Homenetwork

[tony4662]

How do I connect 2 computers together using my home network

[aurora83]

What is the current set up of your home network?

Do you have a wired/wireless adsl/cable/dsl router or a network switch?

What are you trying to do, share files/printer/internet connection?

If you have a wired router/switch you will need to connect each computer to a port on the router/switch. If you are trying to share your internet connection, you will need to connect your modem/set-top etc... also to your router/switch. There will be an uplink port for this, but there are also routers/switches which allow you to configure any port as an uplink.

You will need to configure your router/switch which the manual will explain. Or your router/switch may have a setup wizard.

If you are trying to share files/folders/printer, then you can run the 'set up home or small office network' wizard in XP. Or you can right click on folders/drives and open the sharing and security configuration, and choose to share them. When you go to my network places on another machine, these shared 'areas' will be listed.

The same applies to wireless routers, but each computer will need to have a wireless network adapter to communicate with the router. These can range from small plug-in usb devices to pci cards (with an aerial on the back). You then need to configure your router and computes for use with wi-fi. You can run the wireless network wizard in xp and let it handle everything.

In both cases make sure you take security into consideration, especially with wif-fi. Use mac filtering and wap authentication. Turn on the routers firewall and use a software firewall, even if it's only windows xp's built in one.

Optionally you could use a crossover network cable and connect the two computer directly together.

If anything doesn't make sense just ask :-)