Best solution for connecting 2 PC's
Discussion
What should I do ?
I have a 'main' gameing PC and have also just built another small 'set top' PC for....er....gameing on my telly
...and watching DVD's and playing music.
Both machines are well specced for what they are, and come with large disks, USB 2.0, 10/100 ethernet, firewire and also SVideo out (and SVideo in on the main PC) too. So my litte TV PC machine has sweet F/A on it, and so far I have transfered some files across by taking the disk out, and putting it on my slave cable in my main PC...as a tempory way of doing things. Obviously, I can't keep on doing this and was wondering what's the best solution for connecting the two PC's up then ? The choices I have come up with so far is as follows :-
Carry on doing the above disk swap/install
Buy an external hard disk. Firewire or USB 2 ?
Buy a huge 512mb> flash card/USB pen drive ?
Buy some wireless kit. 1.1b or 1.1g ? via USB or 10/100 port ? What exactly would I need for just 2 PC's ?
Buy a USB 2.0 transfer crossover cable ? If I can find one
But some Bluetooth kit ? Again, thinking USB here
The interesting option for me, is where to put and watch my TV 'set top' PC. Again the option are as follows :-
Have my Main PC plugged into the 20" monitor and my little PC plugged into my 32" TV. Have both PC's connected wirelessly. Both using separate keyboards/mice
As above but using blue tooth with blue tooth keyboard/mouse for the small TV PC
Both PC's conected via (USB/firewire or 10/100 transfer cable)with a bluetooth keyboard/mouse for the small PC and using a digital TV (24mhz ?) transmitter and reciever on the tele
The 2 PC's connected as above, but with a KVM switch to share the monitor (and keyboard etc) and no TV
Connected as above but the small PC having its own keyboard mouse (so 2 keyboards next to the monitor)plugging my Small PC Svideo out into my main PC Svideo in...Hence I can watch my small PC on the desktop of my big PC I can also plug in my PS2 and watch/play that on my desktop too
Any thoughts and answers would be much appreciated
Regards John S
I have a 'main' gameing PC and have also just built another small 'set top' PC for....er....gameing on my telly
...and watching DVD's and playing music. Both machines are well specced for what they are, and come with large disks, USB 2.0, 10/100 ethernet, firewire and also SVideo out (and SVideo in on the main PC) too. So my litte TV PC machine has sweet F/A on it, and so far I have transfered some files across by taking the disk out, and putting it on my slave cable in my main PC...as a tempory way of doing things. Obviously, I can't keep on doing this and was wondering what's the best solution for connecting the two PC's up then ? The choices I have come up with so far is as follows :-
Carry on doing the above disk swap/install
Buy an external hard disk. Firewire or USB 2 ?
Buy a huge 512mb> flash card/USB pen drive ?
Buy some wireless kit. 1.1b or 1.1g ? via USB or 10/100 port ? What exactly would I need for just 2 PC's ?
Buy a USB 2.0 transfer crossover cable ? If I can find one
But some Bluetooth kit ? Again, thinking USB here
The interesting option for me, is where to put and watch my TV 'set top' PC. Again the option are as follows :-
Have my Main PC plugged into the 20" monitor and my little PC plugged into my 32" TV. Have both PC's connected wirelessly. Both using separate keyboards/mice
As above but using blue tooth with blue tooth keyboard/mouse for the small TV PC
Both PC's conected via (USB/firewire or 10/100 transfer cable)with a bluetooth keyboard/mouse for the small PC and using a digital TV (24mhz ?) transmitter and reciever on the tele
The 2 PC's connected as above, but with a KVM switch to share the monitor (and keyboard etc) and no TV
Connected as above but the small PC having its own keyboard mouse (so 2 keyboards next to the monitor)plugging my Small PC Svideo out into my main PC Svideo in...Hence I can watch my small PC on the desktop of my big PC
I can also plug in my PS2 and watch/play that on my desktop too Any thoughts and answers would be much appreciated
Regards John S
Hi John, just use a "crossover" cat5 ethernet cable & you will be able to get 100Mb/s connection between the 2 without even a hub.
This is the cheapest & probably the fastest way of connecting the 2, although it is the least "gadgetaceous", so subtract some points for that
You also wont have the elegance of a cable-free connection....
In reality, unless you have striped disks you will be hard pushed to exceed the bandwidth that even 10Mb Ethernet will offer.
Edited to say Raks just beat me to the draw - I type too much!
>> Edited by CraigAlsop on Wednesday 2nd April 19:29
This is the cheapest & probably the fastest way of connecting the 2, although it is the least "gadgetaceous", so subtract some points for that
You also wont have the elegance of a cable-free connection....
In reality, unless you have striped disks you will be hard pushed to exceed the bandwidth that even 10Mb Ethernet will offer.
Edited to say Raks just beat me to the draw - I type too much!
>> Edited by CraigAlsop on Wednesday 2nd April 19:29
Ahhh....but I do have striped disks
I see your point about the crossover cable. Dead cheap too but I will then need a KVM switch perhaps and no use of the telly for the PC?
In regards to gadgetry, I supose the solution would be go for a fast 1.1g wireless link, for speedy ftp, for both PC's, have both go into a KVM switch, but also have the digital signal transmitter plugged into the small PC Svideo out, for use on the TV. Then all I need to top it off is a blue tooth microphone / headphone along with a bluetooth joystick
Gosh !! that'll cost a few pennys then
I don't want to come across big headed or anything, but I do want to link both PC's, use both the TV and the monitor, but try and future proof the investment in a home network (if you could call it a home network LOL) So any thoughts would be welcome
Thanks again - John
I see your point about the crossover cable. Dead cheap too
but I will then need a KVM switch perhaps and no use of the telly for the PC? In regards to gadgetry, I supose the solution would be go for a fast 1.1g wireless link, for speedy ftp, for both PC's, have both go into a KVM switch, but also have the digital signal transmitter plugged into the small PC Svideo out, for use on the TV. Then all I need to top it off is a blue tooth microphone / headphone along with a bluetooth joystick
Gosh !! that'll cost a few pennys then
I don't want to come across big headed or anything, but I do want to link both PC's, use both the TV and the monitor, but try and future proof the investment in a home network (if you could call it a home network LOL) So any thoughts would be welcome
Thanks again - John
a bit of string - LOL 
I presume you mean the ol' two tin cans and a bit of string 'voice over wire' technology here Me and a few mates tried a conference call once, but we all got tied up LOL You could also upgrade too. If you just had the tin cans and no bit of string, then it would a wireless set then
PS Any links to helpfull pages or products would be welcome
Regards John S
I presume you mean the ol' two tin cans and a bit of string 'voice over wire' technology here
Me and a few mates tried a conference call once, but we all got tied up LOL You could also upgrade too. If you just had the tin cans and no bit of string, then it would a wireless set then PS Any links to helpfull pages or products would be welcome
Regards John S
K, so now I'm really confused?!?!?
Do they both have ethernet cards? If so, then you can connect them together with the cable, and thats the end. They won't interfere with anything else. No need for any of these other switchy things to concern yourself with.
This is IMO of course, anyone feel free to correct
Do they both have ethernet cards? If so, then you can connect them together with the cable, and thats the end. They won't interfere with anything else. No need for any of these other switchy things to concern yourself with.
This is IMO of course, anyone feel free to correct
Ummm, we may be talking about something different here - when I mentioned striping, I meant striping data across multiple disks (RAID 0)
John_S4x4 said: Ahhh....but I do have striped disks
This doesn't sound like what you have, if you can just pull out disks & connect to your slave on the other machine & copy data.
I wouldn't bother trying to futureproof - there ain't no such thing
OTOH I can see the attraction of a network + switcher, as that is how I have things set up here
John_S4x4 said: a bit of string - LOL
I presume you mean the ol' two tin cans and a bit of string 'voice over wire' technology here
PS Any links to helpfull pages or products would be welcome
Regards John S
simular to what i run
how you do it depends if you want net acsses on all pc
i run muy main one with two nic card in it as a gateway
on a 1meg conection
one card to modem one to 100base switch not use 10base or you wont be able to watch divx across network
10 base is too slow
then use internet conecton sharing to provide net to the main server and lap top and Home thearter pc for movies on tv
and softwear nat translation for routing odd ports to other machines.
another option it use a old 486 runing a flopy boot linux distrobuton as a fire wall and broard band router.
yourr like this for the tv /movie pc
www.myhtpc.net/
nice custom frount end
this is a real cool case for a tv box do em in black silver and gold to match home thearter set up
with remote control kit tw0
that what im goint to use next for home thearter
www.kustompcs.co.uk/product.php?view=1207&PHPSESSID=1c6f9b5494db648fc025cc261c221fdc
plust dont bother with a switch for keyboard and mouse on other pcs as they cost a foutune for a got one most screw up higer resolutions as the conections are shit
use vmc remote admin thats what i use and most use its the best and it free
www.uk.research.att.com/vnc/
www.practicallynetworked.com
waiting till we move some to biger place. then im adding a CRT projector.
hard bit is i aint told mre what im painting the walls dark yet
lol >> Edited by outlaw on Wednesday 2nd April 21:44
>> Edited by outlaw on Wednesday 2nd April 21:49
>> Edited by outlaw on Wednesday 2nd April 22:02
Yes,they both have ethernet 10/100 on board chips on the mother board, but no PCI ethernet cards. Would different ethernet chip makes be a problem by any chance ? Would I still need to get some PCI cards ? A cable is easier, cheaper and quick way of linking them, but unless I run 20ft+ of cable through the walls/house etc, I ain't going to be able to use the small TV set top PC with my TV and have both PC's linked, I presume....and anyways a simple crossover cable is a far too eloquent and simple solution 
I just need a gentle nudge, in the direction of what technology to investigate and head for. Thanks for the reply though
Regards John S
I just need a gentle nudge, in the direction of what technology to investigate and head for. Thanks for the reply though Regards John S
John_S4x4 said: Yes,they both have ethernet 10/100 on board chips on the mother board, but no PCI ethernet cards. Would different ethernet chip makes be a problem by any chance ? Would I still need to get some PCI cards ? A cable is easier, cheaper and quick way of linking them, but unless I run 20ft+ of cable through the walls/house etc, I ain't going to be able to use the small TV set top PC with my TV and have both PC's linked, I presume....and anyways a simple crossover cable is a far too eloquent and simple solution
Regards John S
no no problem its ushally beter to have diferen mack nic carsd if you got more than one in a single pc.
you can use a old 486 pc with a few nic cards in it and run a single floppy linux ditrobution to act as a fire wall and router
good one here
www.coyotelinux.com/
but if you dont know linux bet leave that lol
>> Edited by outlaw on Wednesday 2nd April 21:57
Thanks OUTLAW. Nice links too I wasn't really planning on having both PC's connected to my internet (cable), as I was thinking it might be difficult for me to set it up, with almost no firewall and networking experiance. Your network setup sounds great and streaming films live over the network sounds cool and definately something to aim for. Now what flavours of wireless kitt can I get. Would the 54mb/s should make streaming video a possibilty ? Also, is there an issue with synching PC's with wireless ?
Regards john
I wasn't really planning on having both PC's connected to my internet (cable), as I was thinking it might be difficult for me to set it up, with almost no firewall and networking experiance. Your network setup sounds great and streaming films live over the network sounds cool and definately something to aim for. Now what flavours of wireless kitt can I get. Would the 54mb/s should make streaming video a possibilty ? Also, is there an issue with synching PC's with wireless ? Regards john
John_S4x4 said: Thanks OUTLAW. Nice links too
Regards john
aint done much wireless but should be ok
personnaly wold only use it for say my laptop
i dont like wireless not that secure.
try that pratical networking site it a good site
as for being hard its not that hare m8 just take it one step at a time.
John_S4x4 said: So in reality, I should buy a cheap cat5 cable, and with the rest of the money I saved, go down the the swann pub a few times, and buy the beers ? LOL
LoL
yep sod wireless ever herd of wAR DRIVING
A WIRELESS NETWORK CARD A LAPTOP, SOME COPPER WIRE ANDA CARBOARD TUBE.
AND IT`S SUPRISING WHAT YOU CAN FIND
>> Edited by outlaw on Wednesday 2nd April 23:34
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