Networking Question

[Nikoel]

I'm pretty new to a lot of this computer stuff! Sure, I've been using email for years...but doing anything beyond that is foreign to me

I have recently purchased a laptop for school purposes, and am thinking of setting up a network between it and my desk top computer. But I'm really not sure how this works or what you can do with this network

If I were to set up a network, I'm under the understanding that I could access files and programs from one computer to the other? I'm not really looking for a shared net connection, as I don't care to set up my lap top to the internet. I'm just wanting to be able to access my school files if need be from one computer to the other.

 

[Swart]

If I were to set up a network, I'm under the understanding that I could access files and programs from one computer to the other?

Correct

I'm not really looking for a shared net connection, as I don't care to set up my lap top to the internet. I'm just wanting to be able to access my school files if need be from one computer to the other.

It's a fairly simple process. Think of it as working through layers. Assuming both machines are running windows the process will be as follows:

STEP 1: Physical Layer

You will need to connect the PCs together with a Network Interface. It can be wireless or Ethernet (cable). Wireless would probably be better but Ethernet is cheaper. Assuming it's ethernet, both computers will need a Network Interface card. This may be built into the computer or added on later.

Second, you either need to get a special crossover cable or two cables a an ethernet hub or switch. When buying the cable, ask for a "Cat5e crossover cable" from your friendly computer store.

At this point, if you have a broadband internet connection via Ethernet, you'll make your life a whole lot easier if you buy a network hub/switch and plug your broadband router into it and plug your PCs into the hub. I'll explain later why.

STEP 2: Network Layer

Next you need to install your drivers. This is usually done automatically in network neighbourhood.

In order for computers to communicate you need to use a protocol. The most common protocol used is the one used by the Internet - TCP/IP. The only problem is that it's the hardest to setup. If you have a broadband router setup, however, it will do most of the work for you. So just setup both computers to access the internet as you normally do and they will be able to talk to each other as well.

If not, then you will either have to manually setup TCP/IP (not easy for the newbie) or use another protocol such as IPX/SPX or NetBEUI (which has been deprecated).

Assuming your computer is setup with TCP/IP, you can test your setup by opening a command box and typing:

IPCONFIG

You should get an output like:

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : doust.homelinux.net
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.12
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

Do this on both computers. The default gateway will be your broadband router and the IP address is the address of the computer you are on. Each computer will have it's own address. Then type:

PING <IP address of other computer>

and see if there is a response. You should get something like:

Pinging 192.168.1.12 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 192.168.1.12: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.12: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.12: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.12: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Ping statistics for 192.168.1.12:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 0ms, Average = 0ms

If you get this from both computers, then congratulations! You are 90% of the way there. So get to this point and post here again for the last part.

 

[Nikoel]

Thank you very much for your detailed reply!

(I was away from the computer for a few days, so I apologise for being slow to respond!)

I am going to try and set this up tomorrow! So thank you

 

[GW_in_04]

If you are running Windows 2000 or XP you can also set one up very easily this way.

Get a cheap switch or router with at least 3 ports
Right click on My Computer and go to Properties
Under Computer Name Type in an easy name for the computer (Laptop, Desktop, etc)
Click "Change" and type in a Workgroup name - anything simple that is one word no spaces, etc.
You will have to reboot.
Set your user name and password to log in on each computer the same.
Right click on your main "C" Drive and go to Sharing and Security.
Choose Share this drive and then click persmissions
Add your user name in and make sure you click Full Control
Hit ok and you are done.
Follow steps on both computers.

Now in Network Neighborhood when both computers are connected to the switch you can do one of (2) things. You can click on "View Workgroup Computers" or you can type in the address field \\(Workgroup Name) - IE - if you named your workgroup HOME you would type in \\Home and hit enter. Your shared computer should appear. Quite simple.