O/T Network question

[skippy344]

Yeah, my bad. I read the first page without going to the end of the thread. (Freakin' newbie!)

Glad to hear you are up and running though.

greg

[TopCatGr58]

New question on Old Thread

Hey there folks,
Just wondering if there are any computer network gurus out there? I've got 2 computers both running Win98SE. I have cable modem internet access. I have a Network Everywhere 4 port router(subcontracted and made by LinkSys) that I am running the computers into. I have successfully been able to set them up to access the internet and my email servers, using a dynamic IP protocal....my ISP uses the DHCP, and the router allows me to have only 1 ISP account/access, but can share that access with up to 4 computers. Now for the question.
I am wanting to also link the computers together for file sharing. I have read the limited support documents by both the main company and LinkSys, they state that the router doesn't file and print sharing?? I have the TCP/IP setup for the internet, I then added an IPX/SX protocal, both computers have the same workgroup name, different computer names. Whenever I turn them on, whichever one turns on first is the one that will show me both it's name and the name of the other computer along with the Entire Network icon when I double-click on Network Neighborhood. The second one to turn on, after Dblcl "NN" just sits there with the search flashlight for several minutes and then finally only shows the "entire network" icon. I enabled file sharing on both in the NN settings, and also in My Computer after rightclicking the Drives Icons!!
I read on the router pages that Windows doesn't support direct Network Interface Card connections between computers.....only the direct cable connection using a Parallel cable....very slow..BTDT!!! Aside from having to purchase a HUB, is there a way to link these two computers together to share files?? I was surprised that the ROUTER wouldn't allow communication between the computers, but I guess it's only function is to route the internet traffic from the different computers thru my only Cable MODEM!?

After reviewing the previous posts, I saw a note about using a crossover cable to connect 2 computers together...is this via just the NIC's without a HUB, and what else do I need to setup software/protocal wise to accomplish this? I have straight cat5 cables from computers to router, but I think it uses a crossover from router to Cable Modem?

Thanks in advance for any help....please keep in mind, I'm not Network savvy at all!!!!!
T.C.

[Snow]

Do both computers have both File and Printer sharing enabled and Client for Microsoft Networks enabled?

You do not need IPX/SPX unless you plan to play games or use apps that require it.

[Jeff]

Yes... two computers (and only 2) can be connected directly without use of a hub by running a crossover cable between the two NIC's. No additional software is needed since the network can be run by Windows Networking. It has been a while since I have used Win98SE but I believe it has a network setup wizard similar to that used by WINXP. I believe all it does is set up each computer as a client for Windows Networking using its own protocols. If you don't have a NIC in each computer.... but do have USB ports available... the 3Com and other manufacture USB Network Adapters work quite well. They are especially usefull if you have an older computer and already use a number of installed cards that take up most of your available IRQ's. From my own personal experience.... the use of a crossover cable to connect 2 computers is a little faster than using a hub. When using WIN98.... I set up Internet Connection Sharing and connected my cablemodem to the USB port of the faster of the two computers.... then linked the two together using a crossover cable. Essentially... all this does is allow windows to use a little processing capability from the host computer CPU to act as a virtual router of sorts. This should work on just about any ISP except AOL which does require a router.... and each computer to log in using a different username.

[TopCatGr58]

Success

Thanks Jeff and Snow,

Since I had already posted my question, I felt bad 'cause I went ahead and found a spare crossover cable, and connected the two NIC's on each computer to each other, then rebooted. Then after shutting down my cable modem access program, and ZoneAlarm, I then double clicked on Network Neighborhood, then the Entire Network, and both computers showed up on both systems!! I then closed NN, and just opened Windows Explorer, went to Network Neighborhood, and found the other drives on the other computer. I then copied a 21 MB file from one to the other in a matter of 5 or so seconds......YES ! ! I don't intend to leave them connected this way since I need them on the router for my Internet access since my Cable Modem is Cat5 not USB!

I mainly wanted to be able to share/copy files especially from the older computer, cause when I will be tying up the newer one with burning DVDs and CDs and such, I wanted to still be able to access the NET, and then if I did download anything large, I wanted a way to transfer it to the newer computer WITHOUT having to waste burning a CDR disc. I've got a CDRW drive on each one, but the older drive doesn't want to recognize CDRWs that were formatted in the newer DVD/RW, and so on!!! Thanks again, sorry I didn't read and test before I posted my question!!

T.C.

[Snow]

Zonealarm or any other firewalling software could kill filesharing quite easily.

[xssiveone]

TC, check your email.