Networking, the Hard Way.

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2003-05-29 10:51pm

Okay, Utsanomiko and I have our computers in the same room set up about ten feet away from each other.

Basically, we'd like to network them together using our ethernet ports so we can play games, transfer files, and other fun shit. The only problem is that we don't have anything like a hub or a broadband modem (56K only) that we'd need to do it the easy (or as far as we know, perhaps the only) way to do it.

We both have ethernet networking cards and a LAN cable, but that's as far as we've gotten.

So, our question is this: Is there any way to network two computers together through their ethernet cards without using anything like a hub?

Next of Kin · Post by **Next of Kin** » 2003-05-29 10:55pm

I believe you need a crossover ethernet cable; they're not very expensive. I've seen them run no more than $15 Can.

edit: whoops, I forgot that you can easily make one if you have a crimper and some RJ45 connectors!

kojikun · Post by **kojikun** » 2003-05-29 11:09pm

Whats so special about crossover cables?? If theyre just standard cable then..

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2003-05-29 11:11pm

Crossover cables have some of their wires crossed over. That's the only difference.

Plug those two together, give them private IP addresses (e.g. 192.168.0.1, 192.168.0.2) and put them on the same workgroup.

Post by **Beowulf** » 2003-05-29 11:11pm

kojikun wrote:Whats so special about crossover cables?? If theyre just standard cable then..

Standard etherenet cables have the two wires matched up. Crossover cables flip the wires in one of the connectors. Only difference.

kojikun · Post by **kojikun** » 2003-05-29 11:13pm

Aha! So flip one connector! Brilliant!

Datana · Post by **Datana** » 2003-05-29 11:23pm

This page has a good explanation of how to make a crossover cable; it would work far better than any ASCII explanation I put together, at least. In essence, flip the 1 and 2 wires with the 3 and 6, respectively. You could also take an existing straight-through cable, lop off and strip one end, and produce a crossover from that. The coloration is the same across all cables.

TrailerParkJawa · Post by **TrailerParkJawa** » 2003-05-29 11:27pm

If you dont have a crimper, cable, and and jacks, you can pick up a crossover cable at most computer stores. They are usually some color like orange to differeniate them from regular cables.

nechronius · Post by **nechronius** » 2003-05-29 11:32pm

This is why computers/networking is a job for some people and just a household appliance for others. T-568A/B doesn't mean much to most people but rightly it shouldn't.

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2003-05-29 11:42pm

nechronius wrote:This is why computers/networking is a job for some people and just a household appliance for others. T-568A/B doesn't mean much to most people but rightly it shouldn't.

Well, it's usually called EIA-568 or TIA-568

nechronius · Post by **nechronius** » 2003-05-29 11:51pm

phongn wrote:
nechronius wrote:This is why computers/networking is a job for some people and just a household appliance for others. T-568A/B doesn't mean much to most people but rightly it shouldn't.
Well, it's usually called EIA-568 or TIA-568

Touché .

Coaan · Post by **Coaan** » 2003-05-30 12:17am

All you need is the right cable and you can direct connect both machines...Keevan and I have done it many a time with both pure computers and computer- laptop setup

if your using xp then all you need do is set them on the same workgroup and hey presto...

DPDarkPrimus · Post by **DPDarkPrimus** » 2003-05-30 12:24am

Spanky, try looking up Grey Bar in the phone book. It's over on the west side of town, and would sell crossover cables.

Call me if you have trouble connecting it to your NICs.

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2003-06-01 01:48pm

Sorry that I forgot to update everyone on our situation.

We got a 25 ft. crossover cable from Radio Shack. Sarah and Utsanomiko's computer are now networked together.