Advice on connecting a Dreamcast to a PC via Ethernet

KurlonT · Post by **KurlonT** » Fri Jan 19, 2001 8:15 am

Ok before anyone gives the "why the hell would ya do that" comment I will explain.

I live in a apartment so there's not a lot of space for additional computers, ect... to make a proper Network. So I figured why not try to use the Dreamcast.

Now I looked at info on Hubs,Switches, and Routers but I don't see myself getting another computer for a long time. So I am looking at the simplest way to connect the two together and share my cable connection.

I understand that w/ an additional NIC card in the "server" computer I can run a crossover Cat5 cable to another NIC to share connection. Then by going thru ICS the two can act as a network. Am I right about this part?

Ok here's the confusing part:
The Dreamcast has a Ethernet adapter that replaces the modem so now I have a second NIC of sorts. But w/o an Win98 OS can the Dreamcast share w/ the PC? Do I treat the Dreamcast Ethernet adapter as another NIC and work from there? Sorry for all the questions but I haven't found a whole lot of info regarding this. Thx.

Myzhi · Post by **Myzhi** » Fri Jan 19, 2001 10:46 am

You got it right.

Dreamcast = another computer

fluffy · Post by **fluffy** » Mon Jan 22, 2001 10:17 am

oh,, someone is an ass.. ^ that guy..

decker · Post by **decker** » Mon Jan 22, 2001 11:28 pm

Yes, you should buy a second NIC for your computer and connect it to the Dreamcast with a crossover cable. On the computer, in the properties for the new NIC, install the NetBEUI Protocol here also and configure the TCP/IP with the following..
IP: 192.168.0.1
Subnet: 255.255.255.0
Default gateway: BLANK
Preferred DNS Server: SAME AS 1st NIC
Alternate DNS Server: SAME AS 1st NIC

Have your dreamcast setup to obtain the TCP/IP configuration via DHCP using 192.168.0.1 as the gateway, and install the NetBEUI Protocol if you have the option. Now enable ICS on the computer and you should be good to go

Hope this helps.

KurlonT · Post by **KurlonT** » Thu Jan 25, 2001 5:03 am

Ok after about 15 min of settin the second NIC card up and connecting the x-over cables the sharing actually worked...woohoo!

Although there is no option for protocals like Netbeui,IPX/SPX,ect on the Dreamcast (the actual settings are built into the games instead and only basic stuff like IP,Subnet,Gateway,DNS,ect..)I won't really need them.
For a test I ran Unreal Tournament on the PC and Quake3 on the DC at the same time and pings were up about 40-80 on the UT side. Is this normal for gaming when both connections are being used? Other than that it works pretty good.
Since the DC Q3A did not include a LAN feature...doh...my next project is to setup a listen server on the PC and join from the DC. Its as close as I'm gonna get to a LAN for now. Wish me luck...

Thx for the tips.

Myzhi · Post by **Myzhi** » Fri Jan 26, 2001 12:28 am

"oh,, someone is an ass.. ^ that guy.."

WTF are you trying to say. I am sorry that you are not smart enough to understand what I said. Here it's step by step.

1) "You got it right."

He's on the right track.

2) "Dreamcast = another computer"

Just think of the DC as another computer connected to the network.

fluffy · Post by **fluffy** » Mon Jan 29, 2001 10:49 am

i thought you were being an ass.... being... sarcastic.

fuKer.

sorry for any stress i may have caused you.
hehe

later.

ejohnson · Post by **ejohnson** » Wed Jan 31, 2001 1:13 pm

Sega's dumping Dreamcast. Don't bother