Windows XP networking problems

[Altoidman]

Hey guys, maybe you have the solution I need. My friend and I each have our computers hooked up to a hub which connects to our cable modem. We can both connect to the internet with no problems, no settings changed. We would like to file share and play LAN games but we cannot get this working. We have each run the networking wizard, tried mapping network drives and sharing folders. We can ping the IP addresses given to us in the Network connections window, the IP given by Roadrunner DHCP servers. What can we do to see eachother and get file sharing to work? Thanks
korey

 

[bobcpg]

set up VPN between your 2 computers. It sounds like you both have public IP's. (you can use the built in XP VPN and it should be easy because your not behind a firewall).

-bob

 

[eklass]

if you want to share the connection, you either need a router, or need to use built-in internet connection sharing (which essentially acts as a router)

as far as windows file sharing... you should only need to turn the comtuers on and create shares (folder properties)

windows xp home is notoriously bad with playing nice on the network, so good luck there. i've never realy had problems sharing with xp pro boxes. make sure the machines are on the same subnet and in the same workgroup, and you sxhouldn't have any problems sharing

 

[Chubs]

Make sure file sharing is enabled. If you're using some sort of firewall software, even the built-in one in XP, be sure that it isn't blocking the file sharing. Also, if you're sharing an internet connection your hub is really probably a router/switch. If it is, make sure your router isn't blocking the LAN-LAN traffic.

It would also be helpful to know what OSes you're running and the name and brand of your networking hardware.

 

[prosaic]

If you really do have a hub, and not a router performing Network Address Translation, that connects both computers to your cable modem, and if you are getting separate public IP addresses for the two computers, and if you are trying to enable file and print sharing bound to TCP/IP on your network, then that is totally inappropriate and dangerous.

It sounds as though the WinXP network wizard has been smart enough to enable the Internet Connection Firewall on each of the machines. That is a good thing because (in the scenario I outlined above) that prevents everybody on the planet from having access to your shares.

If you want to do this properly and safely you have several choices, with two of the simplest briefly outlined below:

1. Set up two NICs in Computer A and do Internet Connection Sharing with it so that Computer B gets access to the Internet through Computer A. A and B will be able to share over the "internal network" while having only one public IP assigned to the Web-exposed NIC on Computer A. NetBIOS will be bound to TCP/IP only on the private network NICs, and ICF will be disabled on the two internal network interfaces but enabled on the one world-facing NIC. The hub will site between Computer A and Computer B, not between the computers and the cable modem. (Or you could just use a crossover patch cable.)

2. Set up a router/switch with its WAN port connected to the cable modem. The router will perform Network Address Translation allowing A and B to see each other and share files and printers with NetBIOS bound to TCP/IP with Internet Connection Firewall turned off on both computers. (You can use a more flexible third party software firewall on each if you wish.) Or you can leave ICF turned on, unbind NetBIOS and the client from TCP/IP, install NetBEUI on both computers, and share to your hearts' content without danger of someone on the Web being able to access your shares.

- prosaic

 

[JackMDS]

The Content of the Following Links Might Help

AnandTech - FAQ. Basic Options for Internet Connection Sharing

AnandTech - FAQ. Hubs, routers, switches, DSL, LANs, WANs...?

Any wizard concerning Network might work once when you first configure the Network. Any further use of the Wizard can trash the Network since it changes back settings that was build in time by applications and hardware installation. The time it is supposable saved by using the wizard, get used many times over when trying to correct the mess later on.

In other word learning how to configure manually takes more time at the beginning, but saves much more time down the line.

Once you reconfigure every thing go over the sharing.

Important For the purpose of the initial setting, disable all software Firewall (including WinXP native
ICF); disable any active Virus scan or any other utility that might intercept Network Traffic.

The following Collection of Links might help:

If you are not concern about internal security WinXP has a fast simple method of sharing, no user permissions and no passwords.

Windows XP Simple File Sharing

WinXP Pro has an additional more secure method:

Windows XP Professional File Sharing.

XP File Sharing Trouble

 

[bobcpg]

<---- still thinks that a VPN will be the cheapiest and one of the easyist solutions.