Networking noob. Need help with CPU to CPU and internet on both, connected to 1 cable modem?

Question

Okay I have 2 desktop both with 1 Ethernet card on each, a switch (d-link DES-1105), and a cable modem. First problem. I don't know how to network. Both are running XP sp2 and I've gone through the wizard to try and network them together. I'm going to need a step by step I think to be able to understand. They are both in the same room and I just want to be able to transfer 20+ gigs from one to another. Once that's done I doubt I'll need them networked unless I have to in order to have them share the internet connection.

Second problem is only 1 will connect to the internet at a time. I'm assuming I need some other kind of hardware like a router or something. Is that right?

If I do need a router in addition to the switch, how do I configure it? do I just put a cable from the switch to the router then to the modem??? Would it just be a plug and play?

Thanks.

Answer 1

you can NOT use a switch and modem for this. you need a router connected to the line, and then both machines must connect to the router. you will still need the connection to share the internet. If you install a router, once you follow the manual and configure it you will be able to connect both machines automatically. Then run the network wizard again and set both machines to the same workgroup name and you can then right click the folder containing the files you want to share and set it so.

Answer 2

Updated - Actually you CAN connect the two computers using the switch but you don't have to. You only require a ethernet cable to be plugged into both ethernet ports to link them together. The cable should read CROSSOVER on it somewhere, if it's ORANGE in color it's most likely what you need. I suspect that you've tried this already when you ran the wizard? well if you did you were almost there. You would have already enabled networking on both PCs.

In order for the two computers to see each other they must recognize that they are on the same network. You would need to make sure that they are in the same Workgroup.

You can change the workgroup name for each PC by right-clicking 'my computer' (this will open system properties), clicking on the 'computer name' tab and then clicking on the 'change' button at the bottom of the window. A new window will pop up for you to enter the info. You can use any name you want but just remember that it's case-sensitive. You can give you PC a name on the network at the same time.

You must also make the folders you want to share visible by right clicking the folders, clicking properties and ticking the share option - you can even give it a unique share name when being viewed over the network. You can make the folder read-only or you can allow it to be written to from the other computer.

With the two PCs connected cable and powered up, you should be able to see the other computer by going to 'My Network Places' - get there by opening the 'My computer' windows; it's listed at the side. It might also be directly accessed from the start menu.

In the 'My Network Places' window. click on 'view workgroup computers' on the left panel...this should bring up the other computer's unique network name that you've assigned to it. Clicking on the icon will show you all the shared folders that you've assigned on that system.

The most likely cause of a failure of this method is the FIREWALL. If you have a firewall enabled on both PCs and you can't see the other PC's name or the shared folders on the other PC you should do one of two things -

-Turn off the firewall - if the problem is solved when this is done, you know that you will need to configure the firewall if you want to have it on (not that you need it for this link).

-Second option - IF you can see the other computer but can't access the files on it, you should try putting the other computer's IP in trusted zone.

Tweaking the firewall usually solves the problem.

On your second problem.

You won't be able to keep the two connected via the ethernet link AND still have internet access...you clearly know that. And you're on the right track about the router! It's your best bet. But i think you need some clarification on how everything would be hooked up.

First of all, i would recommend that you get a wireless router, because they come with up to 4 ethernet ports at the back AND they give you wireless networking options. This means that you'll be able to hook up 4 computers to it using regular ethernet cable. And you would be able to share files (and printers too) in the same way as described above.

The switch is used to expand the number of wired computers you have attached to the network. It would attach to one of the 4 ports of the router and give and additional 3 ports (since it would take one from the router).

With just two computers and a wireless router, you wouldn't need to use the switch at all until you added more than 4 wired PCs to your network.

Your cable modem will plug into a special ethernet port on your wireless router which is there for just that connection. The two computers you own will plug into the router and they will be automatically assigned IP addresses by the router, They will have independent access to the internet. And you have the option of adding a wifi USB adapter to any one (or both) of your computers in the future, thus making them wireless and at that point you could put them anywhere in your home. Alternatives to the USB WIFI adapters would be WIFI PCI cards for one or more of your desktops. The USB option saves you a PCI slot....

Another option to what i described above is for you to use the switch by plugging the computers into it. It's not necessary unless you were trying to connect THREE computers. The switch is different from the router in that it lacks the ability to assign IP addresses ( it can recognize them though - that's how it works actually).

It also can't act as a gateway to the internet, which is why you can't attach your modem to it. In order for you to use it to connect the PCs you would need to manually assign IP addresses to both computers. This way the switch will recognize each computer's data and channel the data accordingly. But again, it's harder to do than a direct computer to computer connection. Below is a useful instruction guide if you decide to use the switch to make the connection between your two PCs.