Switches

snail1 · 26 Feb 2009 at 08:26

I am looking to connect my new NC10 laptop

to the work LAN and, in addition, synchronise my files with my desktop. I will need an additional Ethernet connection in my office so I was looking to buy a cheapish switch that I could run them both through. My question is this.

Can I use a switch to connect the two computers without having to go through the LAN ? I find that the security in XP is poor and I do not want to share drives across the LAN but simply connect the two computers and have (in addition) LAN access to the web etc on both.

Is this possible or is there are more elegant solution. I do freely admit I am a network noob and I have looked on google.....

paradigm · 26 Feb 2009 at 09:10

1) Do you have permission to do this at work? If I found an employee of the company had added computers to the network, I'd be getting them into a disciplinary hearing.

2) Assuming you have the permission to mess with your work PC, why not stick a 2nd network card in it, manually set it to a subnet not in use at work, do the same with your laptop's network card, and use a crossover cable.

DevilsAdvocate · 26 Feb 2009 at 09:12

Surely you should be speaking to your workplace IT support RE this? Unless this is your own business or something?

Edit - beaten to it.

snail1 · 26 Feb 2009 at 09:13

Thanks for reply

Yes, I do have permission - I needed to register both on the Universities LAN database before it will work anyway.

I could add a second card, but I was wondering if there was an easier solution as it would void my warranty (I think) on my desktop.

snail1 · 26 Feb 2009 at 09:16

DevilsAdvocate said:
Surely you should be speaking to your workplace IT support RE this? Unless this is your own business or something?

Edit - beaten to it.

Edit - actually you are right and I will do this our IT people have been very good in the past.

DevilsAdvocate · 26 Feb 2009 at 09:17

snail1 said:
Can I use a switch to connect the two computers without having to go through the LAN ?

If you want to avoid going across your works LAN, then Para's suggestion is the only alternative I can think of.

snail1 · 26 Feb 2009 at 09:23

Ok, thanks for the advice. I may need to rethink how I am doing this as all I really want to do is synchronize the data.