Connecting Xbox 360 -> Pc -> Router

simonmc7 · 26 Aug 2007 at 13:29

Hi there,

Is it possible to connect my 360 to my PC (which is connected to the router via a cable) and maintain net access, as well as Media Centre capability? My motherboard is a P5W DH Deluxe with dual gigabit LAN. Is it possible to have one of the ports as an input from the router, and the other as an output to the 360?

If this isnt possible, would it possible to use the mobos wireless as a the input and output to the 360?

Thanks in advance!

Phemo · 26 Aug 2007 at 13:35

Yes you could do it - just bridge the interfaces.

However, why bother when you could just plug the 360 straight into the router as well as the PC?

eightiescrooner · 26 Aug 2007 at 14:20

alternativly if you don't want to bridge the connections if you have 2 ethernet ports then use one to connect to the xbox360 using a crossover cable

simonmc7 · 11 Sep 2007 at 18:22

Phemo said:
Yes you could do it - just bridge the interfaces.

However, why bother when you could just plug the 360 straight into the router as well as the PC?

Well it would involve running another very long ethernet cable to the router, which I want to avoid if possible.

Ideally I would like to have the computer connect wirelessly (a capability built into the mobo) and then connect the xbox to the PC, although with this option the PC would always need to be on for the connection to function.

How do you 'bridge the interfaces' as you say? Also, would a wired solution require the PC to be on to function?

simonmc7 · 11 Sep 2007 at 18:26

eightiescrooner said:
alternativly if you don't want to bridge the connections if you have 2 ethernet ports then use one to connect to the xbox360 using a crossover cable

So just plug the cable into the PC from the router (as it is now) and connect the xbox to the other gigabit port with a crossover cable, no configuration to perform? Why is a crossover cable required instead of a standard one?

tolien · 11 Sep 2007 at 18:30

How do you 'bridge the interfaces' as you say? Also, would a wired solution require the PC to be on to function?

In Windows XP and Vista, select the two connections in Network Connections, right click and select Bridge Connections.
Whether it's wired or not between the PC and router, if the Xbox gets its connection through the PC, you'd need the PC on.

simonmc7 said:
Ideally I would like to have the computer connect wirelessly (a capability built into the mobo) and then connect the xbox to the PC, although with this option the PC would always need to be on for the connection to function.

The alternative is to have a switch and connect both the PC and Xbox to it - either with a cable to the router, or a wireless AP as a (bridged) wireless client to your router (if it's wireless). Moderately more expensive (~£20 for a switch), the latter option more so (~£35 for a Linksys WRT54GL that would be both switch and wireless AP in one unit).

simonmc7 · 11 Sep 2007 at 18:39

Thanks very much for the swift reply, very very helpful! Think ill just have the PC on for the time being, maybe buy a switch if it becomes an inconvienience.

Thanks again!

simonmc7 · 11 Sep 2007 at 18:43

To clarify, in the cable-cable situation, does the xbox need to be connected via a crossover cable?

Phemo · 11 Sep 2007 at 18:48

simonmc7 said:
To clarify, in the cable-cable situation, does the xbox need to be connected via a crossover cable?

Yes, unless your PC's onboard LAN is auto-sensing - you'll be able to use either crossover or straight through then. Given that your motherboard is quite recent, it probably is though I can't say for sure.