Neil Smalley

Is it possible to network two PC together using a USB cable. OS's are windows 2000 and XP.

Rusty Festa

Hello Neil,

Obvious question - why? NICs are only a tenner each and you must have plenty of Cat5 kicking about

Thinking about it, how would the two machines be able to identify each other if they don't have IP addresses?

Jon

Neil Smalley

One's laptop and one's a desktop. Its my father in laws and he doesn't really want to mess with hubs etc.

It would'nt use IP across the USB. IPX/NetBui should do fine. It could also use(maybe) direct connection(like PC to PC Parrallel cables)

Ideas?

howardb

I think you are looking for something like http://www.starmount.co.uk/u_link21.htm?

Scooby Snax

dont quote me on this but im sure i have seen this in pc world made by belkin!!!!!! but hummmmmm

Belf

You can get kits to do this, they reviewed one in PC Pro once. perhaps have a search on their website.

Much more interesting is the native IP over Firewire networking support in XP. Firewire cable between two PCs and you have an instant 400Mbps network without needing any add on kits or new drivers.

suba

you can get a USB laplink-type cable to connect the two PC together.

please note that they have to be laplink-type and not just straight USB to USB cable.

dsmith

For two PCs you dont need a hub - just one cheap cable and two Nics. Total cost £25. I'll wager there is less faffing in that solution than in a USB back to back.

You dont *need* IP over Cat5 - you can just run NetBeui aswell - so no more and no less config hassles.

Deano

dsmith

Ok - ones a laptop so not that cheap - but still less faffing than nasty nasty USB.

Scooby-Doo

Belkin do USB networking kit, be warned it killed my ME laptop requiring atotal rebuid and messed up 98 on my desktop. Use a couple of NIC's and a crossover cable.

Eagle7

couple of cheap nics @ £10-14 quid or less for 100Mbit and a crossover cable @ £4-5

awesome!