Networking Two Lap Tops Together: Hub Info Please

[RDN]

I need to know a bit about hubs: what sort do I need, what are the pitfalls to look out for, best buys, etc.

Here's the history:

I just got my old Dell Latitude working after being moaned at by the g/f. I don't know why it booted up today - when I last put it in its carry-case it was effectively a dead PC. I'd been working on it for about a week with no luck - that was about 6 months ago after I replaced the keyboard and it still kept beeping at me on power-up.

Fortunately today I spotted a message about "the system memory has changed" when it booted, so I reseated the RAM and it's working almost normally - except for the mouse icon which has a tendency to drift diagonally across the screen when I'm not touching the mouse. Very strange.

Anyway, I want to connect the Dell to my new (1 year old) Acer TravelMate. I have a D-Link Fast Ethernet CardBus PC card in the Dell (it doesn't have a network port built-in) and a CAT 5 cable to connect it to the Acer.

BUT, the Acer is connected to the Internet via an ADSL modem which uses up the single network port on the Acer.

So how do I connect another network cable to my Acer? I guess the answer is a hub - but I would like to know what sort do I need, what are the pitfalls to look out for, best buys, etc.

Any help you can give greatly appreciated.


After the physical connection, comes the configuration / setup of the PCs. I'll leave that topic 'til later!

[Dougal]

If you just want to do a one off copy of files from one to the other you can do it by buying a cross over cable and connect the two together directly.

[Spin]

what you need is a an ADSL modem router that has more than one cat 5 port.

Routers perform better than modems here in Thailand as they hold the dsl signal better.

Should set u back about 1300 baht.

Dont forget that you cannot network 2 pc together by using a "regular" cat 5 cable between two cat 5 ports on the machines.
You have to have a "crossover" cat5 cable. the cable looks the same as a regular cable but the rj45 connectors are wired up in mirror.

Better to get a router modem, easy to set up.

[Marmite the Dog]

I have a kind of network over a hub with GoW, but fek knows how she set it up.

[Marmite the Dog]

Also, the new version of MSN messanger puts a sharing folder on your PC, so if GoW wants one of my files, I just drag & drop in that folder.

[Gerbil]

what you need is a an ADSL modem router that has more than one cat 5 port.

Routers perform better than modems here in Thailand as they hold the dsl signal better.

Should set u back about 1300 baht.

Dont forget that you cannot network 2 pc together by using a "regular" cat 5 cable between two cat 5 ports on the machines.
You have to have a "crossover" cat5 cable. the cable looks the same as a regular cable but the rj45 connectors are wired up in mirror.

Better to get a router modem, easy to set up.

Agreed.

Get a D-LINK DSL G604T. It is an excellent unit, its a wi-fi ADSL router and has 4 ethernet ports on it. Can't go wrong with that one, although it is around 2500 baht.

[Marmite the Dog]

I got a Surecom 4-1 Hub for 750 Baht.

Never had a problem with it and I run 3 PCs off it continuously.

[RDN]

what you need is a an ADSL modem router that has more than one cat 5 port.

Routers perform better than modems here in Thailand as they hold the dsl signal better.

Should set u back about 1300 baht.

Dont forget that you cannot network 2 pc together by using a "regular" cat 5 cable between two cat 5 ports on the machines.
You have to have a "crossover" cat5 cable. the cable looks the same as a regular cable but the rj45 connectors are wired up in mirror.

Better to get a router modem, easy to set up.

Thanks OC - I've already got the cable and it is a cross-over as I tried do this same networking task a year ago with the Dell lap top and my ex-g/f's cheap PC. Never did get it going correctly though. She had XP Home on her PC (my Dell has XP Pro), and sometimes I could "see" her 'puter on the network, but could never see mine on hers. I guess I should buzz through the cable just to make sure.

I'm a bit wary about changing the modem to a router - I don't know what I may screw up. The modem I have - ZyXEL Prestige 660R-61C - seems to work fine (512/256 MaxNet), but thanks for the info. If I can find out how the modem was set up by the TT&T installer, maybe I'll chance it. I guess if I leave the modem configuration alone, it should work again even if I totally screw up the new router's config!

[RDN]

If you just want to do a one off copy of files from one to the other you can do it by buying a cross over cable and connect the two together directly.

Afraid not - she wants internet access too. Hope she doesn't slow down my.. er... "downloads"

[Gerbil]

what you need is a an ADSL modem router that has more than one cat 5 port.

Routers perform better than modems here in Thailand as they hold the dsl signal better.

Should set u back about 1300 baht.

Dont forget that you cannot network 2 pc together by using a "regular" cat 5 cable between two cat 5 ports on the machines.
You have to have a "crossover" cat5 cable. the cable looks the same as a regular cable but the rj45 connectors are wired up in mirror.

Better to get a router modem, easy to set up.

Thanks OC - I've already got the cable and it is a cross-over as I tried do this same networking task a year ago with the Dell lap top and my ex-g/f's cheap PC. Never did get it going correctly though. She had XP Home on her PC (my Dell has XP Pro), and sometimes I could "see" her 'puter on the network, but could never see mine on hers. I guess I should buzz through the cable just to make sure.

I'm a bit wary about changing the modem to a router - I don't know what I may screw up. The modem I have - ZyXEL Prestige 660R-61C - seems to work fine (512/256 MaxNet), but thanks for the info. If I can find out how the modem was set up by the TT&T installer, maybe I'll chance it. I guess if I leave the modem configuration alone, it should work again even if I totally screw up the new router's config!

Good guide here, even though it's for True. TT&T is probablly the same (I know TOT's is).

http://www.mangosauce.com/internet/t...d_thailand.php

[RDN]

what you need is a an ADSL modem router that has more than one cat 5 port.

Routers perform better than modems here in Thailand as they hold the dsl signal better.

Should set u back about 1300 baht.

Dont forget that you cannot network 2 pc together by using a "regular" cat 5 cable between two cat 5 ports on the machines.
You have to have a "crossover" cat5 cable. the cable looks the same as a regular cable but the rj45 connectors are wired up in mirror.

Better to get a router modem, easy to set up.

Agreed.

Get a D-LINK DSL G604T. It is an excellent unit, its a wi-fi ADSL router and has 4 ethernet ports on it. Can't go wrong with that one, although it is around 2500 baht.

Hmm... I like D-Link, they do useful gadgets and not too expensive. I'll have a look at their web site again and see what they say about it. 2,500 THB won't break the bank and if it helps keep the g/f happy...

OK, I just had a look: http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=372 .

They say:

Using 802.11g wireless technology, Wi-Fi enabled computers and devices can wirelessly connect to the DSL-G604T and share a single incoming Internet connection. With four additional Ethernet LAN ports, you can connect your network Ethernet-enabled devices.

My Acer has "802.11b/g wireless LAN" written on it. So does this mean I could connect without a cable to this router? And the g/f's PC can use one of the Ethernet ports? This is getting quite exciting!

[RDN]

Good guide here, even though it's for True. TT&T is probably the same (I know TOT's is).

http://www.mangosauce.com/internet/t...d_thailand.php

Wow! That is brilliant! I was just looking at the papers that the TT&T guy left, and it has the username, password, encapsulation (whatever that is), VPI (ditto) and VCI. So I reckon this is going to be easy! Thanks so much for that link!

[Gerbil]

what you need is a an ADSL modem router that has more than one cat 5 port.

Routers perform better than modems here in Thailand as they hold the dsl signal better.

Should set u back about 1300 baht.

Dont forget that you cannot network 2 pc together by using a "regular" cat 5 cable between two cat 5 ports on the machines.
You have to have a "crossover" cat5 cable. the cable looks the same as a regular cable but the rj45 connectors are wired up in mirror.

Better to get a router modem, easy to set up.

Agreed.

Get a D-LINK DSL G604T. It is an excellent unit, its a wi-fi ADSL router and has 4 ethernet ports on it. Can't go wrong with that one, although it is around 2500 baht.

Hmm... I like D-Link, they do useful gadgets and not too expensive. I'll have a look at their web site again and see what they say about it. 2,500 THB won't break the bank and if it helps keep the g/f happy...

OK, I just had a look: http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=372 .

They say:

Using 802.11g wireless technology, Wi-Fi enabled computers and devices can wirelessly connect to the DSL-G604T and share a single incoming Internet connection. With four additional Ethernet LAN ports, you can connect your network Ethernet-enabled devices.

My Acer has "802.11b/g wireless LAN" written on it. So does this mean I could connect without a cable to this router? And the g/f's PC can use one of the Ethernet ports? This is getting quite exciting!

Yep.

[RDN]

Yep.

Guess who's going to the 'puter shop tomorrow! Cheers!

[friscofrankie]

[/quote]except for the mouse icon which has a tendency to drift diagonally across the screen when I'm not touching the mouse. Very strange.[/quote]

yu might go up to Dell's website and search on "crazy mouse" This is a bug that shows up in many different laptops usually the less expensive ones like toshiba, Acer Dell, etc
I googled it and found one article on it. here: http://blogs.msdn.com/oldnewthing/ar...17/230839.aspx
This has been goig on for at least eight years I know of. when shipping out a ton of toshiba (shit) laptops in the nineties we had this issue and toshiba actually had a driver fix for it. Dell might as well. if not, the article might help you avoide it.

[RDN]

except for the mouse icon which has a tendency to drift diagonally across the screen when I'm not touching the mouse. Very strange.

yu might go up to Dell's website and search on "crazy mouse" This is a bug that shows up in many different laptops usually the less expensive ones like toshiba, Acer Dell, etc
I googled it and found one article on it. here: http://blogs.msdn.com/oldnewthing/ar...17/230839.aspx
This has been goig on for at least eight years I know of. when shipping out a ton of toshiba (shit) laptops in the nineties we had this issue and toshiba actually had a driver fix for it. Dell might as well. if not, the article might help you avoide it.

FF, you're a star! That article talks about exactly the problem I have and even what I've been doing that I shouldn't! i.e. unplugging a wheel mouse after the lap top has powered up. Very interesting stuff. I'll be reading all of that soon.

I had a look for the D-Link router today. Prices varied from 3,100 baht in Phuket City to 4,590 in Big C and 4,800 baht in a shop in Central Festival Phuket! I've got two more small shops calling me tomorrow so hopefully I can get it nearer the Internet price.

One of the places I went in Big C - "Digital Central" - said they didn't stock D-Link any more. I asked why and they said "because Bus Computer sell them" - a shop about 30 yards from his. I thought about explaining the concept of "competition" and "under-cutting", but couldn't be bothered. No doubt they sell stuff that Bus Comp. doesn't, and they also sell it at an inflated price. "Bus Computer" was the 4,590 price.

OK, now back to that mouse problem article...

Thanks again FF!

[Spin]

My Acer has "802.11b/g wireless LAN" written on it. So does this mean I could connect without a cable to this router?

Thats exactly what it means.

I use the D link 604 as well ( its the best looking for its price and everybody seems to have one!)

The set up will be easy, just follow the instructions that are included and have that vpi and vci stuff close to hand. there is a wizard that runs you through it.

The wireless connection may be a bit more tricky. you really need to apply a 10 digit security code under the 64 bit encryption, otherwise other people will be able to connect into your connection. Smart computer users who live in condo buildings know that most nearby farangs struggle to set up a passkey on their wifi and leach free internet access by connecting un-noticed.

keep posting back here with any problems, they can be easily fixed.

[RDN]

...The wireless connection may be a bit more tricky. you really need to apply a 10 digit security code under the 64 bit encryption, otherwise other people will be able to connect into your connection. Smart computer users who live in condo buildings know that most nearby farangs struggle to set up a passkey on their wifi and leach free internet access by connecting un-noticed.

keep posting back here with any problems, they can be easily fixed.

Thanks OC - I've been reading up on WPA and WPA2 security certification. I may come back to the forum with questions about that. I also have concerns about anyone in the vicinity pinching my bandwidth or, much worse, getting access to my passwords and/or files, so I definitely want to set up this encryption!

The good news about my old Dell is that it appears to be working OK now that I've put back the original keyboard! The new, replacement keyboard appears to have developed - or always had - the "crazy mouse" or "trackpoint calibration" problem. The old keyboard is fine - so my original problem with the lap top which I thought was a keyboard problem was probably a RAM seating problem. I remember that if I pressed the keyboard hard, it would affect the way the lap top worked, so maybe that pressure was getting though to the RAM sticks underneath!

We live and learn!

[RDN]

I've had a rethink on connecting my old Dell lap top to my new Acer. Any advice on this gratefully received (again).

My Dell lap top has a D-Link CardBus Ethernet card so I can connect it to my Acer which has one Ethernet port. But that port is currently used by the ADSL modem. So what I am now thinking is to get an Ethernet 4-port hub for the Acer.

Then I can connect the Dell lap top and the ADSL modem to the hub, and the hub to the Acer.

So this solution is to make more network ports available, rather than to free up the Acer's only network port by using a Wi-Fi ADSL router.

Anyone see any problems with this configuration?


The only problem this doesn't overcome is my shortage of USB ports - all 3 are currently used by the mouse and two external hard drives. But I can get a USB hub to solve that problem, one day, soon

[friscofrankie]

My Dell lap top has a D-Link CardBus Ethernet card so I can connect it to my Acer which has one Ethernet port. But that port is currently used by the ADSL modem. So what I am now thinking is to get an Ethernet 4-port hub for the Acer.

Then I can connect the Dell lap top and the ADSL modem to the hub, and the hub to the Acer.

So this solution is to make more network ports available, rather than to free up the Acer's only network port by using a Wi-Fi ADSL router.

Anyone see any problems with this configuration?

fourport hubs are cheap & reliable. no worries about some one stealing your bandwidth. The hubs not really "for the acer" it's just a way to create a small home network with two machine and one ADSL/router/modem.
BUT.
Will your ADSL device allow you to set up an internal network? it's late and I'm not re-reading the fuckin' whole thread, but check your docs if you've just got a ADSL "modem" it may only connect you to the ISp that then allocates a routable (internet) address for your machine. This would be indicated but the use of PPoE or other software when yo connect to the internet. if that's the case not sure how your ISP willhandle multiple requests on the same line, think it'll choke.

Do you connect with software on your machine or does your device connect you? if your device does the connecting, then chances are it will allocate internal (non-routable) address to machines requesting connections, and probably handle more than one machine. if you ADSL device only sends the request from software on your machine to connect you will need some sort of router/hub to connect both machine to the internet. most recent installation I saw here had a single port device that acted as a router with dhcp hopefully this is what you have.

Wireless is cool and sorta "edgy" but I'd prefer good ol' copper wire when it's practical. It's very practical when your networking two machnes in the same room! much cheaper too

[RDN]

...Will your ADSL device allow you to set up an internal network? it's late and I'm not re-reading the fuckin' whole thread, but check your docs if you've just got a ADSL "modem" it may only connect you to the ISp that then allocates a routable (internet) address for your machine. This would be indicated but the use of PPoE or other software when yo connect to the internet. if that's the case not sure how your ISP willhandle multiple requests on the same line, think it'll choke.

Do you connect with software on your machine or does your device connect you? if your device does the connecting, then chances are it will allocate internal (non-routable) address to machines requesting connections, and probably handle more than one machine. if you ADSL device only sends the request from software on your machine to connect you will need some sort of router/hub to connect both machine to the internet. most recent installation I saw here had a single port device that acted as a router with dhcp hopefully this is what you have.

Wireless is cool and sorta "edgy" but I'd prefer good ol' copper wire when it's practical. It's very practical when your networking two machnes in the same room! much cheaper too

Not sure how to answer this. The LAN properties show the device to be "Broadcom NetXtreme Gigabit Ethernet" and has a driver in System32 folder. I don't think the TT&T guys installed any software, they just configured the modem - it's actually called an "Access Gateway" on the device, and "ADSL 2+ Access Router" on the packaging box. It also says "Multi-User Internet Access Sharing" on the box, but I guess that doesn't mean it's set up at TT&T to allow two connections.

When I tried 6 months ago to get my old Dell networked to another PC - a desktop - I used the New Network Wizard in Network Connections. For "Network Connection Type" I selected "Set up a home or small office network":



Then I chose the option "This computer connects to the internet through...":



Here's the example picture:



So I was hoping that Windoze would do whatever was necessary in giving the old Dell access to the internet through the Acer.

Any thoughts?

[lom]

Broadcom NetXtreme Gigabit Ethernet

That's the built-in ethernet card in your Acer, it works like all other ethernet cards..

But your modem/access gateway has a brand name and a model number from which one usually can find out it's capabilities with a bit of googling.
How many ethernet ports are there on it ?

[RDN]

Broadcom NetXtreme Gigabit Ethernet

That's the built-in ethernet card in your Acer, it works like all other ethernet cards..

But your modem/access gateway has a brand name and a model number from which one usually can find out it's capabilities with a bit of googling.
How many ethernet ports are there on it ?

Just one I'm afraid. It's a ZyXEL Prestige 660R-61C - just has one Ethernet, one telephone line input and power input.

The box says:

"Supports New ADSL 2, ADSL 2+, RE ADSL
Multi-User Internet Access Sharing
UPnP Support
Zero Configuration"

Zero? I'm pretty sure my username and password had to be put in there somewhere!

[buadhai]

The good news is that your modem is also a router.

ZyXEL Prestige 660R-61C Compact 1 x 10/100 ADSL Router

The link above has a graphic showing how you'd physically connect things.

This means that to create a network, all you need is a simple hub or switch.

But, if you want your laptop to go wireless you're going to need to buy a device that is also a wireless access point.

I happen to have a Linksys WRT54G. But there are many others out there.

Questions?

(Keep those photos coming....)

[friscofrankie]

There's this thing called Google, maybe you've heard of it?

I googled the name and found a datasheet. Among other things the datasheet had to say was:

IP Management
• SUA (Single User Account)
• Multi-NAT (Network Address Translation)
• Multimedia Support
• VoIP SIP Pass-through
• VPN (IPSec,PPTP,L2TP Pass-through)
• DHCP Server/Relay/Client
• IP Alias
• DNS Proxy
• Dynamic DNS
• UPnP Support

The bolded text above indicates that yes a cheapo four port hub and a couple (well three) of straight Cat-5 cables is all you need to get up and going.
if you need instructions setting it up, there's a User Guide in PDF format here:
http://www.zyxel.co.uk/Products.32.0...Type]=download