 2nd ethernet port to my main PC, and have two rj45
leads going from the WAG354G to the main PC, and one rj45 lead going to the
2nd PC,
....does there have to be two LAN connections set up in XP - one for the two
PC's and one for the internet ? ...is this connected with an "internal" and
an "external network," ???

....anyhow, I'm off to read your links !

regards, Richard

 

[RJK]

ooops ! ...sincere apologies to ALL, I misinterpreted that one for sure, and
completely <blush>

....and, athough incredible, I've never networked two PC's but, have been
with them since my first 8086 8mhz with no hd and 2 x 5 1/4" floppy drives.

regards, Richard

 

[Twayne]

I've been reading some primers on setting up a small home network,

and would like to try networking 2 PC's together, via a router?
...using ethernet leads i.e. not wireless

They both have XP Home ed. SP3 ...all up to date with MS security
patches etc.
...and at the moment, they both get their internet connection from a
Linksys WAG354G (which is an adsl modem/4 port router),

Can this Linksys do the job, or do I need to buy something different ?

Completely confused about hubs, routers etc,

regards, Richard

You should be all set with what you have. In fact, if it's only 2
computers, it can even be done without a router/switch/whatever. All it
takes is a sort of crossover cable (the ethernet cable - 8 pin config).

In an unusual departure from the norm, Microsoft, for XP's Help &
Support has an excellent write-up on setting up a home LAN. Just look
for LAN, IIRC, or maybe home lan. It explains all the different
formats, how to set them up, etc.. Definitely worth a read.

Regards,

TWayne

 

[HASAN]

you dont need to make any changes in your hardware, I use my adsl router to
connect all my pc's/laptop together. simply connect all the systems to the
router, turn the router's DHCP server on (its usually on by default), on
your two pcs check that both have a same WORKGROUP name, also check that the
ip address is set to "obtain ip automatically" on both pcs,then right click
some folder on both pcs and choose sharing...,go to "sharing wizard" and
answered the questions, it would setup the necessary access permissions and
also tune the firewall to let your sharing communications pass the
firewall.thats it, you now have a home network!

 

[James Egan]

I've been reading some primers on setting up a small home network, and would
like to try networking 2 PC's together, via a router? ...using ethernet
leads i.e. not wireless

Why would you want to wire them together when they are already
networked together wirelessly?

Currently all you have to do is to enable file sharing and configure
the firewalls. Forget the wires unless you have some special reason
for doing it?


Jim.

 

[Jack \(MVP-Networking\).]

Hi
Two parts in the answer.
One: Sharing Internet connection.
In most cases there is a Modem that feeds a Cable/DSL Wireless Router, and
the whole thing looks like this, http://www.ezlan.net/network/router.jpg
A Router is a combo unit that includes Routing circuit to share Internet,
and a Switch, and a Wireless Access Point.
What the Routing circuit does? Read here, http://www.ezlan.net/routers.html
If more than 4 wire ports are needed additional stand alone switches can be
chained to get more ports.
In your case the Modem + Routing Circuit + 4 ports switch + Wireless Access
Point, are combined into one plastic box with one brick power supply called
WAG354G.
I.e. you have currently everything that is needed to use a single DSL
connection with 4 wired computers and many Wireless computers.
Read the WAG354G manual Connect everything together and make sure that each
computer can use the Internet.
Once every computer can connect to the Internet it is time to take care of
local file and printer sharing.
Two: Files and printer Sharing.
It does not matter whether the computer connects to the Wireless Router via
wire or Wireless, the sharing is the same.
Successful Sharing involves some general consideration in Network settings,
http://www.ezlan.net/sharing.html
As well as specific adjustment of each computer according to what it is
allowed to be shared.
Vista File and Printer Sharing-
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb727037.aspx
Windows XP File Sharing -
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;304040
Printer Sharing XP -
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/expert/honeycutt_july2.mspx
Windows Native Firewall setting for Sharing XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/875357
Windows XP patch for Sharing with Vista -
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/922120
Jack (MS, MVP-Networking).

 

[Bob I]

Umm, that would be sneakernet. ;-)

ooops ! ...sincere apologies to ALL, I misinterpreted that one for sure, and
completely <blush>

...and, athough incredible, I've never networked two PC's but, have been
with them since my first 8086 8mhz with no hd and 2 x 5 1/4" floppy drives.

regards, Richard

 

[RJK]

Hi
Two parts in the answer.
One: Sharing Internet connection.
In most cases there is a Modem that feeds a Cable/DSL Wireless Router, and
the whole thing looks like this, http://www.ezlan.net/network/router.jpg
A Router is a combo unit that includes Routing circuit to share Internet,
and a Switch, and a Wireless Access Point.
What the Routing circuit does? Read here,
http://www.ezlan.net/routers.html
If more than 4 wire ports are needed additional stand alone switches can
be chained to get more ports.
In your case the Modem + Routing Circuit + 4 ports switch + Wireless
Access Point, are combined into one plastic box with one brick power
supply called WAG354G.
I.e. you have currently everything that is needed to use a single DSL
connection with 4 wired computers and many Wireless computers.
Read the WAG354G manual Connect everything together and make sure that
each computer can use the Internet.
Once every computer can connect to the Internet it is time to take care of
local file and printer sharing.
Two: Files and printer Sharing.
It does not matter whether the computer connects to the Wireless Router
via wire or Wireless, the sharing is the same.
Successful Sharing involves some general consideration in Network
settings, http://www.ezlan.net/sharing.html
As well as specific adjustment of each computer according to what it is
allowed to be shared.
Vista File and Printer Sharing-
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb727037.aspx
Windows XP File Sharing -
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;304040
Printer Sharing XP -
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/expert/honeycutt_july2.mspx
Windows Native Firewall setting for Sharing XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/875357
Windows XP patch for Sharing with Vista -
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/922120
Jack (MS, MVP-Networking).

HUuuuuuuge thanks,

Now that I know that I'm not fighting with hardware which lacks necessary
features/functionality I can wade into configuration

regards, Richard

 

[RJK]

you dont need to make any changes in your hardware, I use my adsl router
to connect all my pc's/laptop together. simply connect all the systems to
the router, turn the router's DHCP server on (its usually on by default),
on your two pcs check that both have a same WORKGROUP name, also check
that the ip address is set to "obtain ip automatically" on both pcs,then
right click some folder on both pcs and choose sharing...,go to "sharing
wizard" and answered the questions, it would setup the necessary access
permissions and also tune the firewall to let your sharing communications
pass the firewall.thats it, you now have a home network!

Many thanks,

Now that I know that I'm not fighting with hardware which lacks necessary
features/functionality I can wade into configuration

regards, Richard

 

[RJK]

You should be all set with what you have. In fact, if it's only 2
computers, it can even be done without a router/switch/whatever. All it
takes is a sort of crossover cable (the ethernet cable - 8 pin config).

In an unusual departure from the norm, Microsoft, for XP's Help & Support
has an excellent write-up on setting up a home LAN. Just look for LAN,
IIRC, or maybe home lan. It explains all the different formats, how to
set them up, etc.. Definitely worth a read.

Regards,

TWayne

Many thanks,

Now that I know that I'm not fighting with hardware which lacks necessary
features/functionality I can wade into configuration

regards, Richard

 

[RJK]

Why would you want to wire them together when they are already
networked together wirelessly?

Currently all you have to do is to enable file sharing and configure
the firewalls. Forget the wires unless you have some special reason
for doing it?


Jim.

Many thanks,

Now that I know that I'm not fighting with hardware which lacks necessary
features/functionality I can wade into configuration

regards, Richard

 

[RJK]

Hello again Richard,

I agree with what the others have said. You have all you need right
there. There are some really good links provided to you. I have a similar
setup in my location, only the "powers that be" will not allow cable to be
routed, as the computers are on two different floors. I am going to do
just as you--only wireless.

Good luck! This sounds like a good learning experience for both of us.

--
HTH,

Curt

http://dundats.mvps.org/
http://www.aumha.org/
http://dundats.mvps.org/AutoIt/default.aspx

Hello Curt,

I finally managed, (after a very long time), to ask my question about
hardware, specifically its' networking capabilities, ((in an, (unusually for
me!), succinct fashion)), and got the answer I'd been hoping for !
....many thanks again to all who finally "drummed" that answer into me !

Now, prior to engaging in a fight with MS's, allegedly, "automatic" and very
helpful Network configuration Wizard, I thought I'd first uninstall, and
reinstall AVG 8.0 Internet Security on both of my PC's so that all the AVG
Standard Firewall "Profiles" e.g. "Small Home or Office Network", are all
available, ((i.e. I deleted the "Small Home or Office Network" profile on
both PC's a while ago, ( I have a 5 PC multi license pack with AVG)). The
intention there was to pre-empt or reduce problems with firewalls' when I
eventually make my attempt at networking the two PC's.

As when installing AVG 8.0 full Internet Security suite on previous
occasions, I've ended up in almost complete confusion over AVG's "Areas and
adapter profiles"/"Adapters and Areas,"
"Adapters connected to Safe Networks," ...(is currently set to "Unassigned)"
"RealTek RTL8139" ......LAN chip on motherboard.
"All Network Areas / "Orange ?" ...I labelled the "network area" "Orange ?"
....possibly that which was detected and demanded a name during
reinstallation of AVG 8.0 ...so I had yet another cigarette and gazed at the
screen in wonderment for even more ages, ...wondering if the installation
routine was asking me about a level of internet access security for
"Orange," (my ISP is Orange), or was it asking about the LAN chip connection
to my adsl modem/router ...and now,
....after having gazed and re-read the AVG Help pages, for ages, it's half
past midnight plus ! ....so I'm going to switch it off and go to bed.
....haven't even reinstalled AVG 8.0 on 2nd PC,
....and haven't got anywhere near running MS Network configuration wizard !!!

....regarding your rj45/Cat 5 cable vs. wireless, my WAG354 is currently
sending internet to my fathers' PC in the house, THAT was an experience and
a half - matching WPA security keys / channel / setting MAC codes in router
etc. DHCP / IP / gateway addresses etc. ...fighting with it for goodness
know how many hours and eventually discovering that the Linksys WMP54G pci
wireless card application software was causing problems ! i.e. one had
probably been tweaking things that didn't need tweaking, (causing LOTS of
time consuming frustration), then after upgrading the application software
for it, from Linksys, most of the problems vanished, ...after changing
software settings back to those, that hadn't needed changing in the first
place !

regards, Richard

 

[RJK]

This is like trying to find a needle in a haystack !
....All I've managed so far is to get my main PC warning me that if I
proceed - everyone on the internet will be able to see my files and use my
printers !
....and the 2nd PC which tells me that I do not have the necessary
administrative permissions to do very much with a Network at all !
( Both PC's boot straight into Adminstator mode i.e. I've never set up user
accounts, as such on them ! )

I've tried setting up a workgroup - the type of hardware configuration that
one had to select is difficult - though I think I've selected the correct
one. Then, the 2nd PC can't display or see the WorkGroup - and when I first
ran the Network setup wizard on the 2nd PC, it needed to reboot, and whilst
rebooting it decided to do a dos level chkdsk, making me suspect that the
Network Connection wizard did all sorts of damage on the 2nd PC before
rebooting, as chkdsk / 10 to 20 filenames whizzed up the screen including
some *.dll's !

Oh, for a "hold-my-hand" tutorial that explains what needs to be set up and
how - in Windows !

Many years ago I networked a few PC's in Bristol, (no Windows - all DOS
based apps.), and one had to assign.exe, or was it subst.exe, (can't
remember now), hd C:\ for H:\ so that nodes with SuperCalc v3.0-v5.5? on
them , could load up spreadsheets stored on the main PC. Looking back,
.....GOODNESS only knows how I got all that working !!! ...and here I am,
can't make head nor tails of this facility in Windows !

Anyhow, on 2nd PC :-
"View Network Connections" contains only one LAN icon - to router - where
it gets its' internet connection from I suppose !
"View WorkGroup computers" is empty, then a timer bottle - then ""Rjk"
(workgroup name i gave it), is not accessible, You migh not have
permission....etc."
I gathered that the WG name has to be the same on both PC's - will have to
urn the network setup wizard on 2nd Pc again I think.

....oh, what joy !!

regards, Richard

 

[RJK]

I may have made some progress :-

"My Network places" on "server" PC is showing:-

data on LianLi(D935) \\d935\data
SharedDocs on LianLi(d935) \\D935\SharedDocs

....but, 2nd PC can't see them !

regards, Richard