Connecting two computers for file sharing - one on network, one off.

[MIDIman]

Hi all.

I have two computers in a corporate setting. Our corporation uses Novell on a domain. I'm trying to setup two computers for file sharing ONLY over a crossover cable (i.e. not including Internet sharing).

One of the two computers is Windows 2000, old, and setup for access using the Novell login, etc - the typical computer in our office's lan. The network uses "peer-peer" for the node type. I have added a second ethernet card to it, so it has two ethernet connections.

I have a second computer setup, WinXP SP-1, without Novell, that is connected to an off-network gigabit switch (hosting another whole set of Windows 2000 computers). Rather than being part of a domain, it is simply the typical Workgroup Workgroup. All of the computers in this gigabit setup are set to "Broadcast" for the node type. In addition to the gigabit card, this computer has a second 10/100 ethernet card.

Both of these computers MUST stay this way for these connections. i.e. the WinXP machine must stay off-network, and must stay as a Workgroup computer to be a part of the gigabit switch.

The idea here is to use a crossover cable for the 10/100 card on the WinXP machine connected to the second 10/100 card on the Win2K machine.

How do I set these up? I'm a bit confused how to setup one computer that is part of a domain, to talk to another that is part of a Workgroup. I've also never used a crossover cable before (only switches and routers), so I don't know if that needs a partciular setup.

 

[MIDIman]

OK - I definitely have everything connected properly. I've setup the gigabit network as 192.168.0.x, and the crossover network is setup as 192.168.1.x. I can ping all machines - note again that I dont need to share files across networks, only within each network.

So I can ping, but I can't see them in Network Places (over the 192.168.1.x crossover network).

Thanks in advance.

 

[ktwebb]

So I can ping, but I can't see them in Network Places

So? Not to be crass, but that's irrelevant. Assuming your have permission, shares and user accounts setup correctly, just use the search feature from the start menu and use IP instead of computer name. You could also use the UNC path in explorer or RUN. You could also use Map Network Drive from the properties of a couple of desktop icons. Network Places will generally only work (notice the word generally. It's GARBAGE as a connectivity tool. Amazing how many people think their network is broke because Network Places isn't showing remote nodes) if the two computers are in the same workgroup or domain. Browser war issues on a workgroup can FUBAR that very easily. Forget about Network places and move on.

 

[MIDIman]

Forget about Network places and move on.

Wow thanks. Not being of much knowledge about networking in general, just bits and pieces, I had actually never heard of this before in all the articles I have read (i.e. searching via "Search Computers"). This actually worked fine. Thanks a bunch.

Though is it not true that if you do not get a ping from another IP, then there is no way you can connect to that computer for anything - be it file sharing, ICS, or otherwise?