Connecting 2 Win 2000 PC's

[bem001]

I need to connect 2 PCs running Win 2000, approx. 30 feet apart. I already have two cheap D-Link ethernet cards. From reading the posts here, it seems the best way to go would be to connect them with a twisted pair CAT 5 cable...then I wouldn't need to purchase a router, correct? How much would the cable cost and where is the best place to get it?

Thanks for the help.

 

[bem001]

Forgot to mention...I've got a cable modem and two printers connected to the main computer. I need file and internet connection sharing, but not necessarily printer sharing.

 

[CoolTech]

cable is cheap as hell, at your nearest office supply or computer supply store, the most economical way to go would be for you to buy a cat5 crossover cable, which should only be around 10 bucks for 10 feet, maybe a little more or less in price. u need 2 network cards in the server machine, the one with the printer and cable modem and you need one in the other machine. Once the second nic is installed in the server machine all you have to do is go to the properties of it and an internet connection sharing tab should appear, u enable that and select the card that has the cable modem and u should be all set. Set all your shares in windows for all the files and printers by right clicking the drive letter or printer icon and going down to share. Remember for windows 2000 networking you need to give each user that logs onto your computer their own login/pass if u have password enabled.

 

[BDiBlackened]

correct.

you need to go to a specialist shop that will make the cable for you. In the UK we pay about 50p a meter for cable, thats, like 70 cents for 3 feet. Plugs on either end are around 50 cents each

get them to make you a 100 MBit Crossover Cable

the crossover is important... it means that the Transmitter Pin in each plug is linked to the Reciever pin in the other plug. Only this way will you have success if you arent using a hub

check that the cheap dlink cards have UTP connectors (hole with 8 gold, sloping levers inside on one edge) and not BNC connectors (look like aerial connectors on a CB radio) else you will need BNC cable. if they have both, get UTP (unshielded twisted pair)

even if the cards are 10 mbit, they will work with 100 cable, and thats preferable for future upgrades

 

[potz]

crossover cables are cheap... just pick them up at a computer store... but not all have them. i would say order them online... but all the places don't have free shipping anymore =(