Connecting two computers using Nics

k123456

If I want to connect two computers using the network cards, can I use a normal network cable or do I have to use a cross over cable, thanks

whoami1

Provided at least one machine has a Gigabit NIC, you can use a straight cable with no need for a hub/switch.

Razzuh

Not just gigabit ports. The adapter has to feature Auto-MDIX. All gigbit cards have it, but so do most of the 10/100 cards from about the last 5 years or so.

Testament

You must use a crossover cable . Is a must!

Give to each one a C class Ip adress (private):

Pc 1 ip : 192.168.1.1
netmask: 255.255.255.0


Pc 2 ip: 192.168.1.2
netmask: 255.255.255.0

vibe666

Testament wrote: »

You must use a crossover cable . Is a must!

no it isn't not at all.

unless of course you've just stepped out of a time machine from 10 years ago, then you'll be forgiven for being mistaken.

whoami1 & Razzuh are correct. Testament, get to the back of the class.

Testament

generaly u need a crossover cable but in this case it does work with a straight one as weel. Im ccna/ccnp mate

Testament

vibe666 wrote: »

no it isn't not at all.

unless of course you've just stepped out of a time machine from 10 years ago, then you'll be forgiven for being mistaken.

whoami1 & Razzuh are correct. Testament, get to the back of the class.

generaly u need a crossover cable but in this case it does work with a straight one as weel. Im ccna/ccnp mate

vibe666

Testament wrote: »

generaly u need a crossover cable but in this case it does work with a straight one as weel. Im ccna/ccnp mate

oddly enough, cisco are still teaching it that way in the ccna courses for some reason, but its been a long time since it has been the case for two directly connected nics, unless its a really old 10/100 nic that doesn't do auto-mdix, but they're pretty thin on the ground unless you just bought a 10 year old pc at a boot fair and even then as long as the pc you're connecting it to has a newer nic on it, it'll be fine as you only need one of them to fix the crossover.

just out of curiosity when did you do your exams?

Testament

vibe666 wrote: »

oddly enough, cisco are still teaching it that way in the ccna courses for some reason, but its been a long time since it has been the case for two directly connected nics, unless its a really old 10/100 nic that doesn't do auto-mdix, but they're pretty thin on the ground unless you just bought a 10 year old pc at a boot fair and even then as long as the pc you're connecting it to has a newer nic on it, it'll be fine as you only need one of them to fix the crossover.

just out of curiosity when did you do your exams?

none of your business! Curiosity killed the cat ! Sorry

vibe666

no offence, but it just seems like someone with a ccna would know something like that.

fair enough, cisco do teach it 'by the book' even now but it's been a long time since it was actually correct in the context of connecting two pc's.

Testament

vibe666 wrote: »

no offence, but it just seems like someone with a ccna would know something like that.

fair enough, cisco do teach it 'by the book' even now but it's been a long time since it was actually correct in the context of connecting two pc's.

In my opinion i think they shouldnt teach basic things, do u do much networking ? but is nothing the matter with Americans except their ideals. The real American is all right; it is the ideal American who is all wrong.

vibe666

Testament wrote: »

In my opinion i think they shouldnt teach basic things, do u do much networking ? but is nothing the matter with Americans except their ideals. The real American is all right; it is the ideal American who is all wrong.

the thing is, they have to give you everything at the start of the course because they don't know what everyone knows coming into the ICND1 course. start at the beginning and work your way in is the simplest way to make sure that nobody misses anything.

at the end of the day, the CCNA is still just a beginners networking course designed to give you a strong foundation knowledge in the basic support of a switched & routed network and whilst it doesn't go very deep into any particular area of networking, it does give you a huge breadth of knowledge to prepare you to specialise in something specific later in your career.

i'm not a networks guy by trade, but i do need to know a respectable amount as part of my job, which is why i did the course myself altho it was a little disappointing to find out that it expires after 2 years if i don't do any more cisco exams.

Dermot Illogical

k123456 wrote: »

If I want to connect two computers using the network cards, can I use a normal network cable or do I have to use a cross over cable, thanks

If you can't connect using a normal cable (unsupported, cards too old etc) you can either use a crossover, or connect both computers to a hub.

Testament

vibe666 wrote: »

the thing is, they have to give you everything at the start of the course because they don't know what everyone knows coming into the ICND1 course. start at the beginning and work your way in is the simplest way to make sure that nobody misses anything.

at the end of the day, the CCNA is still just a beginners networking course designed to give you a strong foundation knowledge in the basic support of a switched & routed network and whilst it doesn't go very deep into any particular area of networking, it does give you a huge breadth of knowledge to prepare you to specialise in something specific later in your career.

i'm not a networks guy by trade, but i do need to know a respectable amount as part of my job, which is why i did the course myself altho it was a little disappointing to find out that it expires after 2 years if i don't do any more cisco exams.

How much is in Ireland (Im from Transilvanya (Romania), live in Ireland since 2007 )? Did my courses in Usa and Germany 5 years ago and it was quite expensive ...

MunsterCycling

Then, with respect, you are no longer certified!

krautmick

I pity the original poster, who had a simple question, and had to trawl through a serious of troll-posts (no offence), which certainly didn't help him any further, but probably mystified him even more.

Given the way he asked the question, I would assume that the poster has no idea what a cross-over cable is, why he would need it, or what AUTO-MDIX means.

My advice, never mind the cross-over cable etc. Go to one of the PC retailers and look for a small network switch, they don't cost much these days any more, and plug the 2 PCs into that. This also leaves you with the option to add more PCs at a later stage, if that is needed.

That said, if you have a broadband internet connection at home, chances are that the broadband modem that connects you do your service provider (e.g. Eircom, BT etc) will have extra network ports on the back. This would be the preferrable option, as these modems also do the basic functions required for the LAN (Local area network) to work without much hustle.

Chances are, that once you plug both PCs into the broadband modem, you will be able to browse for the other PC in the network neighbourhood. If not, some more configuration may be required, but there is no need to write a manual here, until we know what your situation is.

Are you trying to connect two laptops or PCs? How do you connect to the internet with them at the moment. Are those NICs free at the moment or do they connect to anything? Some more info and we can certainly help you.

Kind regards,

Krautmick (CCDP/CCNP/CCIP/CCSA)

vibe666

krautmick wrote: »

I pity the original poster, who had a simple question, and had to trawl through a serious of troll-posts (no offence), which certainly didn't help him any further, but probably mystified him even more.

to be fair, the question was answered more than satisfactorily in the 1st two replies until someone decided differently.

and a length of cable is still going to be a lot cheaper than a switch if all he wants to do is copy data across.

Razzuh

Testament wrote: »

generaly u need a crossover cable but in this case it does work with a straight one as weel. Im ccna/ccnp mate

I was amused to see the flurry of posts this thread has attracted in the last 2 days. I have to point out that it was almost three weeks old when Testament bumped it with his cisco-fuelled erroneous post.

Testament: Since you're in the business I'm surprised that you didn't at least take the time to google 'auto-mdix' out of professional interest before replying to contradict myself and the other poster who had replied to the thread in a more timely fashion. I had included the name of the technology specifically to try to pre-emp such a reply! There seems to be a general lack of awareness of it

It was good of you to include the IP instructions though. I was too lazy, and justifiably so, considering the OP never bothered to reply. It's good to have them there for anyone stumbling across this thread on a search, it's a common question. I found before that the web is rife with instructions for ad-hoc wireless networks but that instructions for wired peer-to-peer are surprisingly scarce or hard to find for some reason. I've even seen people who should know better write that "it's not possible", bizarrely.

Testament

Razzuh wrote: »

I was amused to see the flurry of posts this thread has attracted in the last 2 days. I have to point out that it was almost three weeks old when Testament bumped it with his cisco-fuelled erroneous post.

Testament: Since you're in the business I'm surprised that you didn't at least take the time to google 'auto-mdix' out of professional interest before replying to contradict myself and the other poster who had replied to the thread in a more timely fashion. I had included the name of the technology specifically to try to pre-emp such a reply! There seems to be a general lack of awareness of it

It was good of you to include the IP instructions though. I was too lazy, and justifiably so, considering the OP never bothered to reply. It's good to have them there for anyone stumbling across this thread on a search, it's a common question. I found before that the web is rife with instructions for ad-hoc wireless networks but that instructions for wired peer-to-peer are surprisingly scarce or hard to find for some reason. I've even seen people who should know better write that "it's not possible", bizarrely.

To be Honest with you i didnt even read the whole lot. i just gave the simplest method possible. Cheers