IT guys - networking

[MDV]

I'm going to have 2 pcs in the same room and want to network them such that I can access any file on one with the other.

How do I do this?

Just connect ethernet ports?

I have a router and both pcs have lan ready mobos and the same os (vista premium 64).

[Roobubba]

Assuming you want the files to be shared *only* between those two machines, one option is to connect them with a cross-pair ethernet cable and create a new network on which only those two machines exist. Then you'd share all directories only on that network.
That would require 2 ethernet ports on each computer (or they access the router's network via wireless, for example).

If you have them wired in (and no with wireless) and only have one ethernet port on one or both machines, then you'd have to share all the directories on the network with the router (which means any other device on that network will also be able to read any file on those two machines).

Might need a few more details on the particular setup of your network(s)!

Roo

[MDV]

Well both have two ethernet ports (or will, one of them doesnt really exist yet; its on order)

But one of the ports goes to the router. The router is for access to interweb only at the moment. There isnt anything else on it.

I've tried networking the current pc with the laptop (wired and wireless respectively) and failed dismally.

If I can get the laptop on it as well, I'll be happy.

The pcs will have one installation drive each (duh) and one data drive each - I only want to share what will be on the data drive. It would be nice to be able to get into my backup portable hd from the pc its not attached to (if you see what I mean), which is on USB.

What sort of details do you need?

[Roobubba]

From what you're after, I'd suggest simply enabling file sharing for the data drives. Make sure you set up each machine to be on the same workgroup, and give them sensible names. Then right click on the data drive in windows explorer, go to sharing and create a new share for that drive (call them something sensible).

This will enable any computer which can connect to the internet through your router (which is therefore on the router's network) to view your shares. You should probably set up a specific login/password for this, but to be honest, I don't bother on my own network (naughty Roo!).

Now you should be able to connect to the other machines' shared data by either browsing for machines on the network (if they're on the same workgroup, they'll show up), or by going to RUN: //MACHINENAME/ or more specifically: //MACHINENAME/SHAREDRIVENAME/

If you want them to be only shared on a totally independent, closed network (and therefore the most secure type), then you would connect them physically with a crossed-pair ethernet cable and set up a new network on each machine, and do the same sharing but this time set permissions to only that network. This is probably overkill for your situation!

Hope this helps,

Roo

[MDV]

That sounds like exactly what I need, thanks roo!

Youre a PC-enthusiast, you may appreciate this, so I'm gonna have to blab about the setup, cos I'm pretty chuffed with it (as a general idea)

Audio/recording rig:

i7 920
6Gb of 1600Mhz CL8 (corsair dominator)
2 x 1Tb spinpoints
Asus P6T
RME fireface 800
Fanless 9600GT
Adam A7s and sub 8

Gaming/DVDs/social

E6600 (might upgrade to qx6850, but probably not for a few months, till its cheaper)
4Gb 800Mhz CL4
Striker extreme
HD4890
Emu 1616M
5.1
- FL/R Eltax liberty 5 off rotel RA04
- BL/R JBL controls off a wharfdale hifi
- C&S creative z3000

To keep the recording PC as clean and reliable and queit as possible, fast processor, lots of ram, only DAWs, VSTs, foobar and kaspersky installed, $%&# everything else.

To have a gaming rig with the best gfx I'm willing to get and to hell with the registry and windows $%&#ing up with stuff being installed and unistalled all the time, its just games and DVDs. (Basically the current computer, minus the fireface and an 8800GT, plus the 4890)

Should rock. Cant wait.

[ailean]

If this is a permanant setup and you will be transferring a lot of files you can get gigabit switches now quite cheaply and most mobo's have gigabit ethernet on board these days.

If you do go that route, just plug everything into the switch, router, and both PC's, the switch is by design transparent so the PC's will find both each other and the router without prompting.

[MDV]

Hmmmm...sounds easier. Thanks. Got some looking up of gigabit switches to do now

[ailean]

I used these at work.

http://www.dabs.com/products/netgear-8-port-10---100---1000mbps-gigabit-switch-38DS.html?q=gigabit%20switch

By the way, your router will probably have a 4 way switch in it, it will be a 10/100 speed but that will do the job to get you network up, just plug both PC's into that. The gigabit option is only there if you transfer stuff around a lot and are as imaptient as me :)

Oh, and remote desktop is very cool, have one PC's session running on another PC, very common with network admins to play with severs, this will run happily over a 100 speed network, so either way check it out.

[dave_mc]

i thought you'd been overcome with jargon and buzzwords and wanted to improve your chances in getting a job in IT.

which didn't make sense because i know you're a physicist and hate jargon and cr@p. But anyway...

Carry on... :lol:

[JDC]

I'd just do it through the router, personally I wouldn't bother with gigabit network ports unless you plan to transfer a lot, and do it they fairly often

if you network a PC directly to another PC you can't use a standard network cable, you need a special one which I can't remember the name of but it's probably the cross twisted thing Roo is on about

Jargon is for people with superiority bias, ie 93% of Americans would put themselves in the top 50% of the population for driving ability, it's probably also the reason why the IT industry has some muppets who ain't go a clue because people who gave them the job didn't understand anything they were on about

[ailean]

I'd just do it through the router, personally I wouldn't bother with gigabit network ports unless you plan to transfer a lot, and do it they fairly often

Yup, agreed, but he likes to record stuff, and them's big files, if he choses to shunt them around, it may be worth £50's worth of not waiting forever :D I'm an IT geek, I have no patience. Everything, super fast, right now please!

[MDV]

i thought you'd been overcome with jargon and buzzwords and wanted to improve your chances in getting a job in IT.

which didn't make sense because i know you're a physicist and hate jargon and cr@p. But anyway...

Carry on... :lol:

Oh dear god NO! :lol:

Nothing against IT innately.

Hate IT departments.

Despise business/management jargon.

I wont be transfering much at all.

I'm given to believe that if the files (say, 80Gb of mp3s or a sonar project and corresponding wavs) can be accessed on pc 1 from pc 2 then provided theres suitable software on pc 2 they can be played off pc 1s hd? Because thats the sort of thing I want from it, not moving stuff about.

[ailean]

Yup, your router will take care of that no problems. Plug 'em both in, set the firewalls to allow discovery and get em' to look for one another.

Don't forget you need to share folders for them to show up on the network.

Also make sure you use the same username / password on both machines, the 'other' machine will use you current credentials to allow you access, if they don't match a set of credentials it recognises it won't let you in. If you don't use a password then just make sure your account names match.

PM me if I can be of any assistance, I'll even talk to you, although as a one man IT department I understand that you'll hate me

Hate IT departments.

[MDV]

Thanks ailean

If I run into trouble I'll take you up on the PM (the main reason I hate IT departments is the red tape and crippling of work PCs - but then I suppose thats just an overreaction to people not knowing how to use computers/using them for things that shouldnt be at work, dont take it personally :))

[ailean]

No worries  8)