Complete newbie to networking: What I want to achieve!

I'm fairly competent with computers in general but have never had the need
to link 2 together before, hopefully someone here can point me in the right
direction.

I have 2 PC's running Windows XP Home (main PC and media center PC) both
with ethernet ports. Here is what I want to do:
o Share files/data (when both are switched on).
o Independant broadband internet access for each PC (one switched on/one
off, or both using the connection at the same time if required).
o Print documents from both PC's to one printer (currently connected to main
PC).

Is this possible? What kit do I need to get for a setup like this? I not
worried about having wireless equipment, it's an expense I don't want and
the computers are only a short distance apart anyway. Thanks for your help!

--
Regards,
Tony. (tony.cue(at)tiscali.co.uk)

Discogs: building the definitive database of electronic music...
http://www.discogs.com

On Sun, 25 Apr 2004 23:31:21 +0100, in uk.comp.home-networking
"Tone-EQ" <(E-Mail Removed)> strung together this:

>I'm fairly competent with computers in general but have never had the need
>to link 2 together before, hopefully someone here can point me in the right
>direction.
>
>I have 2 PC's running Windows XP Home (main PC and media center PC) both
>with ethernet ports. Here is what I want to do:
>o Share files/data (when both are switched on).
>o Independant broadband internet access for each PC (one switched on/one
>off, or both using the connection at the same time if required).
>o Print documents from both PC's to one printer (currently connected to main
>PC).
>
>Is this possible? What kit do I need to get for a setup like this? I not
>worried about having wireless equipment, it's an expense I don't want and
>the computers are only a short distance apart anyway. Thanks for your help!
>
Simple solution is to use an ethernet router\modem. Most of these come
with 4 ports. This will take care of the independent internet access
and the filesharing.
The printing to the printer in your current setup would only be
possible if the machine it's connected to is switched on.
If you want to print from the other machine when the main PC is off
you need a print server which is a box that basically converts a
parallel port into a network port that can be plugged into the router
enabling contin uous use of the printer independently of a host
machine.
The router, a print server and a couple of patch cables should set you
back about £100, depending which models you go for.
--

SJW
A.C.S. Ltd.

O
> The printing to the printer in your current setup would only be possible
> if the machine it's connected to is switched on. If you want to print from
> the other machine when the main PC is off you need a print server which is
> a box that basically converts a parallel port into a network port that can
> be plugged into the router enabling contin uous use of the printer
> independently of a host machine.
> The router, a print server and a couple of patch cables should set you
> back about £100, depending which models you go for.

You can now get USB print servers as well.

Dave
--
Linux, breaking the pain of Windows

On Mon, 26 Apr 2004 04:16:47 +-0100, Dave Stanton <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>O
>> The printing to the printer in your current setup would only be possible
>> if the machine it's connected to is switched on. If you want to print from
>> the other machine when the main PC is off you need a print server which is
>> a box that basically converts a parallel port into a network port that can
>> be plugged into the router enabling contin uous use of the printer
>> independently of a host machine.
>> The router, a print server and a couple of patch cables should set you
>> back about +AKM-100, depending which models you go for.
>
>You can now get USB print servers as well.

And routers with print servers built in.

T i m

On Sun, 25 Apr 2004 23:31:21 +0100, "Tone-EQ" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>I'm fairly competent with computers in general but have never had the need
>to link 2 together before, hopefully someone here can point me in the right
>direction.
>
>I have 2 PC's running Windows XP Home (main PC and media center PC) both
>with ethernet ports. Here is what I want to do:
>o Share files/data (when both are switched on).
>o Independant broadband internet access for each PC (one switched on/one
>off, or both using the connection at the same time if required).
>o Print documents from both PC's to one printer (currently connected to main
>PC).

>Is this possible?

Eminently so. For the networking, XP has all the software apart
from possibly a good firewall.

>What kit do I need to get for a setup like this? I not
>worried about having wireless equipment, it's an expense I don't want and
>the computers are only a short distance apart anyway. Thanks for your help!

I'd recommend a simple router such as Binatone's ADSL 2000 from
your local Argos, rather than messing with Internet Connection Sharing
and radio stuff.

You'd need a length of crossover networking cable to go between the
router and the second machine. The connection to the first machine
can be via a USB port.

You can go to Binatone's home page and they will set up the broadband
part of the connection for you, with them prompting you by telephone
as you do so, should you need help in setting it up.

The wizards in XP will (hopefully) set everything up for you and you
can then share the broadband bandwidth. Note that if both machines are
(let's say) downloading files, then each will take half the bandwidth
(other things being equal) so that you'll only get half speed on each
machine. In other cases, browsing, EMailing etc., you won't notice
much difference in speed with simultaneous use.

DO provide both machines with good quality firewalls and virus protection.
Can't stress this enough. I use the free-for-home-use AntiVir and the
paid Outpost Firewall on all my machines. Keep them up to date as well.

On the other hand if you buy a more sophisticated router, you may find
that it has a hardware or firmware firewall between the Internet and
you machines, which means you won't need a firewall on either. But
check that out when you buy.

--

Jock.

On Mon, 26 Apr 2004 08:32:34 +0100, in uk.comp.home-networking T i m
<(E-Mail Removed)> strung together this:

>>You can now get USB print servers as well.
>
Forgot about those, good point.

>And routers with print servers built in.
>
Yes, and those. For the OP, shop around and see what best meets your
needs as there are various ways to achieve the same objective here!
Keywords are router and print server.
--

SJW
A.C.S. Ltd.

On Mon, 26 Apr 2004 11:57:10 +0000, Jock <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>On Sun, 25 Apr 2004 23:31:21 +0100, "Tone-EQ" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>>I'm fairly competent with computers in general but have never had the need
>>to link 2 together before, hopefully someone here can point me in the right
>>direction.
>>
>>I have 2 PC's running Windows XP Home (main PC and media center PC) both
>>with ethernet ports. Here is what I want to do:
>>o Share files/data (when both are switched on).
>>o Independant broadband internet access for each PC (one switched on/one
>>off, or both using the connection at the same time if required).
>>o Print documents from both PC's to one printer (currently connected to main
>>PC).
>
>>Is this possible?
>

>I'd recommend a simple router such as Binatone's ADSL 2000 from
>your local Argos, rather than messing with Internet Connection Sharing
>and radio stuff.

I think the 'radio stuff' can SAVE a lot of messing if yer house is
spread over 4 floors Jock ;-)
>
>You'd need a length of crossover networking cable to go between the
>router and the second machine.

Em .. a crossover between a DCE and a DTE?

The connection to the first machine
>can be via a USB port.

I think the OP said both machines had ethernet ports so *I'd* rather
use that for 'networking' and leave USB for the other things?
>
>
>DO provide both machines with good quality firewalls and virus protection.
>Can't stress this enough.

Very true and seconded! A (young) son of a mate phoned today and told
me his machine was 'running slow'. I got him to download and install
ACG (free for home users) and he phoned me back a while later saying
his PC had 169 viri (?) ! I then suggested he also downloaded (and
ran) AdAware.

I use the free-for-home-use AntiVir and the
>paid Outpost Firewall on all my machines. Keep them up to date as well.

I 'like' ZoneAlam but most FW's are better than nothing! That 'keep
them up to date' bit is Sooo important. The lad with the 169 viruses
had 'Norton AV' on there but it hadn't been updated for 3 years!
>
>On the other hand if you buy a more sophisticated router, you may find
>that it has a hardware or firmware firewall between the Internet and
>you machines, which means you won't need a firewall on either.

Nothing stopping you having both though?

But
>check that out when you buy.

Good idea. *Most* of the routers I've seen / played with of late have
a FW of some sort in them, some more configurable that others.

All the best ..

T i m

> >>You can now get USB print servers as well.

> Forgot about those, good point.

> >And routers with print servers built in.

> Yes, and those. For the OP, shop around and see what best meets your
> needs as there are various ways to achieve the same objective here!
> Keywords are router and print server.

This is all starting to make sense now. Can anyone recommend a piece of kit
that can do all this?

Regards,
Tony.

> >>I have 2 PC's running Windows XP Home (main PC and media center PC) both
> >>with ethernet ports. Here is what I want to do:
> >>o Share files/data (when both are switched on).
> >>o Independant broadband internet access for each PC (one switched on/one
> >>off, or both using the connection at the same time if required).
> >>o Print documents from both PC's to one printer (currently connected to
main
> >>PC).
> >
> >>Is this possible?
> >
>
> >I'd recommend a simple router such as Binatone's ADSL 2000 from
> >your local Argos, rather than messing with Internet Connection Sharing
> >and radio stuff.
>
> I think the 'radio stuff' can SAVE a lot of messing if yer house is
> spread over 4 floors Jock ;-)
> >
> >You'd need a length of crossover networking cable to go between the
> >router and the second machine.
>
> Em .. a crossover between a DCE and a DTE?
>
> The connection to the first machine
> >can be via a USB port.
>
> I think the OP said both machines had ethernet ports so *I'd* rather
> use that for 'networking' and leave USB for the other things?

I would prefer to use the ethernet ports, but I have 11 (5 free) USB ports
free on the main PC and 6 (4 free) on the other one so it wouldn't be a
problem either way.

> >DO provide both machines with good quality firewalls and virus
protection.
> >Can't stress this enough.
>
> Very true and seconded! A (young) son of a mate phoned today and told
> me his machine was 'running slow'. I got him to download and install
> ACG (free for home users) and he phoned me back a while later saying
> his PC had 169 viri (?) ! I then suggested he also downloaded (and
> ran) AdAware.
>
> I use the free-for-home-use AntiVir and the
> >paid Outpost Firewall on all my machines. Keep them up to date as well.
>
> I 'like' ZoneAlam but most FW's are better than nothing! That 'keep
> them up to date' bit is Sooo important. The lad with the 169 viruses
> had 'Norton AV' on there but it hadn't been updated for 3 years!
> >
> >On the other hand if you buy a more sophisticated router, you may find
> >that it has a hardware or firmware firewall between the Internet and
> >you machines, which means you won't need a firewall on either.
>
> Nothing stopping you having both though?
>
> But
> >check that out when you buy.
>
> Good idea. *Most* of the routers I've seen / played with of late have
> a FW of some sort in them, some more configurable that others.

I'm planning on using a software firewall for each PC (already installed on
each). That and the AV software is updated daily!

Any advice on what hardware to choose for this please?

Regards,
Tony.

On Mon, 26 Apr 2004 20:36:14 +0100, in uk.comp.home-networking
"Tone-EQ" <(E-Mail Removed)> strung together this:

>I would prefer to use the ethernet ports, but I have 11 (5 free) USB ports
>free on the main PC and 6 (4 free) on the other one so it wouldn't be a
>problem either way.
>
Use the ethernet ports, using the USB unneccesarily will suck system
resources from the host machine.

>I'm planning on using a software firewall for each PC (already installed on
>each). That and the AV software is updated daily!
>
>Any advice on what hardware to choose for this please?
>
Going down the Netgear route, which I usually do and have no problems
with. A FR114PUK and a DM602 will do the job you want. Whatever you
decide on upgrade to the latest firmware before you start.
--

SJW
A.C.S. Ltd.