New to networking

[John ©]

I am sort of new to networking and need someone's help. What is the best way
to set up two computers running xp home so that they can share internet
access and also printer and file sharing, the more information (tools,
hardware, software) you can give me the better, thanks.

[Johnny]

"John ©" <johnjewitt2003@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:4006fbcc$0$9393$cc9e4d1f@news-text.dial.pipex.com... I am sort of new to networking and need someone's help. What is the best
way to set up two computers running xp home so that they can share internet access and also printer and file sharing, the more information (tools, hardware, software) you can give me the better, thanks.

I have two computers (desktop with XP home and a laptop with XP pro) linked
simply with a network 'crossover' cable - of course each computer will need
a network card (cheap as chips, less than a tenner each).

In the 'Control Panel' - double click on 'Network Connections' and then
click 'Network Setup Wizard', I found it to be a bit of a pain when I first
did it (each computer must have it's own name etc) but got it to work
eventually, shared a dial-up internet connection, now it's sharing an ADSL
broadband connection.

I also did a 'direct cable connection' using an appropriate cable in the
serial port (or was it parallel port, can't remember) - not recommended,
it's painfully slow! and I don't think you can share the internet that way.

If you wish to try the method with the crossover cable, post again if you
get stuck...

[Mats Karlsson]

John © wrote: I am sort of new to networking and need someone's help. What is the best way to set up two computers running xp home so that they can share internet access and also printer and file sharing, the more information (tools, hardware, software) you can give me the better, thanks.

For new beginners I would like to recommend that you go for an "Broadband
routers" that are and combination off a ethernet switch/router/firewall that
would suit your demands.

It would have been nice to know what type of internet we are talking about
so I will take an ADSL/Cable scenario.

You need :
2pc Network card for the PC's
2pc Ethernet cables, one for each PC
1pc Broadband router
Ex. Linksys BEFSR41
(http://www.linksys.com/Products/product.asp?grid=34&scid=29&prid=561)
SMC7004ABR
(http://www.smc.com/index.cfm?sec=Products&pg=Product-Details&prod=67&site=c
)
1pc Crossover ethernet cables, connect the Broadband router with the
ADSL/Cable modem (Some times this is included with the modem).

Note. The above broadband router is just product examples, there are an
flood of suppliers of this type of products.

The SMC model has an built in print server for Parallel ports printers and
has also the ability to connect to internet via serial modems or Cable/XDSL.


With and Broadband router you just enable DHCP in the PC's and then will
they get the configuration from the broadband router.


No extra tools are needed and no extra software is needed the stuff is
already builtin in Windows XP.


Some intressting links:
Step-by-Step Networking Procedure: "Networking for Dummies"
http://www.windowsnetworking.com/j_helmig/guide.htm

Network Basics / Cabling
http://www.windowsnetworking.com/j_helmig/basics.htm


/Mats