Connecting two pcs

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rich
  • Start date Start date
R

Rich

Sorry if this is the wrong group but....

A friend and I want to connect our pcs up so we can play 2 player
games such as command & conquer etc.

I have read of various methods. He has a LAN card in his, I do not. We
don't have access to a network.
What's the best (simplest/most cost-effective) way? Will I have to set
their IP addresses up etc?

Thanks,
R.
 
You WILL need a LAN, or an equivalent network card in each machine, unless
you can invent your own way of doing this. A descent LAN card can be bought
for as low as about $20 US in most areas. You will also require a
"peer-to-peer" cable, not a "patch" cable to couple two machines back to
back.

Open up Windows help, or do some Google searching about how to set up a
simple network between two machines. The information is all there. The
instructions would be beyond the practicality of this email. You will have
to learn about how to set-up the necessary parameters, and how to set-up
simple disk drive, folder, and file sharing. Once properly set-up, the two
machines can be linked together, and function as one virtual machine/system.
Being directly connected together back-to-back, they will be very fast with
each other.


--

Jerry G.
==========================


Sorry if this is the wrong group but....

A friend and I want to connect our pcs up so we can play 2 player
games such as command & conquer etc.

I have read of various methods. He has a LAN card in his, I do not. We
don't have access to a network.
What's the best (simplest/most cost-effective) way? Will I have to set
their IP addresses up etc?

Thanks,
R.
 
Sorry if this is the wrong group but....

A friend and I want to connect our pcs up so we can play 2 player
games such as command & conquer etc.

I have read of various methods. He has a LAN card in his, I do not. We
don't have access to a network.
What's the best (simplest/most cost-effective) way? Will I have to set
their IP addresses up etc?

Thanks,
R.
Click to expand...



the easiest way is to get another lan card for your pc. less than 10
bucks online. even walmart has a linksys card for less than 15 in a box
with a cable. without a hub you will have to have a crossover cable
though. you can always cut the one in the box in half and rewire it.
google crossover cable diagram.
 
Sorry if this is the wrong group but....

A friend and I want to connect our pcs up so we can play 2 player
games such as command & conquer etc.

I have read of various methods. He has a LAN card in his, I do not. We
don't have access to a network.
What's the best (simplest/most cost-effective) way? Will I have to set
their IP addresses up etc?

Thanks,
R.
Click to expand...

Buy a cheap Gigabit network card, they auto sense the connection
and so it won't need a crossover cable. They're barely more
expensive than a 10/100 speed too, the savings is often negated
by lower cost of a straight cable or at least the time to hunt
one down or make it. Plus, does hurt to have Gb performance
potential in the future... eventually everyone will use Gb and
wireless, doesn't make much sense to go with 10/100 for much
longer.
 
Jerry G. said:
You WILL need a LAN, or an equivalent network card in each machine, unless
you can invent your own way of doing this. A descent LAN card can be bought
for as low as about $20 US in most areas. You will also require a
"peer-to-peer" cable, not a "patch" cable to couple two machines back to
back.

Open up Windows help, or do some Google searching about how to set up a
simple network between two machines. The information is all there. The
instructions would be beyond the practicality of this email. You will have
to learn about how to set-up the necessary parameters, and how to set-up
simple disk drive, folder, and file sharing. Once properly set-up, the two
machines can be linked together, and function as one virtual machine/system.
Being directly connected together back-to-back, they will be very fast with
each other.
Click to expand...

Well I have read that you DON'T need a NIC (not for just file sharing
anyway). Is it not possible to use usb to usb, serial to serial and
parallel to parallel cables (with no NIC)?

I am looking it up, that's what my posting was for!

I read that you can set up a (bi-directional) peer-to-peer connection
using the parallel ports and a Direct Parallel (LPT1) connection.

Not sure if the network card is needed to support the protocols
necessary for gaming tho, TCP/IP, NetBUI, or IPX etc.

Thanks,
R.
 
Well I have read that you DON'T need a NIC (not for just file sharing
anyway). Is it not possible to use usb to usb, serial to serial and
parallel to parallel cables (with no NIC)?
Click to expand...


Possible but a poor solution compared to a NIC in each.
PCI NICs are the way to go... whole world doesn't use them just
for the heck of it.
I am looking it up, that's what my posting was for!

I read that you can set up a (bi-directional) peer-to-peer connection
using the parallel ports and a Direct Parallel (LPT1) connection.
Click to expand...

What is possible and what is practical can be two different
things. There's no good reason to do it any way except with a
NIC unless you're marooned on an island and can't get ahold of a
2nd NIC.
 
You have to install a LAN card in your computer to interconnect them, and
then connect a special "Crossover" cable between the two LAN cards.
 
Sorry if this is the wrong group but....

A friend and I want to connect our pcs up so we can play 2 player
games such as command & conquer etc.

I have read of various methods. He has a LAN card in his, I do not. We
don't have access to a network.
What's the best (simplest/most cost-effective) way? Will I have to set
their IP addresses up etc?

Thanks,
R.
Click to expand...

2-port router...and a NIC for your machine.

$15-25 total.



Have a nice week...

Trent©

NUDITY...birth control for folks over 50!
 
Well I have read that you DON'T need a NIC (not for just file sharing
anyway). Is it not possible to use usb to usb, serial to serial and
parallel to parallel cables (with no NIC)?
Click to expand...

Yup. But they'll be slow...and you'll need to purchase the cables to
do this. Those specialty cables aren't cheap.
I am looking it up, that's what my posting was for!
http://www.cablestogo.com/


I read that you can set up a (bi-directional) peer-to-peer connection
using the parallel ports and a Direct Parallel (LPT1) connection.
Click to expand...

Correct.

But I doubt if you'll be satisfied with the results.

Don't waste your time...do it the proper way.

Get a router and a NIC.



Have a nice week...

Trent©

NUDITY...birth control for folks over 50!
 
Get a lan card for your computer and use a cable with a T connector so you
won't need a hub. Then setup a network on each computer.
 
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