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"Networking Computers"

Right I have two desktop computers in different rooms, one running XP and another running Win98, and I want to set up a network between the two. I plan to get two cards, but am a little unsure about what type of cable i need. Obviously Cat5, but there are two types, so some advice on that would be nice. Also I am wondering about whether there will be any difficulty due to the different opperating systems. Also will each computer require a logon system or anything like that? Finally do i need to enforce any other security measures such as firewalls or anything like that. I cant see myself having to tho'. Any other advice is appreciated...
Cheers

Ah, I thought you meant they were £15 each, that is a bit steep :-)

Turbonutter wrote:
> Hm you got ripped off, they're a third of the price at Ebuyer. I trust
> Ebuyer with D-Link network cards because it's very difficult to break
> them, and there's little chance you'll be needing to return them.

Well that price (£15) is actually for the two of them, not each...

Oh and the two orders came to almost exactly the same prices. The cards were a bit more expensive, but the cable was a lot cheaper, and the site i ordered them from will have them here by the end of the week, not next week which Ebuyer would have done...

Hm you got ripped off, they're a third of the price at Ebuyer. I trust Ebuyer with D-Link network cards because it's very difficult to break them, and there's little chance you'll be needing to return them.

Just ordered;
2 x Dlink PCI DFE-530TX Network Card 10/100mb Retail @ £13.50(15.86) each.
1 x 15M UTP X Over Cable XRT-615 @ £6.50(7.64) each.

Edit: Just had to make sure i got the right card, cus the picture on Ebuyer was slightly different to the one i bought, but its the same manufacturers code and all the other details are the same. It worried me a bit at first :P But this stuff should be here by the end of the week, so expect a load of questions about how to get it running...

[URL]http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?action=UFNQcm9kdWN0U2VhcmNoUmVzdWx0cw%3D%3D&mfr_uid=-1&keywords=crossover&show=stock&Filter=Filter+Search&cat_uid=24&order_col=cat_desc[/URL]

Any of that will do. You can also use Patch with patch->crossover adaptor, but I forget where I bought mine.

Hmmm not entirely sure which cable i need from Ebuyer,
[URL]http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=1180181660&action=UFNQcm9kdWN0U2VhcmNoUmVzdWx0cw%3D%3D&mfr_uid=-1&keywords=CAT5e+Cable&show=stock&Filter=Filter+Search&cat_uid=24&order_col=cat_desc&offset=10[/URL]

Right, methinks i'll get the Ebuyer ones, they do cables as well dont they?

EDIT: And there wont be any problem with the difference in OS's?

I would definitely say so. I mean, they're more or less the same price, so you might as well. You won't regret it in the long run. I used to buy these cards when they cost £20 yet I could pick up 8139s for £5.

K, i'll have a think about it, but if i'm looking at playing games across the network, i'm guessing it would be better to take the one you suggested, due to it consuming less of the system resources, and due to the greater speed?

Well the card you suggested uses the Realtek 8139 chipset, which is a vary popular chpset amongst network card manufacturers. I have a card based on 8139, and it wasn't very good. The thing is, they tend to use a lot of system resources at full speed because they're not really complete ethernet adaptors. Furthermore, I found I could rarely get the full 100mbit from my network. On the other hand, I have several of those D-Links (in varying revisions), and all of them are excellent. They use no noticable amount of my resources whatsoever, and I can get the full 100mbit through my switch, which makes a difference when you're doing large volumes of data transfer. You can also be guaranteed they'll last. My 8139 and the Netgear FA311 I have in mum's computer used to overheat frequently, and the Netgear subsequently died for a brief period. My D-Link, though, has staying in this computer at temperatures up to 50c (in the old days) and running perfectly fine. It's still going strong.

Today I have D-Link DFE-530TX cards in my computer and my server (Rev C and Rev A respectively), and a Netgear FA311 in my mum's computer. I also have a 530TX Rev B in my unused computer upstairs. I don't actually know where the 8139 is. I think it may have combusted somewhere down the line.