Is it possible to network them with a phone line? I just want to directly connect them. Do I need any other materials(other than the router) or instructions?
2006-11-20 09:48:17 · 4 answers · asked by xFrozen 4 in Computers & Internet ➔ Computer Networking
Technically, you could use a phone line, assuming that both computers have dialup modems. It would be slow, and kind of a pain in the butt. It might be fun, if you're a techie with some time to kill.
If you want to connect two computers directly, and they're close enough to just run a cable, a crossover cable is fine. I'm assuming both computers have 10/100 ethernet ports, which look like slightly larger phone ports. Practically all computers have them.
If you want to connect two or more computers together (generally within the same building) you'd probably run ordinary computer cables (straight-through Cat5) from each computer to a switch. Switches are just devices to swap information between multiple computers you know and trust. They're fast, but generally not smart. They don't usually understand IP addresses or have security features.
If you want to share an internet connection, you need a router. A router can route traffic based on IP address (which means they can handle internet traffic), and they often have security features.
They often have a few extra things built in, like switches, modems, and wireless. Routers with extras built in have gotten very common and very affordable.
2006-11-20 11:09:52 · answer #1 · answered by btoblake 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can do networking via serial ports, but not phone lines. However, you can also use a "Crossover cable" which plugs into your network jacks on the computer.
However, for the price of the crossover cable, you could buy a small 4 port router. I prefer LinkSys routers, but any 4 port router will do.
However, if you just want to transfer files between the two computers, you could even get a usb flash drive (which is a small key sized drive that plugs into the USB port of the computer).
2006-11-20 09:53:17 · answer #2 · answered by Rick 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
you need a http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethernet_crossover_cable
just plug it in and make sure the computers are on the same workgroup (win xp)
2006-11-20 09:51:49 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
sure
2006-11-20 09:50:13 · answer #4 · answered by BrEd 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋