Jump to content

Lan

NeXuS1

By NeXuS1
in The Off-Topic Bar

Recommended Posts

Shaners Senior Enthusiast

Shaners

Posted
Posted

Has anyone set up a local area network (LAN) in their home??  Windows XP makes this look very easy..  a couple rj45? cables and two 10/100 cards and a hub and it's done...  

 

All I need is the hub, 2 cables and 1 card (one machine has it already).  

 

The main reason I want to do this is to transfer files from my old computer to my new one.  But it wouldn't be a bad thing if I had internet sharing capabillities between the 2 machines.

 

A null modem cable would be easier and cheaper, but I'd like to try the "hub".

 

Any thoughts?

LarryE Senior Enthusiast

LarryE

Posted
Posted

if you want one that will last and ease of use get a LINKSYS  

 

they are the only brand I have ever used personally and love their hardware

brmiller Enthusiast

brmiller

Posted
Posted

Okay, I gotta weigh in here too...  (I always thought I couldn't contribute much 'cause I dunno much about trucks 'cept that I love our new Avalanche...)

 

Two computers can communicate on a LAN with a single crossover ethernet (RJ45/twisted pair) cable.  The crossover part is important.  Make sure you buy one that says so.  This is the cheapest way to go if you want to experiment without shelling out the $$$ for a hub (which are also dirt cheap).

 

More than two computers require a hub, and you use straight cables all around.  Despite what LarryE says about Linksys, I personally would not buy another Linksys product.  I have three of their hubs and several ethernet cards from them.  Don't get me wrong--they do work, but I've had quality issues with them, and other techy things I won't get into here.  Lots of people have good luck with them; but I didn't (and know others who have had issues), so it must be a case of mileage that varies.  Anyway, I would like to like Linksys, but...

 

I'm kind of smitten with Netgear products, although they too have gotten cheaper over the years.  SMC, 3COM, and Intel make good networking products too.

 

Sharing an internet connection is way cool too--especially if you have a so-called "broadband" connection (I hate this term, BTW).  Cable-modem (which is having a tough time across the country), DSL, or any already ethernet-based connection to your computer is a no-brainer with a "router".  These devices often have hubs built in and allow your broadband connection to plug into them, and then all your computers plug into the router.  Think of it as a Y-adapter for your internet!  Pretty slick, and becoming pretty easy so any joe can do it.

 

If your internet connection comes over a standard dialup modem on one of your computers, you can download some freeware software to do the trick, but I know little about it.  Heck, maybe even XP has this built in now...  Look for something about IP masquerading or network address translation (NAT).

 

Okay, so that was mouthful.  But hey!  Something I actually know about!  Imagine if I was a Chevy expert!  BTW, on prices, I would expect the following (so you can evaluate):

 

standard straight ethernet cable:  $4

crossover ethernet cable:  $7

4 or 5 port hub:  $40

8 port hub:  $50

broadband router:  $100

 

I didn't look any of these prices up--these are seat of the pants, "if it costs you more, forget it" prices.

 

Good luck to you, and if I can help out more, post on!

 

Brendan

NeXuS1 Enthusiast

NeXuS1

Posted
  • Author
Posted

well i was going to throw some advice in. but brmiller has it covered from what i can tell..

xp doesnt really offer much to make networking easier. you still have to config it, it doesnt do it for you. but its not to hard to do a basic lan setup. xp should offer some kind of inet sharing. i know that it has remote desktop management built in (like pcanywhere)

ryr8828 Enthusiast

ryr8828

Posted
Posted

I got the Linksys Etherfast 10/100 with 5 port switch and 2 network cards for 80 bucks. It came as a kit. Works great for me to share internet connection and printer-scanner. The family doesn't have to fight over the who gets to be on the internet. Switches are faster than hubs. While I have my computers all in one room, I don't think distance is a problem. So you could have them all over your house if you wanted.

Shaners Senior Enthusiast

Shaners

Posted
Posted

Thanks guys...

 

My computers are about 6' apart and would need about 10' of cable to connect them.

 

With a crossover cable am I still able to have internet sharing?

 

My main concern at the moment is to transfer files from my old machine to my new one and it seems like either way will do that, right?

 

I think it would be nice to have internet access on the old 850 mhz machine so the kids can go to some fun kid websites and not touch my new computer.

 

The tutorials say I can transfer files through a "null" modem serial cable, but that won't give internet access and it will be a slower x-fer rate.

 

Maybe a trip to "Staples" this afternoon after the football game is in order...  Thanks again,

 

Shane

LarryE Senior Enthusiast

LarryE

Posted
Posted

a crossover cable should provide everything but it will be a tad slower than a hub.

 

i've never had a problem out of my 4 port linksys  or the 2 port on the database server at my dad's company.

brmiller Enthusiast

brmiller

Posted
Posted

Shaners:

 

You've probably spent your dough by now, but you should still be able to share your internet connection if your computers are connected with a crossover cable.  This is obviously the minimum $$ spent to transfer files, and should work well.  The other posters are right though--if you're going to do it a lot and want the fastest rate, get a hub or a switch.  With two computers, a hub and a switch will be about the same speed.  Switches show their stuff when you have more than 2 machines.  But they're so cheap, that if you're going to buy a hub, get a switch.

 

If you have to get another network card anyway, the Linksys kit with hub or switch is probably a good buy.

 

Back to internet sharing--you still have to get some software to run the internet sharing from the PC that has the modem in/on it.  This is if you have a modem dialup.  If you have DSL or cable, then you likely already have ethernet, but just to the one machine.  In this case you need a hub/switch, and might want to invest in the router I talked about earlier.

 

As for internet surfing speed, it won't matter whether you have a  crossover cable, a hub, or a switch between the computers, because your modem internet connection is factors of magnitude slower than the LAN, so you'll be waiting on the modem to do its thing.

 

Lastly, the firing squad lan guide is pretty useful, but you can safely ignore all the references to 10base2, coax, and daisy-chaining.  LANs aren't done like that anymore.  You'll be looking at 100BaseT unless you're existing ethernet card is only 10BaseT.  Most hubs/switches these days (and the ones that you'll get in a kit) will be 10/100 auto-sensing.

 

Brendan

-------

Is this where I list all my computers instead of all my trucks?

LarryE Senior Enthusiast

LarryE

Posted
Posted

for the software go to analogx and get his proxy software, he has the easiest to configure set on the net, and it's free.

Shaners Senior Enthusiast

Shaners

Posted
Posted

You guys have been a tremendous amt of help...

 

I just got back from Staples and walked out of there with the LinkSys kit in a box.  It comes with cables, 2 cards (I only need one) and the hub.  It is a 5 port 10/100 Auto-sensing desktop hub; switched uplink port.  I paid $79 for it...

 

The only other one they had "in a box" was just a 10mbs and it was $59 and was a generic brand name.

 

This linksys has a 5 yr warranty and came with some bonus software called SyGate internat access sharing, plus a free startrek game...

 

Thanks again and I'll try to install it tomorrow or Tuesday...

 

Shane

NoLegs Enthusiast

NoLegs

Posted
Posted

What kind of internet access are yor trying to share?

 

If all you got is a "network in a box" then you should take it back.

 

If you are trying to share broadband and you have an external modem, go get a router with a switch or hub built in and get an extra NIC.

 

In the long run you'll appreciate not using one of your computers as a proxy, it can be a real pain, especially if you do any type of online gaming.

 

The best place that covers this entirely is http://www.practicallynetworked.com/.

Shaners Senior Enthusiast

Shaners

Posted
Posted

Nolegs,

 

The main reason I need the LAN is so I can transfer my files froom my old computer onto the new one that I got Friday.  After that is done, I'll be reformatting the old machine and will be giving it to the kids.

 

I doubt both machines will be online at the same time very often, but I'd like that to be an option.  The kids use the internet about once a week, but as they get older I imagine I'll be letting them get online more often.

 

I only have a dial-up connection, and I don't have a dedicated phoneline for it.  So my phoneline will be shared with both computers for the internet, and my regular phonecalls if everything works as planned.

Shaners Senior Enthusiast

Shaners

Posted
Posted

Well,

 

I installed the card in my old machine and hooked everything up.  The new machine was a piece of cake...

 

The Athlon 850 is now completely mixed up.  I was only able to have a successful boot once or twice, and now I'm struggling to get it going in "safe mode".  It continually hangs When it is "verifying DMI Pool Data".  If I reset it it will force me into "safe" mode and runs scandisk etc... but even then it sometimes screws up.

 

I wonder if I need to take it to the computer doctor???

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.

  • Forum Statistics

    250.6k
    Total Topics
    2.7m
    Total Posts

  • Member Statistics

    343,007
    Total Members
    8,960
    Most Online
    Brendan C
    Newest Member
    Brendan C
    Joined

  • Who's Online   1 Member, 0 Anonymous, 730 Guests (See full list)

  • Latest Articles

  • Posts

    • Grumpy Bear
      Joke Thread

      By Grumpy Bear · Posted

    • Grumpy Bear
      The Peckish Synapse

      By Grumpy Bear · Posted

      You're better read than that Atlas. 😏   British science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke formulated three adages that are known as Clarke's three laws, of which the third law – that "any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic" – is the best known and most widely cited.   Stribeck and the pivotable Hersey Number isn't voodoo nor snake oil. That part is physics. It's what marketing and bean counters do with it that is snake oil and voodoo.    Stribeck is the relationship between Hersey and the Coefficient of Friction. Within the Hersey Equation if viscosity and viscosity is 'Dependent' on.......heat.......and.......viscosity index or the temperature to viscosity slope.    Specifically Hersey is the viscosity AT THE TEMPERATURE IN THAT LOCATION FOR THAT SLOPE.   Hydrodynamic lubrication exist when the film thickness in the location is 3X the Ra roughness of the surface. This is irrespective of the hardness of the substrate. To obtain that thickness X viscosity is required for Y velocity at Z load. That's a lot of moving parts. It is also impossible to maintain in an ICE but nearly possible with a turbine under constant load.    What does that mean? Error heavy and operate light. Wear is inevitable but the rate of wear and the milage obtainable are a function of prevailing conditions and HABITS. The only penalty is viscous drag and at fractions so low as to be well worth the effort. Double the life, half the manufacturing carbon foot print. Greed is the only impediment.    The materials generated by SwRI are the RESULT not an estimation or a hypothesis.    Don't delude yourself sir, EV's have as many pitfalls as ICE's. We just don't know what they are yet and it will take longer to sort as MARKETING and GREEDY CEO's have had more time to polish the turd they are selling. 
    • Grumpy Bear
      The Peckish Synapse

      By Grumpy Bear · Posted

      You can always count on greed to prey on ignorance and stupidity.    Friend bought a 2019 Ford Flex and asked me about using Valvoline R&P 5W30 in it. Told him give the miles on it and the fact it wasn't yet using oil that it was a good plan. He uses a Valvoline quick change shop for his oil service.   First they tell him that isn't the oil the OEM recommends. He told them he didn't care what the OEM thought. Then they floated the, "But it will void your warranty"    His reply was it's a 2019, there is no warranty and informed them their knowledge of the law was lacking.    Then they tell him 'But it will ruin your motor"!.    Mine to ruin he says. Finally they give in and charge him 150% the semi-syn price    Point it the brainwash is so embedded that even the service industry is drunk on their swill. The public is right behind them. Echoing the same lies on every forum and media platform. If the end goal is indeed EV then I'd say that ship is about built. 
    • CamGTP
      Gas Prices

      By CamGTP · Posted

      Diesel hit $6.00 here today at the truck stop.   Payed $2.79 for E85 today too.
    • richard wysong
      Electrical Problem - solved

      By richard wysong · Posted

      Thanks for posting, I'm sure it will help someone

  • GM-Trucks.com Clubs

  • Popular Contributors

×
×
  • Create New...