Can you network computers using USB?

[fjorner]

i have a laptop and a PC, both with USB connections. I don't have ethernet cards for either one. Both run 98. what's the best way to get a multiplayer game of unreal going?

 

[AMDPwred]

Do you mean over the internet or just a LAN with two people?

 

[fjorner]

no internet, just two people... and plenty of bots.

 

[AMDPwred]

I'm not sure if you can do it with USB (I've never seen anything like that at least). You can just get two NICs and some CAT5 cable and go to town

 

[Helznicht]

Installing the Nic in the Laptop could be a pain.

Yes you can network 2 PCs together via USB, but You will need either 2 USB to LAN adapters (USB nics, faster and more distance) or a USB bridge.

 

[Oyeve]

You mean a cat5 crossover cable.

 

[Elledan]

Yes, it is possible. It does cost a lot more than two NIC's plus some CAT5 cable, though, and the speeds aren't that great.

 

[fjorner]

when you say cheaper, tell me what vs. what. I don't know about any of the hardware mentioned so far. the laptop has an available pcmcia card. how much is a usb bridge? what are the prices of all these alternatives you mention?

 

[AMDPwred]

<< You mean a cat5 crossover cable. >>



Yeah

 

[Helznicht]

Here are a couple USB bridge solutions:

EZ-Link- $50

USBGear - $40

 

[agnitrate]

I would not suggest USB ethernet unless you have absolutely no open pci slots. I have USB ethernet I am trying to route via linux and while transferring some large config files via usb, the speeds are DRAMATICALLY less than any pci nic can provide. I am talking multiple times slower. The most I have ever transferred a file over USB @ is 1.5 / 2 megs/sec. I would recommend not using it unless absolutely necessary.

 

[fjorner]

ok, there's a $40 cable that'll hook two computers via USB. looks like it'll run fine for games, file transfers, etc.

can i get a PC nic, a pcmcia nic, and cable that will beat that?

 

[TunaBoo]

<< ok, there's a $40 cable that'll hook two computers via USB. looks like it'll run fine for games, file transfers, etc.

can i get a PC nic, a pcmcia nic, and cable that will beat that? >>



You can get 2 10/100 PCI nics for like $10 each and a crossover cable for $5.

But one of your computers is a laptop? Laptop nics do cost a lot more, but still you should get the laptop nic, PCI nic, and the crossover for $50. It will be about 10 times faster.

 

[fjorner]

<< But one of your computers is a laptop? Laptop nics do cost a lot more, but still you should get the laptop nic, PCI nic, and the crossover for $50. It will be about 10 times faster. >>



i guess that depends. how fast is &quot;USB full speed connection&quot; and how fast is a nic connection?

 

[dullard]

USB is extremely slow. Even slower than the parallel port to your printer. Thus avoid it at all costs. They do sell parallel cables for $20 that will work, if your laptop has a parallel port (about 20% faster than current USB). But I'd still go with a NIC.

 

[Quickfingerz]

USB's full speed is equivalent to the transfer of a Full-Duplexed 100baseT.

Correct me if i'm wrong.

 

[fjorner]

usb slower than parallel port???

i found it listed at 8Mbps.

 

[TunaBoo]

USB can go up to 8 mbit. Ethernet would be 10 or 100mbit.

However, USB causes major system jerkiness etc. It is not a good interface at all IMHO. Works good for scanners and printers, but not for much else.

 

[dullard]

Yes, USB is currently slower than a parallel port. The upcoming USB 2.0 will be much faster, but isn't in place yet. The best benchmark that I have is my HP LaserJet 1200 printer. It prints 16 pages/minute while connected by the parallel cable. When I connect it by USB, I can only get 13.5 pages/minute. Thus the parallel cable is almost 20% faster for sustained data rate in my experience. I've once read the bandwidth statistics on this forum, but I cannot recall the exact numbers (yes parallel has more bandwidth).

 

[Helznicht]

&quot;yes parallel has more bandwidth&quot;

Then your system is FUBAR'D (or your priter software)!

My Example, Printer on USB vs Parallel. My Printer (HP P1000) has smartmedia card readers built in. Copying 64 Megs full of pictures from my Camera to harddrive

Parallel= 23.2 minutes
USB = 1.8 minutes
USB Straight from Camera = under a minute, near drive speeds...
Parallel faster than USB, hehehheheh

You need to check your configs dullard.....

 

[fjorner]

if parallel was faster than usb then why is usb so successful? oh well.. dead argument.

can anyone recommend a good pc card nic, a good pci nic, and a good hub to run them through? price is the most important factor, compatability is the second. the laptop is, unfortunately, a compaq. both run 98.

 

[dullard]

I had a link at one time to back up my claim, but CNet has since updated and the info is not there for my printer, but this link - Cnet - shows that USB is slower on another printer.

 

[Helznicht]

Laptop: 3COM 3CCE589ET about $40
PC: Dlink DE-220PCT about $10
Crossover cable: about $5

total: $55


Dullard, thats the printers fault for lousy USB support, not the usb speed.

 

[dullard]

<< if parallel was faster than usb then why is usb so successful? oh well.. dead argument. >>



Here are a few reasons:
1) Well USB works with monitors, keyboards, mice, printers, cameras, scanners, etc... Parallel is limited to mostly printers.
2) The new (not yet available) USB is faster.
3) USB parts are more plug-and-play. In the past if you plugged in a new printer, you needed to install drivers and usually reboot. Not required with USB.
4) USB takes less room (great for laptops).
5) USB cables can be cheaper.

 

[fjorner]

<< Laptop: 3COM 3CCE589ET about $40
PC: Dlink DE-220PCT about $10
Crossover cable: about $5

total: $55 >>



instead of a cable, is there a cheap hub i could get that would make future expansion easier?




<< Dullard, thats the printers fault for lousy USB support, not the usb speed. >>



I'd have to agree. USB may not support printers as well because of the wide nature of printer data. printers haven't had the demand for usb support either and IEEE standards may have something to do with that.