How to Network 2 Win2000 computers

dvdfan

Hi, Ive had a look on the board but most of the threads are not specific enough to answer my question full.

First ill describe my 2 computers.
One is a dell optiplex gx270 2.4ghz 256mb ram windows 2000 os
2nd is an epson Epos system 700mhz 128mb ram running windows 2000 os

Now my internet connection is eircom hotspot, basically a wireless connection and i have a username and password that allows me to login. The dell already uses this and i get good speed out of it. The wireless box is located next to the epos machine and the dell machine is on the floor below and if i need to run a cable between both your looking at about 40-50 foot of cable.

Im wondering when i get this network set-up will both pcs be able to share the same connection because otherwise i would have to pay for internet access by the hour for the 2nd pc via hotspot which would turn out to be quite expensive. If all comes to all it wouldnt be a big job to go back to plain old eircom broadband as nobody uses the eircom hotspot only myself on the dell.

I want to network the 2 pcs so the dell acts as a back office computer to run reports and change settings on the epos machine upstairs. I would also like to have remote access to the epos machine so i would like the epos computer to have access to the internet for this purpose, for example if the staff ring me and say there is a problem with the till i can remote access via logmein.com and see what the problem is and fix it from there. The only concerns would be that by having internet access im opening myself up to viruses, spyware etc which would require several apps running to keep it secure and im hoping this wont be hogging system resources considering its a 700mhz spec running 128mb of ram.

btw the epos software will be pixelpoint which supports using a backoffice pc included in the package.

Now i know a good bit about computers but ive never set up a network so can someone give me advice about what i need to buy to achieve the above. From reading other treads i presume the dsl router/switch is the way to go because i want to share internet, so do i just buy a standard ethernet cable to connect the two or do i need something else. Ive learned my lesson buying in cantec etc paying over the odds so i would prefer to buy online so if you can provide a link to a website to where i might buy the router and cable this would be great. Also bear in mind i will need 40-50 foot of cable to connect both.

Lastly i know the dell has a network card for sure, but im not 100% sure if the epos machine has, what settings do i need to go into to see if there is a network card is and what speed it has on windows 2000, can i ping it or something. Going to device manager shows a device under network adapter but i cant see anything about speed eg 10/100 so i want to be sure?

Also if anyone knows a good resource online that i can read thats simple enough that explains any settings etc that i need to change after i setup the router and connect both pcs together that would be great. Sorry for the long thread just wanted to provide as much info as possible.

Thomas_S_Hunterson

You need an crossover ethernet cable, i think someone in FS Computer hardware is making them to spec, at whatever length you want for a fairly reasonable price.
With that, just hook up the two computers, and make sure they are configured to be on the same workgroup, and do whatever windows wizards that have to be done
should work

dvdfan

sean_keevey wrote:

You need an crossover ethernet cable, i think someone in FS Computer hardware is making them to spec, at whatever length you want for a fairly reasonable price.
With that, just hook up the two computers, and make sure they are configured to be on the same workgroup, and do whatever windows wizards that have to be done
should work

So without using a dsl router will i be able to share internet access or will it just be files??

**Timbuk2**

afaik its galwaydude18 that is making the crossover cables to spec. His service is available to all boards.ie users

(big apology if I got the wrong user )

MunsterCycling

**Timbuk2** wrote:

afaik its galwaydude18 that is making the crossover cables to spec. His service is available to all boards.ie users

(big apology if I got the wrong user )

No you got it in one there Tim. Service available in the FS Services section.



@ DVDFAN

I take it is the dell you use the eircon hotspot with??? How is it connecting to this? WiFi USB / PCI directly to hotspot? WiFi box with ethernet cable connecting to dell... little more info here please.

If the EPOS is running W2K then it should be easy enough to add either a PCI WiFi or Ethernet card but you may want to consider your security if you go Wifi. Best to have a setup that can't accidentally be unplugged (USB dongle)

Can't go further without knowing how you get your net access.

dvdfan

Well to explain i had eircom broadband originally. The setup was, i ran a 40-50 foot phoneline cable from upstairs to the eircom broadband modemn downstairs in the office. Then theres an ethernet cable ruinning from the eircom modem to the back of the dell pc.

Now when the fixed up the eircom hotspot they didnt change the setup at all just the settings on the dell. Of this im 99% sure but im not near the office today so i cant be 100% sure. Its still the same modem or at least they look identical. I was away at the time of the installation so im not sure if they changed the modem as far as i know its still the same netopia 3347:o

Thomas_S_Hunterson

dvdfan wrote:

So without using a dsl router will i be able to share internet access or will it just be files??

you'll be able to share the internet connection, AFAIK, if you go into Network settings and choose the appropriate connection you should have an option to make it shared, and then on the other computer, chose the option that allows yo to connect via another computer

MunsterCycling

So is the 3347 next to the dell now??? If yes then you just need to run a cable (patch not crossover) to the EPOS machine providing it has net card and then you need to access the router config page to ensure the settings allow the EPOS to get an IP. Should be pretty much plan sailing after that.

MunsterCycling

sean_keevey wrote:

you'll be able to share the internet connection, AFAIK, if you go into Network settings and choose the appropriate connection you should have an option to make it shared, and then on the other computer, chose the option that allows yo to connect via another computer

If the computer that is sharing the net connection is getting it through the ehternet port then you will need a 2nd net card to use Windows ICS!!!

dvdfan

Thanks for the help, so i need to buy a patch ethernet cable.

Then i need to double check the epos has a network card. How do i ping the network card. run->cmd->ping what??? and will this tell me the speed?

Whats windows ics and where will i get that???

btw the 3347 is next to the dell!

MunsterCycling

dvdfan wrote:

Thanks for the help, so i need to buy a patch ethernet cable.

Then i need to double check the epos has a network card. How do i ping the network card. run->cmd->ping what??? and will this tell me the speed?

Whats windows ics and where will i get that???

btw the 3347 is next to the dell!

Emmm 1st check to see if the EPOS has a card then work out cable route between two machines and then get cable, you will need a bespoke one for that length me thinks (from galwaydude18 if he's stills doing em). Be mindful that if the cable has to pass thru a very small gap it may be better to run the cable first then crimp on the connecters... but that means having to have crimping tool or someone who does.

If EPOS has no card then you'll have to get one 10/100Mps, no more than €10 in any good store but check if the EPOS has a free PCI slot and if it is full height or half height case as the IO shield from regular card (full height) will be too big.

To ping there are 2 ways, via IP and via Netname (for Windoze OS),

Type whats inside the ""

Via IP: (To get IP, @ the cmd prompt type> "ipconfig /all")

"ping 192.168.X.Y" where X and Y are the values assigned by the DHCP server in the Router for your net card. This will tell you the response time and the TTL (TimeToLive)


Via NetName

If the other machine is running a Windoze OS then U can use this method

@ Prompt type > "ping {computer_name}" where computer name is the name you gave the machine in the computer name section of system properties (Right click My Computer > Computer Name Tab). This will resolve the name of your computer into its IP and ping that address giving same result as above.

Windows ICS is Windows Internet Connection Sharing part of every OS since 98 AFAIK, allows you to share 1 internet connection with other computer with the aforementioned proviso.