Is it possible to network 8 computers that each have separate network connections?

Question

My friends and I have 2 separate networks in neighbouring houses. They have their internet and I have mine. What I would like to know is how I can get filesharing with everybody without sharing the internet connections with eachother.

My friends and I have 2 separate networks in neighbouring houses. They have their internet and I have mine. What I would like to know is how I can get filesharing with everybody without sharing the internet connections with eachother.
I am looking on how to set this up so that we can browse eachother's computer contents. Would this be achieved by buying a second network card for each of the computers then setting up a hub to connect all of the computers?

Answer 1

Virtual private networking is your answer.

Check out the Wikipedia entry for the basic overview:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_Private_Network

and then check out OpenVPN and Hamachi and see which one you prefer. Hamachi seems more user-friendly, but it's closed-source. (I say seems because I've never used it, for that reason.) I'd advise OpenVPN, but that's up to you.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenVPN
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamachi

Good luck!

Answer 2

In a personal environment, sharing is usually done through internet..... you'd have to physically attach your compters to develop a non-internet attachment. If you can connect to each other's internet (and know the password if it's protected), there is a possibility you can start a home network. It really isn't a good idea.

Why don't you just use Yahoo chat - there is file-sharing through that as well as chatting.....

Answer 3

Yes. Just share files and not the Internet in the settings.

Answer 4

There's several programs that'll allow this type of file sharing. The free one that comes with Windows is called NetMeeting.

Answer 5

You and your friends will have to set up a virtual private network (VPN).

Answer 6

yes