Network questions.

[Alzarius]

Ok, I've got 2 computers. 2 new network cards installed in each. Both cards are 10base cards. RJ-45 cables. Both running on Windows 98se. Cards are from different companies. Accton and Sohoware. Now, my question is. How do I get both computers "connected"? I can't seem to figure this out and I can't find any helpful information anywhere. What are the steps from the "Both cards have been plugged in and connected with a cable" stage? I want both computers to have access to each other and I want the one in the other room to be able to use the printer in here. I can build a computer, replace a rear axle on a car, but for the life of me, I can't get 2 computers to even say "Hi." to each other. Haw! For reference, the Sohoware card is model ND5320 and the Accton is that fre NIC from Lanmarket everyone got. I'll get the number if needed. ANY help would be apreciated!

[Pulsar]

first you need a hub for a rj45 network. you can ussually pick up a mini hub at your local computer store for about 45 bucks.

then in your network setup add tcpip for the network card and then go to its properties.

click onspecify an ip address
ip should be 192.168.0.x(were x is 1 or 2 or any number that is not used by another computer.

subnetmask should be 255.255.255.0 for all computers.

without the hub you will not be able to get it to work.

good luck.

[ktwebb]

Actually, for two computers you don't need a hub. In fact, it is easier to do without one, if you are only running 2 PC's. You do, however, need a crossover cable to use this setup. Go to your PC store and ask for a Cat 5 crossover cable. Then add your IP's. Use the ping command to test for connectivity.

[Strip]

For file and printer sharing, you also have to install the service for this. There is a button in the network properties box.

Next step would be right clicking on the maps/files/printers (in explorer) you want to share and choose "share".

btw, you don't HAVE to use static IP for your computers. But it saves a lot of time when booting.



[This message has been edited by Strip (edited 01-04-2000).]

[BC]

Yes all true. But if you are just wanting to get these 2 computers talking to one another and thats it install the proticol NetBEUI instead. No other configuration to get it working you will need to setup file and print sharing. That is simple though.

Also you said that you have 2 network cards in both pc'S? You only need 1 in each. then yes you could use either a hub or a crossover cable. Both are simple. A hub will however let you put more computers on your "network" at a later time. As well as let you put like a cable modem in your network to access the internet for both pc's. Alot of choices not a clear cut answer. but you are on the right path grasshopper.

[Ygor]

Hmmm, I took what Alzarius said to mean 2 cards, (one) in each computer.

In any case, I am working on this too. I have 2 of the same cards, Netgear. I have the crossover cable in place and have gone thru most of the configuration. Not sure what else I need to specify to get this to work, but I am patient and will watch this and related threads.

If I enable file sharing, am I opening up ports for probing when I am online? Guess I'll post that as a new thread once I am sure this works.

[Alzarius]

One more question. This crossover cable. Is this different from the cable I'm using? I've got a 50 foot cat5 cable(green even!). It's just a straight connection. One end in each card. Just want to make sure this crossover isn't something entirely different.

[ktwebb]

A crossover is different from a normal Patch cable. A pair is switched. Go to your local PC store and get a Patch 5 Crossover cable. Should get you up. To ping. go to the msdos prompt. if you are at PC 1 (IP example 192.168.1.1), and you want to ping PC 2 (192.168.1.2), at the C: prompt, type ping 192.168.1.2. You will get an echo response if you are connected, or a time out response if you are not. Host unknown means you have something set up wrong. Try to ping the loopback address (127.0.0.1) to see if you have tcp/ip set up correctly.

[BC]

Hey Al you are close. Yes a crossover cable is different then the straight threw cable. I'm Sorry I don't know of any good sites at which you can get a diagram of the cable so I will try to butcher it the best I can http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

Ok on a cat5 ethernet network the rj45 connector has 8 slots ( a regular phone line is rj11 has only 4 slots) but it only uses 4 slots. if you turn the connector so the clip is on the bottom and the connector leads are on the top you can read the wires from left to right 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
on a straight threw connector the wires on both ends match, but on a crossover cable the wires on one side go like this:
side 1 side 2

1............3
2............6
3............1
6............2
on an ethernet network like i said you only use 4 of those 8 slots. I hope someone has a pic for ya. But just do a search for this there are about a million sites that have info on a crossover cable.
Sorry I couldn't help any more.

Also you might after you get this cable going and if you still can't see other comps do a right click on network neighborhood and click on find computer put the name of the other comp in there and click on find now.
That sometimes gets you where you need to be.
BC

[This message has been edited by BC (edited 01-04-2000).]

[This message has been edited by BC (edited 01-04-2000).]

[Alzarius]

Ok, this is the status of the "Notwork" so far. Yep, that was notwork. The cards are plugged in, 1 in each computer(Heh! I've got enough trouble trying to get 1 set working, much less 2 in each computer!) The cable is connected, I've installed a number of clients and protocals. Using the TCP/IP one gets me the IP setup and such. This compter, the Celeron assigned it's own IP. The older K5/166 didn't, so I copied the one from this computer, changing the last 1 to a 2. Now, the best I can get when using Microsoft Family log on client is the Network Neighborhood only lists itself in the network. i.e. If this computer is called Blue and the other Red, either computer only lists itself and not the other in the network. And I have no clue how to ping either computer. Of course since they don't seem to want to talk to each other, I'm not even sure pinging would do any good even if I knew how to do it. So, does anyone have any suggestions at this point? I've run out of thoughts trying to get this thing to work. And I doubt it's a computer related issue as I can't seem to get ANY networks working. Couldn't even connect one at the office with 2 computers. This is obviously some idiot thing I'm missing. Are there any clients/protocols that I should remove?

[Strip]

You can choose how you want the file/printer sharing to work. Simply doubleclick one of the protocols (say "TCP/IP -> Dialup adapter" for example) and click the "Bindings" tab. There you can check/uncheck all services that should be used with this protocol.