Anyone know how to network 2 Win2k computers together?

[kcredden]

I've searched all day for a web site that really shows how to network two computers together, under Win2k with a null-modem cable. (or cross-over cable.) No luck. Anyone know of a site, or can accually spell out how to do this? Even Windows help service, is a poor joke this time.

[Jeremy]

Is it possible for you to use a hub or router? That's much easier.

[kcredden]

I can purchase one from Wal-mart for a few bucks. Will I need another NIC card? I have a 5+1 hub now to allow me to hook the laptop to the internet easy. But if I need another hub, that's not a problem.

Is it possible for you to use a hub or router? That's much easier.

[Jeremy]

Basic Home Networking Using a Hub:

Each of your computers need to have an ethernet card, and your main computer needs two cards.

You need enough outlets open on the hub to plug each of your computers in and enough ethernet cords to plug them in.

In the attached pic, you'll see how all that needs to be connected. You plug the internet into the main computer through one card, and with a second card on the main computer, you run another cord to the hub. Then you plug all your other computers into the hub.

Software on the main computer will allow it to share the internet with all the other computers.

Basic Home Networking Using a Router:

Using a router is so much easier because all the software that allows the sharing is built into the router and all you have to do is plug all your computers into it, then plug the router into the internet.

[kcredden]

D'oh...you know what your saying is. I'm just one NIC card in the main system away from making this work. I've already got a Linksys 10/100 5 port network hub. So all I need now is another NIC card in the main system? I'll be at Wal-mart tomarrow :)

Lets hope this works! I've got big plans, if/when I get a network working - like in a file server for the whole home.

May be a few days before I write back, got Stephen Baxter's new novel; Transcendent to read though ;)

Basic Home Networking Using a Hub:

Each of your computers need to have an ethernet card, and your main computer needs two cards.

You need enough outlets open on the hub to plug each of your computers in and enough ethernet cords to plug them in.

In the attached pic, you'll see how all that needs to be connected. You plug the internet into the main computer through one card, and with a second card on the main computer, you run another cord to the hub. Then you plug all your other computers into the hub.

Software on the main computer will allow it to share the internet with all the other computers.

Basic Home Networking Using a Router:

Using a router is so much easier because all the software that allows the sharing is built into the router and all you have to do is plug all your computers into it, then plug the router into the internet.

[Jeremy]

If you have two cards, a hub, and Windows 2k, you should have what you need.

Here's the article on how to configure Windows 2k to share the Internet over the hub:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;307311

Some points that it doesn't really cover: Firewall the heck out of that main line, don't share whole drives, and password protect shared folders even if you're the only one using them. There's viruses that seep in on unprotected home networks if you don't use apply those points above and you don't have a hardware firewall in place, especially on broadcast networks like cable. Don't need to know how, don't need to care, it just does, so make sure you take those precautions.

[kcredden]

Ok Jeremy: Read MS's post, read some other sites, still nothing. Lets refresh:

I have now 2 NIC cards in the server, and the laptop only has one, whihc will have to do.

I've got the new NIC installed, renamed, and enabled.

Both server, and laptop have directories that are set 'shared' for now.

Laptop has a cross-over cable (bright yellow), and I can share internet connections (like normal)

If I hit the 'my network places' and check the 'computers near me' on the server, all it shows is 'main-net' (the server's name), the laptop (t22-laptop) doesn't show up.

However, on the 2nd NIC, it shows it sending/recieving hundreds if not thousands of packets. I don't know if that's coming from the internet, or from the laptop.

I've tried to turn off Zonealarm on both machines, (incase it was interferring), and tried to tinker with the TCP/IP settings, suggested by another site. Still nothing.

So - help? Ask anything you need, and I'll try to provide.

[Chuck]

1st off you will only need 1 firewall on the Internet PC and assign it to monitor only the primary NIC that accesses the Internet. All Internet traffic is filtered through primary NIC the second NIC is used as a internal share only.

Zone-alarm and most other 3rd party firewall may not cut it for what you what to do as they get "Traffic Confused" and cause excessive network collisions.

There is a know flaw in ICS that effects networking through TCP/IP. ICS does not work well with NetBIOS so you are need to make sure you leave it off.

After you set your IP range up on the second group of NIC's(this is your internal network, NOT the Internet NIC). Set a sub-net mask of 255.255.255.128 (Base at a sub-net of 198.162.1.XXX). Plus 128 is safe. ICS will or should cover the issues of a separate Sub-Net Mask on the Server PC.

You are much better or using a router. The system you are trying to setup has big security risk and I know of 3 big virus's that attack you network. Speedy.bat is the worse of the 3.

What renders you 3rd party firewall useless is that you have to set the ICS port's to full allow in order for all this to work. Once that has been done the firewall is useless for that port and both computers.

I would at least consider 602 proxy or some other 3rd party proxy and dump the whole ICS idea. This will allow your firewall a chance to work.

I think I covered it all. If you get confused by my post. Break it down and ask. I tend to get to techey in some of my wording.