Wired Networking

Toxicseagull · 9 Dec 2006 at 18:06

hey there.
im a pretty basic user, i know a moderate detail about pc's but nothing amazing.
now my mother is asking if i can set up a wired network, as she wants a pc in her room.
ive just had a quick look at my "network connections" in control panel and it shows the firewire 1394 network card i installed when i built this pc.
i would love to know. if i get her the pc with a similair card, will it be as simple as connecting the two pc's with a FW cable? would we share our internet bandwidth or would i need a router as well for that? would i have to fiddle with anything software wise?

if you need any more info please ask and i shalt provide

(excluding CC numbers/pins etc etc)

cheers

sja360 · 9 Dec 2006 at 18:34

lol at the pin number/credit card details mate

as for your network, your best fitting two 10/100Mbp Fast Ethernet Cards into each computer you have (unless you have a Network Card already?), and then buying standard (straight) RJ45 Ethernet Cable and a Wired Router

this would allow you to connect to the internet through the router, and it also means you wouldnt have to have your computer on to allow your mum to access the internet.

btw does FW=Firewire ?

Clarkey · 9 Dec 2006 at 18:40

pretty sure that can be done but its a bit of a faff, you need your pc on all the time for her to get access. Can pick up a router for little more than £20, this is a much better option.

Toxicseagull · 9 Dec 2006 at 18:51

FW= firewire yeh

sorry ive been googling and having a quick look at stuff and firewire seemed the best.

i may have a network card lying about somewhere, but incase i dont is there any that you would recommend? same goes for a router? nothing fancy but will do the job. she will only be doing browsing/work stuff and maybe some downloading.
ah that'll be great didnt think about having the pc on

anything on the software side i would have to do?

thanks for this guys

(loving the seasonal smiley's as well)

touch · 9 Dec 2006 at 18:56

forget about firewire tbh.

If you want to do it without a router get 2 network cards and a "crossover" rj-45 cable, all these together will be cheaper than your single firewire cable, i got my 10/100Mps netword card for ~£3 (thats a "high street" price btw) and a crossover cable (depending on length) should cost no more than £10

If you want to use a router it will cost more:
2x Network card ~£6
2x rj-45 patch cable ~£15
1x router ~£20

Toxicseagull · 9 Dec 2006 at 19:04

whast the difference between a crossover and straight cable which sja360 mentioned?

oxygene · 9 Dec 2006 at 19:12

crossover is most commonly used for pc 2 pc. straight through is pc 2 router / hub / etc

Toxicseagull · 9 Dec 2006 at 19:14

ah ok but theres no actual tech differences that may cause a problem? any idea on my other questions?

thanks again

sja360 · 10 Dec 2006 at 02:29

Toxicseagull said:
ah ok but theres no actual tech differences that may cause a problem? any idea on my other questions?

thanks again

the wiring for a crossover cable is different from a straight-through cable, google it the crossover cable and straight-through cable to see what i mean.
although i believe most routers nowadays can cope with a pc being connected with a crossover cable instead of a straight.

Toxicseagull · 10 Dec 2006 at 12:03

cheers thanks for your help

tolien · 10 Dec 2006 at 12:09

sja360 said:
although i believe most routers nowadays can cope with a pc being connected with a crossover cable instead of a straight.

Indeed, and so can most network cards.

Any recommendation for a router would depend on what connection to the internet you had.