Networking 2 Computers at Home

[dsze]

Can anyone walk me through setting up my desktop & my laptop at home such that I can transfer files from my laptop to my desktop? I have a cable broadband connection with a wireless router sending the connection to my notebook. Both units run WinXP. I am finding that I am rapidly filling the 60GB notebook hard drive with a couple of wedding's images and would like to transfer a large # of files to my desktop without having to burn them to disc.

thanks,
daniel

[vfilby]

If both computers are connected to the network at the same time you could setup a file share and then just copy the files over. Just right click on the directory choose properties and then sharing. It may be a tad slow though.

Then go to my network places and find your computer then the share. If it doesn't show up you could always try \\computername\sharename . You may need to use \\ip (x.x.x.x)\sharename.

I think that both machines must be part of the same workgroup so make sure that they are both the same, under internet properties in the control panel I think.

I work primarily on unix so this might be slightly wrong, I think the basics are all there though. Failing that, download a free FTP server and client and use them.

[CyberDyneSystems]

A few steps.

* A question first. Will the Router function as a hub/switch... or will it only allow multiple PCs to use the router to acces the internet?

* If not you will want a hub or switch.

* The router will then plug into the switch via Cat5 cable. Your laptop and PC will also plug into the Switch.

*Then you will need to set up networking in WinXP.. (damn I can type you through this blindfolded in Win98... WinXP in it's attemtps to make it easier.. has of course made it harder!)

* Assuming Windows Classic desktop,
1> Start
2> Settings
3> Network Connections
4> Double click "Network connection Wizard"
5> Follow the steps as outlined by classic piss of crap MS wizard boondogle.
6> When complete.. none of it will have worked.
7> Repeat steps 1-3
8> This time ignore the wizard and double click "Local area connection"
9> In the general tab click "Properties"

10> In the top drop down there should be a netwrk card allready listed (you allready have it configured to work with the 'net)
11> Beneath that will be a protocol with a check box next to it "TCP/IP" "Client for Microsft Netwrks", and "File and Printer sharing"

If all of that is there we can move on...

Oh,. repeat these steps on both PCs and then let us know if it's all there...

When all is working correctly,.. you should then be able to share any folder or drive simply by right clicking on it and selecting "Sharing and security"

[dsze]

CDS... to answer your first question; I don't know. Let me explain the set up and maybe you can tell me ! The cable comes into the house and then into the:

1. Cable Modem
2. Linksys Router
3. Desktop (wired)
3. Motorola Wireless Router

4. Laptop then gets the signal from the motorola obviously


So, there are no cables directly connecting the Motorola WL router and the desktop. Is that what you want to know?

I've gone through the Network setup that XP offers twice now and it appears to be successful on both computers, but then I can't find one computer from the other. ...guessing this has something to do with your first question?

thanks,
daniel

[vfilby]

But both the desktop and the motorola are plugged in to the linksys router at the same time right?

Most linksys routers have a web setup and in there, there is usually an option to look at the dhcp table. This table shows all the computers connected to the router and what their ip's are. If you have a dhcp config option it will be on that tab.

Do you have anything like that on your linksys?

[dsze]

Yes, both the Desktop and the Motorola WL Router are connected to the Linksys Router at the same time.

I don't see any software options for the linksys router though...Maybe I'm looking in the wrong place?

-daniel

[vfilby]

I didn't realize the wireless was a router too. From my perspective that makes things complicated. Because a router (in this case) allows many computers to share a single address (ip). So the computers behind the router are hidden to the outside world so to speak. It makes connecting to them alittle more difficult.

I am not sure what the appropriate solution is but I would start by having the motorola forward all incoming connections to your notebook. If you are using windows sharing and know the appropriate ports then only forward those. From there own it will appear as if they are both on the same network and you can follow CDS's instructions.

[dsze]

Hmm? I'm totally confused :shock: It does seem that the "wireless" portion of this is whats making it difficult. I can log into a website that controls my Motorola WL Router settings. Might have to do something there?

-daniel

[vfilby]

The problem is the wireless to some degree. From what you have said it sounds like your notebook and desktop are on two different networks. Normally this would be ok except that it doesn't really work with windows sharing and because the routher is hiding (masq'ing) the ip's you can't connect directly to the notebook. Basically everything that goes to the notebook is actually sent to the router and it is forwarding from there. Any incoming connections that to the router that don't specifically say which machine it is supposed to go to are dropped.

By using portforwarding you can tell the router to forward all incoming packets on a given port to the notebook. For example if you were using ftp, just forward all incoming connections on port 21 to the notebook, therefore any ftp connection (port 21) to the router will be diverted to the notebook.

Make any sense?

If there is an easier way to accomplish this, please enlighten me and dz.

[dsze]

Vince,

I think I know what you're talking about, but here is a Screen Shot from my router configuration utility. Tell me what I need to do with it:

http://home.comcast.net/~randomphotos/virtualserver.jpg


thanks!
daniel[/img]

[CyberDyneSystems]

Dan

You should only need one router.. what a router does is take a single internet connection and split it up so that a number of PC s can use this same connection. You should be able to get acces for dozens of PCs using one router.

It seems to me that the linksys is now redundant if you want the Wireless of the Motorola.

So it should do something like this

Modem plugs into Wireless router. PC plugs into wireless router, Laptop connects to Wireless router via .. "Wireless"

Once you have this aspect sorted.. then networking should be a breeze.

[vfilby]

Dan

You should only need one router.. what a router does is take a single internet connection and split it up so that a number of PC s can use this same connection. You should be able to get acces for dozens of PCs using one router.

It seems to me that the linksys is now redundant if you want the Wireless of the Motorola.

So it should do something like this

Modem plugs into Wireless router. PC plugs into wireless router, Laptop connects to Wireless router via .. "Wireless"

Once you have this aspect sorted.. then networking should be a breeze.

As long as there is a place to plug in on the back of the wireless.... much easier than farting around with ports. As far as the screen shots, try CDS's suggestion first.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Yes, both the Desktop and the Motorola WL Router are connected to the Linksys Router at the same time.

I don't see any software options for the linksys router though...Maybe I'm looking in the wrong place?

-daniel

The linksys does not require any software to install.. it,. like your motorolla is controled from a web browser interface.

Find your Linksys manual to get the IP address to control it via your browser just like the Motorolla...

You would have had to have done this when the Linksys was installed to get it to work with your modem/internet connection. (log in etc..)

If you get rid of the Linksys,.. all the info in it will need to be inpu into the Motorolla so the motorolla can handle the routing chores.

UNLESS!
Is it possible that your Motorolla is merely acting as a wireless acces point?

[CyberDyneSystems]

If the PC is plugged into the Linksys,.. and the Linksys is plugged into the Modem.. then what is the Motorolla plugged into? If your Linksys has ports for other PCs then it is a switch/hub as well.

[CyberDyneSystems]

...

Let's try assuming that the Motorolla is functioning only as an acces point for now (you do get net access with both machines currently?)

Try this,...

*Double Click the network Icon on your desktop, ( I don't remember what this thing is called,. I reneamed mine years ago :( )

* In the window there should be three Icons.. Double click "Entire Network"

* Now there will be another three Icons,.. double click "Microsoft Windows Network"

* There should be at least a single Icon with the name of the Workgroup you slected. Is it there?

* If it is.. double click and see if any of the computers show up.

[dsze]

:) First, let me just say that you guys are great & the help you've been providing me is great! Thanks... However, we're not there yet. :(

You are right, the Linksys is redundant and possibly the problem, but I need it because I have a VOIP phone running through my cable....the Linksys is the only component in the system that has the standard phone line connection.

So...when I look in my Entire Network, I don't see the other computer anywhere. When I try to click the icon to view the other computers in my workgroup, it tries and tries & eventually tells me that I don't have the permissions I need.

-daniel

[Steven M. Anthony]

I didn't read most of the above, but just wanted to alert you to a problem I had linking 2 computers--one of which was a laptop. Seems my laptop had a pre-installed firewall that was not allowing the PC to get through to the laptop, even though we set up everything as it was supposed to be set up. I finally called in a service (the Geek Squad). It took them nearly 2 hours to figure it out! Now it all works fine. My laptop now "sees" the PC and the 250GB external drive connected to it as "Network Drives."