Home networking/file sharing questions

Jim · Post by **Jim** » Fri Nov 30, 2001 8:14 am

Okay, here's the deal, and just keep in mind the fact that I know Jack Sh*t when it comes to Networking and all that jazz.

I've got two computers here that I'd like to share files with. Now, I do NOT want them to share a connection with my cable modem, so I hope routers and hubs don't come into play here. So when it comes time to share the files I want to (most of which are far too large to be burned), I'd obviously disconnect the cable modem from one, hook up the two computers, and then I'm ready to go after the steps below are taken?

Now, in order to physically connect the computers, all I have to do is run a CAT5 cable from one ethernet card to the other? If it is that simple, is there a certain type of CAT5 cable that I need to use, or are they all basically the same?

Something like this good enough?

Assuming that's correct, let's move onto step 2:
I'm assuming this takes care of the software end of things?

http://www.speedguide.net/editorials/easy_lan.shtml

3: Assuming that actually works (and who knows, maybe I'm WAAAAY off

), what kinds of transfer speeds should I expect? Will it just take like ~20 minutes to transfer a file that's ~1gig, or is it going to drag on for an hour or more?

Again, sorry for the stupid questions.

hoov · Post by **hoov** » Fri Nov 30, 2001 8:51 am

Jim you will need a "crossover" cable to connect the 2 pc's from nic to nic.

I am not sure exactly what speeds you can expect to receive.

Jim · Post by **Jim** » Fri Nov 30, 2001 9:06 am

Something like this then?

hoov · Post by **hoov** » Fri Nov 30, 2001 10:15 am

Yep that should do it

Syclone_A · Post by **Syclone_A** » Mon Dec 03, 2001 1:06 pm

if you really want to swap your cables back and forth you can do that but a switch is faster than a crossover cable at least in my experience. I would just connect the two through a switch and then connect the one you want to the internet through the cable modem. If you do this you can expect speeds of around 60 - 70 mb/sec. a crossover cable is cheaper but speeds will decrease.

BlackSword · Post by **BlackSword** » Mon Dec 03, 2001 1:32 pm

Originally posted by Syclone_A+
a crossover cable is cheaper but speeds will decrease.

That statement should not be true.

I do agree getting a switch or hub would make things easier, BUT if he only wants to copy files from one rig to the other rig periodically then the crossover cable will do just fine.

As far as direct PC to PC your overall efficiency should be better; the switch would just be one more device in the way. Of course the difference should be small unless you have a cheap switch. Two rigs equals not too many problems

ie data collisions.

Syclone_A · Post by **Syclone_A** » Tue Dec 04, 2001 4:46 pm

yea that is true, just transferring small files back and forth occasionally is not gonna hurt speeds on a crossover, but gaming and large files do suffer, i have seen it time and time again. So i guess whether you get a switch or not should depend on what kind of network traffic you expect. Another reason i suggested the switch is it gives you an oppurtunity to expand, where as with a crossover you don't have that option.

FlyingMonkey · Post by **FlyingMonkey** » Tue Dec 04, 2001 8:34 pm

Originally posted by Syclone_A+
yea that is true, just transferring small files back and forth occasionally is not gonna hurt speeds on a crossover, but gaming and large files do suffer, i have seen it time and time again.

think about what you're saying. the data has to travel over the wire, no matter what. Adding another device, whether it be a switch, hub, or router, will only slow down the packets. Those devices don't have any type of speed-up capabilities.

A crossover cable is nothing more then your standard Cat5 with the wires punched down differently in to the rj45.

eddiec · Post by **eddiec** » Thu Dec 06, 2001 12:29 am

A switch will increase latecy because it has to check the MAC address for each frame against the table before forwarding the frame.

Syclone_A · Post by **Syclone_A** » Thu Dec 06, 2001 4:36 pm

i think everyone hear knows that adding network devides slows network down. My only point here was that a crossover takes away your oppurtunity to expand, network + which i take in a couple of weeks teaches you to think ahead when plannign the design of your home or business network. I was merely trying to pass on that knowledge here. I also already knew how a switch worked but maybe you were directing that to someon else?

twwabw · Post by **twwabw** » Thu Dec 06, 2001 4:44 pm

Then why did you say...

but a switch is faster than a crossover cable at least in my experience.

and

a crossover cable is cheaper but speeds will decrease.

FlyingMonkey · Post by **FlyingMonkey** » Thu Dec 06, 2001 4:46 pm

This is your quote:

Originally posted by Syclone_A+
yea that is true, just transferring small files back and forth occasionally is not gonna hurt speeds on a crossover, but gaming and large files do suffer, i have seen it time and time again.

You said nothing about network expansion.
This person wants to swap files - and you're saying that you'll get better throughput with a switch.

Not to mention, the person SPECIFICLY said they do not want to deal with hubs or routers.

Maybe you should try passing your "knowledge" after you learn a thing or two in your Net+ Class in a couple weeks?

Syclone_A · Post by **Syclone_A** » Thu Dec 06, 2001 5:32 pm

ok, let me break this down for (sighs) in my experience, a crossover cable hasn't worked out to well for the transfer of large files or gaming on a lan. i agree with blacksword in that it shouldn't make a difference, also i was talking about the test not a class in reference to network plus. Yes i realize a switch adds another hop to a network, yes i knew that it used mac addresses and had to check its table to forward packets, yes i know he wanted to stay away from certain network devices, however, i wanted him to know the obvious limitation of a crossover and "my personal experiences" with it not the theory behind it and not what i have heard. And in the past i didn't have many problems with small files, but i did with games and large files and i went to a switch and saw my throughput increase. That explains that quote. What i have seen first hand, and try to take things into context next time.

And just fyi, i was told by several people that a router isn't supposed to boost the throughput of a connection ex dsl if you live at a good distance from the co, but i saw different firsthand, so when i comment on things like this i am speaking from personal experience, i am quite aware of the theories involved but when someone has problems with what you recommend based on a theory, they begin to lose interest in that theory.

FlyingMonkey · Post by **FlyingMonkey** » Thu Dec 06, 2001 5:58 pm

a crossover cable is nothing more then your standard straight through cable with four wires switched on one side end of the cable.

that means, (drum roll) a crossover cable will give you the same, and most likely better, performance then if you were to add a switch in the middle!

You're just making no sense.

Syclone_A · Post by **Syclone_A** » Thu Dec 06, 2001 6:09 pm

i know what a crossover cable is and what it is supposed to do, if it works for this guy great, it didn't work to well for me. And i think i make perfect sense when i say you can't expand the network if you use a crossover cable. I mean 1 + 1 = 2. max users on crossover = 2. therefore 2 + n (when n > 0) is over 2. How hard is that to understand.... Did you read my reply? doesn't sound like you did