Connect 2 Computers Directly Using Crossover Cable

Connect 2 Computers Directly Using Crossover Cable

How do you connect 2 computers sometimes for file or printer sharing? Ha! It's pretty easy! You only need 1 crossover cable and 2 network cards. This is wired connection approach to connect 2 computers directly without involving other network devices, such as network router or switch. It’s effective and simple way if you want to connect the computers temporary. If the network card on computers supports auto MDI/MDIX feature, you could use crossover or straight through network cable to connect both computers. If not, crossover cable is needed!
Let see how to do it here: Plug in network card each to computer and then connect the network cable to both computers’ network card. Yep.. we have finished the physical setup.

Now let’s proceed to install network card driver on each computer if you have not done yet and also make sure the driver is installed properly.
After installing network card driver, here comes the network configuration, let’s create a simple network by assigning following IP address and subnet mask settings to each computer's network card, so that both computers know how to talk to each other:
Computer A:
IP Address: 10.1.1.1
Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
Gateway: [leave-it-blank]
DNS Servers: [leave-it-blank]
Computer B:
IP Address: 10.1.1.2
Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
Gateway: [leave-it-blank]
DNS Servers: [leave-it-blank]
Since these 2 computers are directly connected, no gateway and DNS servers are required to be configured. If you are not too sure how to configure IP address and subnet mask on computer, check out this step-by-step instructions to assign IP address and other network information in Windows 7 (check this if you are Windows Vista user and check this if you are Windows XP user).
After assigning IP address, try to ping the other computer from command prompt, you should be able to ping each other and then sharing printers or files as you wish. Hey.. You have done… :o)
If you want to learn more about network cable, check how to differentiate straight and crossover cable here.

How to Connect to a Network Printer

                                             

If you are working in a business establishment, chances are that there is local area network (LAN) or wireless are network (WLAN) in place. Most business enterprises prefer to make use of a shared printer as a way of cutting down operational costs. Discussed herein are steps and guidelines on how to locate and connect to a printer in a wireless area network (WLAN).

Steps

1. 1
   Search in your working area or nearby office for a shared network printer. If the printer is not shared, you will have to share it.
2. 2
   To share a printer, follow the steps below.
   • Click ‘Start’ from the taskbar and click on ‘Printers and Faxes’ from the popup menu.
   • In the new Window that appears, select the printer you want to share and right click on it. In the popup menu select ‘Sharing and Security’.
   • In the dialog box that appears click on ‘Share this printer’. This will display the name of the printer. Note this down as it will enable you to quickly locate the printer on the network,
   • In the new page that appears click on ‘Share this folder. Click ‘Apply’ and then ‘Ok’ to apply the settings.
3. 3
   Click ‘Start’ from the taskbar and in the popup menu double click on ‘My Computer’. The printer settings ought to found under the ‘System Task’ if not, click ‘Start’ from the taskbar and click on ‘Printers and Faxes’ option in the popup menu that appears therein.
4. 4
   In the Printers and Faxes Window that appears, under the ‘Printer Task’ click ‘Add a printer’. This will enable you to add a printer that is closest to you in the wireless network.
5. 5
   In the Add printer wizard that appears, click ‘Next” to start the process of locating and adding a printer to your PC. In the new page that appears, you will be provided with two options, i.e. Local Printer Attached to this computer and A network printer or a printer attached to another computer. Choose the latter and click ‘Next’. In the new page that appears, you will be prompted to specify the printer to connect to. Choose the option ‘Browse for a printer’ and click ‘Next’. This will locate the nearest printer next to you. The process may take quite some time to complete so be patient.
6. 6
   Upon finishing the search, all printers that are attached to the network will be listed. Double click on the name of the printer that you noted down earlier.
7. 7
   Upon completing the installation procedure, you will be prompted to print a test page. This is a test to ensure that the connection is okay.

How to Connect to a Network Printer

                                             

If you are working in a business establishment, chances are that there is local area network (LAN) or wireless are network (WLAN) in place. Most business enterprises prefer to make use of a shared printer as a way of cutting down operational costs. Discussed herein are steps and guidelines on how to locate and connect to a printer in a wireless area network (WLAN).

Steps

1. 1
   Search in your working area or nearby office for a shared network printer. If the printer is not shared, you will have to share it.
2. 2
   To share a printer, follow the steps below.
   • Click ‘Start’ from the taskbar and click on ‘Printers and Faxes’ from the popup menu.
   • In the new Window that appears, select the printer you want to share and right click on it. In the popup menu select ‘Sharing and Security’.
   • In the dialog box that appears click on ‘Share this printer’. This will display the name of the printer. Note this down as it will enable you to quickly locate the printer on the network,
   • In the new page that appears click on ‘Share this folder. Click ‘Apply’ and then ‘Ok’ to apply the settings.
3. 3
   Click ‘Start’ from the taskbar and in the popup menu double click on ‘My Computer’. The printer settings ought to found under the ‘System Task’ if not, click ‘Start’ from the taskbar and click on ‘Printers and Faxes’ option in the popup menu that appears therein.
4. 4
   In the Printers and Faxes Window that appears, under the ‘Printer Task’ click ‘Add a printer’. This will enable you to add a printer that is closest to you in the wireless network.
5. 5
   In the Add printer wizard that appears, click ‘Next” to start the process of locating and adding a printer to your PC. In the new page that appears, you will be provided with two options, i.e. Local Printer Attached to this computer and A network printer or a printer attached to another computer. Choose the latter and click ‘Next’. In the new page that appears, you will be prompted to specify the printer to connect to. Choose the option ‘Browse for a printer’ and click ‘Next’. This will locate the nearest printer next to you. The process may take quite some time to complete so be patient.
6. 6
   Upon finishing the search, all printers that are attached to the network will be listed. Double click on the name of the printer that you noted down earlier.
7. 7
   Upon completing the installation procedure, you will be prompted to print a test page. This is a test to ensure that the connection is okay.

How to Connect to a Network Printer

Edited by David Howarth, LaurieWasHere, Loolooicy

                                             

If you are working in a business establishment, chances are that there is local area network (LAN) or wireless are network (WLAN) in place. Most business enterprises prefer to make use of a shared printer as a way of cutting down operational costs. Discussed herein are steps and guidelines on how to locate and connect to a printer in a wireless area network (WLAN).

Steps

1. 1
   Search in your working area or nearby office for a shared network printer. If the printer is not shared, you will have to share it.
2. 2
   To share a printer, follow the steps below.
   • Click ‘Start’ from the taskbar and click on ‘Printers and Faxes’ from the popup menu.
   • In the new Window that appears, select the printer you want to share and right click on it. In the popup menu select ‘Sharing and Security’.
   • In the dialog box that appears click on ‘Share this printer’. This will display the name of the printer. Note this down as it will enable you to quickly locate the printer on the network,
   • In the new page that appears click on ‘Share this folder. Click ‘Apply’ and then ‘Ok’ to apply the settings.
3. 3
   Click ‘Start’ from the taskbar and in the popup menu double click on ‘My Computer’. The printer settings ought to found under the ‘System Task’ if not, click ‘Start’ from the taskbar and click on ‘Printers and Faxes’ option in the popup menu that appears therein.
4. 4
   In the Printers and Faxes Window that appears, under the ‘Printer Task’ click ‘Add a printer’. This will enable you to add a printer that is closest to you in the wireless network.
5. 5
   In the Add printer wizard that appears, click ‘Next” to start the process of locating and adding a printer to your PC. In the new page that appears, you will be provided with two options, i.e. Local Printer Attached to this computer and A network printer or a printer attached to another computer. Choose the latter and click ‘Next’. In the new page that appears, you will be prompted to specify the printer to connect to. Choose the option ‘Browse for a printer’ and click ‘Next’. This will locate the nearest printer next to you. The process may take quite some time to complete so be patient.
6. 6
   Upon finishing the search, all printers that are attached to the network will be listed. Double click on the name of the printer that you noted down earlier.
7. 7
   Upon completing the installation procedure, you will be prompted to print a test page. This is a test to ensure that the connection is okay.