Can I connect two computers directly using Network adapters only ?

Tags: crossover, cable, Ethernet, LAN

You can connect two computers that both have NICs without using a hub/switch/router by using a crossover cable. A crossover cable looks like a normal UTP Ethernet cable, but is wired differently, swapping the Receive and Transmit pairs.

Both computers should have the same workgroup/subnet/etc. in order to share files, the same rules apply as with any other type of LAN. You'd probably need to assign static local IPs to both computers, since there is no DHCP server available.

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by anuraj - 2006-10-23 02:21

what happens when UTP[straight cable] is used to connect 2 PCs?

by Philip - 2006-10-23 14:51

You'd be connecting the "send" signal from one PC to the same wires/pins with the "send" signal on the other PC... And the "receive" pins on PC1 with the receive pins on PC2... So communication between them is not possible. In order for them to communicate, you have to cross the send and receive signals, so that each PC sends signals to the receive pins on the other.

There is more information on network cables here: http://www.speedguide.net/read_articles.php?id=118

by Champagne_charly - 2006-11-29 11:48

Correct me if I'm wrong but is it not possible to use straight throught CAT6 from comp to comp?

by Philip - 2006-11-30 23:34

Using straight-through cable with two PCs is only possible if one (or both) Network cards support auto-crossover (Auto-MDI/MDIX)... That is the only case where the actual crossover will be performed by the network card itself.

by Armen Haroyan - 2007-06-30 18:27

Hi
I have 2 laptops with Windows Vista
I want to connect them by LAN connection, A have an Crossover cable

What i need to do next?
I need the answer in details

Thank you

by Orb - 2007-08-10 17:24

I have a question regarding connecting 2 Gb network adapators in 2 servers.

I understand that its best to use Cat 6 cables but is it nessacery to have a crossed cable to connect the 2 adaptors together.

On one server is a Intel 82541EI Gigabit Ethernet NIC and the other is a Broadcom NetXtreme IITM 5708 Gigabit Ethernet NIC

Thank you for helping.

by anonymous - 2008-10-28 12:43

to connect two computers directly --- try wipeer.

by essel - 2011-12-30 00:14

NICs available on laptops today, even a straight-thru cable can be used.

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