• Advice for Dad?

    Home » Forums » Networking – routers, firewalls, network configuration » Advice for Dad?

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    WSjscher2000
    AskWoody Lounger
    October 11, 2001 at 4:50 am #361391

    I have been asked to come up with a way to move data from a notebook computer to a desktop computer, both Windows 9x. Once upon a time, a null modem cable could be used for this sort of thing, and then the Zip drive, but in the era of the home network, that all seems sort of antiquated. A network also would allow easier sharing of the laser printer and the scan/fax/copy/print thing that now live behind an A-B switch box. The Internet connection is AT&T@Home.

    So… Ethernet appears to be overkill. Any recommendations on where to start for HPNA or other technologies?

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    • DaveA
      AskWoody_MVP
      October 11, 2001 at 4:30 pm #546228

      The peer to peer network with a router for the cable connection is the best route to go. The NIC for the desktop are not to costly, but if you have to go to a PC Card slot for the lap top , it will run a lot more. The router should have a min of 4 connections for those guests that bring their computers and/or new christmas gifts from the kids.

      DaveA I am so far behind, I think I am First
      Genealogy....confusing the dead and annoying the living

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      • WSMikeB
        AskWoody Lounger
        October 11, 2001 at 7:13 pm #546250

        Quite agree Dave, however there is one thing to make the laptop option a little cheaper. If the laptop has usb there are some reasonably priced converters that go from usb->ethernet. This saves buying an ethernet card which tend to be rather expensive.

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        • WScbaldrey
          AskWoody Lounger
          October 11, 2001 at 7:15 pm #546251

          Even cheaper still are the laptops that already have the RJ-45 connection built in… if you’re lucky enough to already have one that is…

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          • WSFish
            AskWoody Lounger
            October 12, 2001 at 11:23 am #546378

            If it’s only for two machines, why not use a crossover patch cable? An economy 10/100 NIC can be picked up for less than the price of a good meal. Like someone said though, the PC Card could be pricey.

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            • WSjscher2000
              AskWoody Lounger
              October 13, 2001 at 6:38 am #546545

              You know… I have a PC card NIC from work I could take over there on the weekend, and I probably could pick up a cross-over cable around the corner… this is sounding pretty feasible for a one-shot file transfer. Maybe the network can wait. wink

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    • WSwemeier
      AskWoody Lounger
      October 14, 2001 at 2:46 pm #546667

      If you really wanted to get into the 21st century, try a wireless network! You can buy a wireless NIC with a PCI adapter for your desktop and a wireless PC card for your laptop. Provided the AT&T@Home is connected to your desktop computer, this not only gives you the ability to transfer data between the desktop and laptop, but gives your laptop Internet access from anywhere in the house! You don’t have to bother with a wireless access point. If your desktop is Windows 98 or above you can use Microsoft’s Internet Sharing. Otherwise, get the free (or low-priced, depending on options) Wingate Server software from Wingate. The total cost will be less than $200. With deals, it could get down to about $150.

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    • WSKentWard
      AskWoody Lounger
      October 16, 2001 at 4:50 pm #547049

      I’m glad you asked! P2P is the way to go, don’t think too small (crossover cable/ 1 time use- they are great and what I used until last week) and don’t think too big (wireless) A couple of weeks ago I sold a Fast Ethernet 4 port, 3- 3Com 3c905 card, SW and cable on E-Bay for $46. A great buy for the buyer and the way to go to start a home network. yadda

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      • WSjscher2000
        AskWoody Lounger
        October 25, 2001 at 5:20 am #548504

        This turned out not to be so bad. It was useful to have a cell phone while studying the products in the store…

        Old Set-up: ATT@Home router, wired to PC Card in notebook computer, parallel printer connected to notebook, desktop computer not doing much.

        New Set-up: ATT@Home router, wired to new NetGear RP 114 “Web Safe” switch ($100), with CAT5 to notebook, new CAT5 cable ($4) to new NetGear FA 312 NIC ($22) in desktop computer, desktop computer set up as print server.

        It took me about half an hour to get back on the Internet with the RP 114, since I was doing a good bit of guessing on the configuration, and I heard that Windows start-up song more times than I care to, but within about an hour, we had print and file sharing, the Internet, everything working just fine. Someday, I will go back and look at the firewall settings in the RP 114.

        I ended up not buying a print server device and just sharing the laser off the PC. If the multifunction machine comes back into the story, I will need to reconsider. (There was another router/switch for $130 that included a built-in print server on one port, but at least 6 of them had been returned, so I thought that was a bad sign.)

        Thanks to all for your advice. Some notes on the other options: The wireless equipment was quite pricey, and frankly, I don’t think the extra radiation is justified when everything is a few feet apart. The USB-to-Ethernet was more expensive than a desktop PC NIC card, but about the same as a notebook PC Card NIC. (I was really surprised by how much those had come down, but then again, it wasn’t a name brand.)

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    • WSjscher2000
      AskWoody Lounger
      October 27, 2001 at 4:13 am #548920

      Uh-oh, I think I used the wrong terminology. What I connected the new router to must have been the “cable modem”: it’s the device that the coax runs in to. I probably should have consulted the user manual before writing that post. smile

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