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How to setup a network between 2 lappys

post #1 of 41
1/26/05 at 7:25pm
Thread Starter 
Okay, I know this is a simple question for most, but me and a friend of mine are wanting to connect our laptops to play during lunch. I have never attempted to connect 2 laptops, and was curious about how I should go about doind this.

I have my AW, and he has a HP, and we are each running XP with SP2. What do I need to have in regards to cables, etc to make this work. This would basically be a LAN setup for us, but I just need to ask you pros how to go about it. Once again thanks in advance for any help you can offer.


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post #2 of 41
1/26/05 at 7:32pm
If you want to directly connect the 2 comps, just buy a crossover cable, plug the 2 comps together and use the winxp setup wizard, it will do the rest.
You can also make one if you are both on a wireless hub.

edit: Here is an article that kind of explains it, I will post a better one later.
http://www.geekgirls.com/windowsxp_home_network.htm
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post #3 of 41
1/26/05 at 7:32pm
what you're gonna need is a crossover cable (xover in techie terms) what this does is connect the output "pins" on one network adapter to the input pins on the other and vice versa, this is a different cable than the kind you would hook up to a router or cable modem with (that kind is a straight through)
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post #4 of 41
1/26/05 at 7:39pm
Thread Starter 
Cross over cables...never heard of those. I was thinking of a Cat 6 type ethernet cable. I will look for the crossover cable and see what I can find.

I really appreciate the fast response guys. Much thanks.
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post #5 of 41
1/26/05 at 7:47pm
Thread Starter 
Okay, looking online, I see the cross over cables, and figure I can get those. Now, I would just connect one end to the ethernet on my laptop, and the other end to the other laptop? Since this is onle a laptop to laptop connection, I don't need to worry about a hub or anything right? If that is the case then I will try the cross over and simply WinXP setup wizard. Thanks again guys.
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post #6 of 41
1/26/05 at 7:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Viper_29
Cross over cables...never heard of those. I was thinking of a Cat 6 type ethernet cable. I will look for the crossover cable and see what I can find.

I really appreciate the fast response guys. Much thanks.
Don't mention it, as for the crossover cables, they run for less than $20 at any electronic store, you use a crossover to directly connect 2 computers whereas you use a straight-thru cable to connect to a hub/switch, so if you already have access to a hub it is unnecessary. Here is a link to a good site that shows the difference between a straight-thru cable and a crossover, as well as how to make your own crossover cable
http://www.makeitsimple.com/how-to/dyi_crossover.htm
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post #7 of 41
1/26/05 at 7:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Viper_29
Okay, looking online, I see the cross over cables, and figure I can get those. Now, I would just connect one end to the ethernet on my laptop, and the other end to the other laptop? Since this is onle a laptop to laptop connection, I don't need to worry about a hub or anything right? If that is the case then I will try the cross over and simply WinXP setup wizard. Thanks again guys.
You do not need a hub if you are using crossover cables, and if you have any trouble making the network, just post your problems in this thread and I (or someone else) will most likely be able to help.
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post #8 of 41
1/26/05 at 8:12pm
If you only gonna connect two lappies a 4-pin 4-pin firewire cable is the fastest solution. Especially for the transfer big amounts of data.
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post #9 of 41
1/26/05 at 8:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lazarus
If you only gonna connect two lappies a 4-pin 4-pin firewire cable is the fastest solution. Especially for the transfer big amounts of data.
I think he only wants it to play langames, so there is no need to go overboard.
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post #10 of 41
1/26/05 at 8:14pm
If both of your laptops have Gigabit ethernet, you don't need a crossover cable. A standard ethernet cable will do.
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post #11 of 41
1/26/05 at 8:17pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by lithiumcharles
I think he only wants it to play langames, so there is no need to go overboard.
Overboard? A Firewire cable isn't more expensive than a good ethernet cable. It does a better job for the same price.
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post #12 of 41
1/26/05 at 8:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lazarus
Overboard? A Firewire cable isn't more expensive than a good ethernet cable. It does a better job for the same price.
Sorry, I'm used to making my own (so the price difference is great for me), I guess it wouldn't really make a difference to him, but keep in mind that firewire has a 15ft. max distance (most likely not a problem) and can only support the tcp/ip protocol. (can be a problem for games that require IPX/SPX)
The method you choose is really up to you viper, and networking with firewire is done the same way (plug in both comps, run network setup wizard) in case you were wondering.
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post #13 of 41
1/27/05 at 1:42am
Thread Starter 
Yeah, after looking at the cross over cables, my buddy was going to pick one up this evening to use. I have a spare Cat6 cable somewhere, but wasn't sure what was best. I do have a firewire, but it is a 6 pin to 4 pin, for my digital camcorder to desktop for burning DVD's. I see now about the cross over and straight thru cables...LOL..made a lot of sense as to what they are now and I understand about the hub issue as well. My buddy was picking up a Belkin CAT5e RJ-45M to RJ-45M Cross-Over 7' UTP cable (I think that is right) today, and it was only 10 bucks. We are looking to use them at work during lunch to play games like JO Typhoon rising and Escalation, MP's like them.

Thanks again guys for the great responses. I knew I could count on this forum to get the answers I needed.
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post #14 of 41
1/27/05 at 1:45am
Thread Starter 
Oh yeah, I forgot. I have the 4 pin connector on mine but I don't think he does on his. So, hopefully the cross over cable will work fine.
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post #15 of 41
1/27/05 at 4:49am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Viper_29
Okay, looking online, I see the cross over cables, and figure I can get those. Now, I would just connect one end to the ethernet on my laptop, and the other end to the other laptop? Since this is onle a laptop to laptop connection, I don't need to worry about a hub or anything right? If that is the case then I will try the cross over and simply WinXP setup wizard. Thanks again guys.

I suggest against the use of WinXP's setup wizard. Most noobs will make a mess with the way they explain it in the "wizard". I have seen many NICs bridged, or some kind of network security messed up with the wizard.

Computer 1 to computer 2 can use crossover cable for direct computer to computer networking.

Then set static IP on both computers in the same subnet.

computer 1
IP 192.168.2.2
subnet 255.255.255.0
gateway 192.168.2.1 (note that gateway is not used in this case, but entry is required)

computer 2
IP 192.168.2.3
subnet 255.255.255.0
gateway 192.168.2.1 (note that gateway is not used in this case, but entry is required)

I repeat - DO NOT USE THE WIZARD!

The easiest way to network both computers is to get a router
ust plug both computers to the LAN ports of the router and turn it on. DHCP takes care of the IP stuff.
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post #16 of 41
1/27/05 at 8:02am
The gateway is only necessary if both computers want to access the internet. For example:

Computer 1 which has a dialup:

IP: 192.168.254.1
SM: 255.255.255.0
GW: 192.168.254.1

Computer 2:

IP: 192.168.254.2
SM: 255.255.255.0
GW: 192.168.254.1

Because computer 1 is the gateway computer, computer 2 is able to access computer 1's internet connection.
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post #17 of 41
1/31/05 at 3:53pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by lithiumcharles
You do not need a hub if you are using crossover cables, and if you have any trouble making the network, just post your problems in this thread and I (or someone else) will most likely be able to help.

Okay, I am posting again. I tried to connect the two laptops today at lunch, and I had the cross over cables. I then tried the Network wizard but it didn't connect. I tried to get on here at lunch, but the site was down. Anyways, I do have a DLink router at home (before I got my wireless router) that I can use. So, for that, with a router, do I just connect 2 straight thru cables to the router? Booga, I noticed you stated something about the IP addresses, but I couldn't remember earlier (and couldn't get on here). Where and how do I set the IP address??? Also, can I set a connection that could be used everytime we connected our laptops together? Since we plan on playing pretty much every day at lunch...anyways, sorry for the questions, just haven't done this before...always thought it was fairly simple...

Anyways, thanks again for the help. Cross over or router? Which one is easiest to use...and setup fairly quickly? I have kinda seen different answers to this here.
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post #18 of 41
1/31/05 at 3:54pm
Thread Starter 
OH yeah, there will be no internet connection between either of these computers while we are playing games. I have my wireless internet setup for home, but when we connect them together, there will be no need for internet connection between the two at those times.
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post #19 of 41
1/31/05 at 4:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Viper_29
OH yeah, there will be no internet connection between either of these computers while we are playing games. I have my wireless internet setup for home, but when we connect them together, there will be no need for internet connection between the two at those times.
Check you port speed settings on both NIC's, my DELL here at work will not negtiate on a x-over cable with "auto detect" enabled. Something about the media sensing on the card.
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post #20 of 41
1/31/05 at 4:15pm
Make sure you set up IP's for the computers.

Computer 1:

IP - 10.3.1.1
SN - 255.255.255.0
GW -

Computer 2:

IP - 10.3.1.2
SN - 255.255.255.0
GW -

If everything is correct you should be able to ping the other computer's IP.
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