networking computers for..

nude_hamster

ok....this mightnt be right section but i really need some info on this, i want to connect two or more laptops/computers to some kind of network for gaming and file sharing, do i use a LAN or is there some kind of other network i could use.. either way what do i do, and what equip do i need?

aidan_walsh

Please change your sig.

A LAN will do you fine, and is simple to set up. Are you looking to do it wired or wireless?

Zynks

Questions for you first:

1. Are the machines in the same house/building?
2. You can use a wireless or wired setup. Wireless is a bit more expensive, but there are no clunky wires around the place. However, wired is faster and more reliable. Which one would you prefer?
3. Will you also be sharing an internet connection?
4. What are your priorities? Cost, speed, reliability...
5. What is current setup (how many machines, location in relation to each other)

nude_hamster

wired

nude_hamster

ok im planning to try set up two different things....

firstly i want to set up something for gaming on laptops....so they will be same room normally....but i want something that can be just packed up and moved somewhere else for this one,... so that will just wired cos wireless is just a bit unreliable with alot of movement....then the second one is a permnament setup....between two pcs in different rooms in a house for mostly file sharing....that one is going to be a LAN and i want to set up extra sockets so i could plug laptop into, someone told me i need to choose a "host" PC for this one. this is really all i know so far...

galwaydude18

Nude hamster I can provide you with all the wired cables that you will need! I have a thread in the for sale fourm / services offering this service to all boards.ie users! Let me know what you require and I will sort you out!

nude_hamster

thanks mate!!....but i need to know what to do first

Zynks

OK, from what you are saying, I assume you take LAN as being wireless, which is not 100% correct. LANs can be based on wired, wireless or both.

For the wireless gaming between two laptops in the same room, with the option of adding more machines, all you need is a hub/switch and CAT5 cables to connect the machines to the switch (that is assuming the machines have network cards/ports). Here is a cheap option for the switch (8 ports, €24 + p&P)

For file sharing, wireless should be fine provided there isn't too many walls in between (mine works through two solid concrete walls, for instance) . Installation is quite straight forward, and you would need an access point + one adaptor for each machine (PCI for PCs and PCMCIA for laptops. USB ones work on both, but coverage may not be as good.). Check here for some options: http://www.komplett.ie/k/kl.asp?bn=10556.

Please note I am not advertising Komplett, it just was an easy place to find the hardware.

I hope this helps.

Mr. Presentable

nude_hamster wrote:

ok im planning to try set up two different things....

firstly i want to set up something for gaming on laptops....so they will be same room normally....but i want something that can be just packed up and moved somewhere else for this one,... so that will just wired cos wireless is just a bit unreliable with alot of movement....then the second one is a permnament setup....between two pcs in different rooms in a house for mostly file sharing....that one is going to be a LAN and i want to set up extra sockets so i could plug laptop into, someone told me i need to choose a "host" PC for this one. this is really all i know so far...

If the laptops have network cards (and almost all newish ones do) all you need is a network hub and a cable for each lappy.

Give each laptop a unique name and all laptops the same group. Assign each machine a different IP adress in the same range, create a folder to share and off you go!

Balfa

For the first one, just grab a crossover network cable for a few euro. You can just plug the cable into both laptops and go wild.

For the second one, get a router. It's a separate piece of requipment usually twice the size of a discman that has four or more ports that you plug all your PCs into using straight (not crossover, this time) network cables. Routers should be less than e50.

nude_hamster

ok thanks but ya i know LANs can be wireless and wired(if thats the right way of puttin it) so if i bought a hub i plug each laptop through that and then they would be connected in a LAN?

nude_hamster

and whats the difference between a hub and a router?

djmarkus

a hub/switch connect computers together, a router connects a network to the internet( BTW most routers have a hub/switch built in), you only need a switch but a router will take care of IP address assignment.

aidan_walsh

nude_hamster wrote:

ok thanks but ya i know LANs can be wireless and wired(if thats the right way of puttin it) so if i bought a hub i plug each laptop through that and then they would be connected in a LAN?

Yes. You also have to ensure that each laptop will have a different IP address. You can do this by going into the Control Panel, opening Network (and Dialup)* Connections, opening the network device properties, opening the TCP/IP properties, and giving each computer a different address (e.g. 192.168.0.1, 192.168.0.2, etc). Ensure the subnet mask is the same as well - this is typically 255.255.255.255.

*May not be in the title, depending on your versions of Windows

nude_hamster wrote:

whats the difference between a hub and a router?

They both do more or less the same job, that is provide a connection point for transfering data from one computer to another. In your case a hub will do you fine, and should work out cheaper than a router.

nude_hamster

ok thanks !! ... a hub will do me...a router would be pointless as i dont have a need to an internet connection for the LAN

galwaydude18

Ya a swith would be perfect for what you want...

djmarkus

actually lets get this straight, you gonna be getting a switch because hubs are out with the indians.

netwhizkid

Take a look at my thread here I had similar questions like yourself, I got some great advice on it, I have yet to network them together, I will let ye all know how I get on.

nude_hamster

well im goin to try tomorrow or the next day...so we'll see who gets there first :P

KdjaCL

Cheap ass and easy way.

Argos have a USB wireless Access Point/Connector for €30 676/8078 (twice i pimped this this week) get one for each PC, the one that has the internet connection use that as the Access Point and let the others connect to it for files and net and lan gaming.


Easy as piss and no damn wires, no ip giving out crap either all just connect.


kdjac