How to Set Up a Network Between Two Computers

How to Set Up a Network between Two Computers? There are many reasons why people need to make a communication link between two computers.

1. You need to create a simple network for collaboration work or project that includes only two computers. This will also help you to backup critical files to different computer. See also hard disk backup.
2. You can share resources between two computers including simple data entry application program, share documents, and also share printer
3. You can share the internet connection from the ISP

These are typical reasons why you need to create a simple network between two computers. So, how to set up a network between two computers?

Using Cross Cable

All brand new computers today are equipped with NIC adapter as standard equipment for networking. And mostly all brand new laptops are also equipped with a Wi-Fi adapter, beside a NIC adapter. How to set up a network between the two computers? a simple way to link them is by using the UTP cross cable. Plug each end of the cable to each of the NIC port of the computer. To get more detail information about cross cable, click here the networking cable.

The next step is to configure the TCP/IP property of each of the computer by providing unique IP address. For example if you are using XP Windows, configure each of the computer with the following IP address:

Computer A:

IP address: 192.168.1.5 subnet mask: 255.255.255.0

Computer B:

IP address: 192.168.1.7 subnet mask: 255.255.255.0

Leave default gateway and DNS server fields empty. Follow the steps below to configure the TCP/IP property of each computer.

Locate the ‘lan connection’ icon at the right side of the bottom corner of your screen. If you cannot find the icon click Start => Select Control Panel => locate ‘Network Connection’ icon and double click it => jump to step 4
Right click this ‘lan connection icon’ and then select the ‘Open Network Connection’ or just click the icon.
Right click the ‘lan connection’ icon and then select ‘Property’ => then select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) => click ‘Property’
In the ‘General’ tab click the ‘Use the following IP address ’ and then type the IP address with 192.168.1.5 and type in the subnet mask: 255.255.255.0

Do the same steps to the computer B with different IP address: 192.168.1.7

If you have completed the configuration to both the computers properly, the two computers should be able to communicate each other. Make sure you also configure different ID of each of the computer but with the same group-name.

Click Start => locate the “My Computer” and then right click it => select property => select the “Computer Name” tap and locate the “Change” button to change the computer name and the group-name of the computer
Provide a unique name for example “TOWER” for computer A and “POWER” for computer B. The workgroup name should be the same group name for example: MSHOME

With the completion of the steps above, your simple networking should be completed and communication between the two computers should be OK.

To test if the TCP/IP configuration is Ok, from the dos prompt type in: ping localhost or ping 127.0.0.1 and make sure that you get 0% packet lost. Then you can ping the IP address of the other computer IP address and make sure that you get 0% packet lost too.

Using the Switch

How to set up a network between two computers using the Switch? This one is easier, you need two UTP straight-through cable and each end of the cables connect to the NIC port of the computers, and the other end of the cables connect to the Switch ports. Some types of Switches are designed with auto detect ports to allow you use either Cross or Straight cable.

For the TCP/IP configuration you can use the same steps as discussed above.

Using the Wireless Router

If you have a cable or DSL modem (with the broadband internet connection) in home, you can create a high performance wireless network by adding a wireless router connected to the modem. With the wireless network in home, you can share the internet connection with many computers in the network coverage.

The good thing with the use of wireless network is that you do not need to provide the static IP address manually as discussed above. Instead of you provide unique IP address for each computer in the network, you can select the “obtain the IP address automatically” in your TCP/IP configuration. Each of the computers on the network will receive the IP address configuration automatically form the DHCP services (of the router). See more detail about wireless computer in home.

By Ki Grinsing

See also:

• Areas to discuss in networking tutorial
• Knowing all the possible options of Windows XP recovery utilities
• Compact wireless traveling routers
• A concept of site to site VPN network connection
• Autoloader HP Storage Works – backup solutions