small network setup

[BearBryant]

I've got 2 pcs I'm trying to connect and share ne internet connection. Pc1 has 2 lans and is connected directly to the internet. Pc2 is connected to Pc1 through the second lan. I've tried setting up the network using XP setup but something is amiss. (yes the cables are ok, MAth) Anyone know what I am dong wrong?

 

[builder]

I always thought you had to have a router? Can you connect 2 computers directly using LANs?

 

[BearBryant]

yes..supposedly

 

[Couz]

To connect two computers using NIC cards you have to have a 'cross over cable'. It's a network cable that has some of the wires crossed so it will work without a hub/router/switch.

The two computers also have to be part of the same workgroup. With XP you probably don't need the workgroup but I don't know for sure.

 

[mathmajors]

Is this a cable modem setup?

 

[BearBryant]

Originally posted by Couz
To connect two computers using NIC cards you have to have a 'cross over cable'. It's a network cable that has some of the wires crossed so it will work without a hub/router/switch.

The two computers also have to be part of the same workgroup. With XP you probably don't need the workgroup but I don't know for sure.

the mobo has 2 onboard lan connections. Do I still need the cross over cables? I thought they needed to bridged, which XP does when I try to setup the network

 

[BearBryant]

Originally posted by mathmajors
Is this a cable modem setup?

yes

 

[mathmajors]

Let's get some basics down here. You are trying to get 2 PC's to connect to the internet from the same network drop at your office, or from home?

 

[mathmajors]

OK. You need a cable modem router/switch (at least a 4-port). Run a cat5 from the cable modem to the WAN port on the router/switch. Run cat5 from the PC's - not to each other - to the LAN ports on the router/switch. Let the router/switch act as a DHCP server, which most do by default, and it will assign IP addresses to each of your PC's, thereby letting you share the internet connection.

 

[mathmajors]

Assuming you have DHCP set up on your computers, of course.