Networking gurus?

I have 2 computers I'd like set up for networking. Local network in house for file sharing and that's about it.

One is XP and one is Vista. I have a Netgear switch and both are connected to the switch. The Icon shows that they are connected, and when I unplug either one, the icon says network plug disconnected. The icon says 100mps limited connectivity under normal conditions.

I'd like to be able to see the other either computer from either one....and access a shared folder on the other machine for swapping song files. Since my DAW is NOT internet connected, and I'd like it to remain that way, I send files to the laptop for posting to the net. I currently use a USB thumb drive for this, but recently, when loading a new VSTi from the lappy, the thumb drives were all too full to copy the 1.4G file.

OK back to networking... I can not see the other machine through the switch, and I thought I had the network discovery set, and ran the networking wizard on both.... still can not see the other machine.

Here is something on networking an XP and Win 7 PC from the latest "Win XP Newsletter":

Can't connect XP and Windows 7

QUESTION:
I have an XP computer and just got a new Windows 7 computer for my wife. She likes it but we're having a lot of trouble with networking the two now. I can't seem to get to the files on her system. Can you help? - Roy M.

ANSWER:
By default, when you set up a Windows 7 computer, it asks if you want to create a homegroup. That's the easiest way to network multiple Windows 7 computers, but your Windows XP computer won't recognize a homegroup. You need to make the two computers members of the same workgroup. If you were networking two XP computers before, use the workgroup name that they were using. On the Windows 7 computer, click Control Panel | System and Security | System and look under "Computer name, domain and workgroup settings" on the General tab. Click Change Settings, then Change. Under "Member of," select Workgroup and type in the workgroup name.

I'd +1 the idea of using a crossover cable again. I've done this before between 2 Windows XP based machines, and when you actually remember the procedure to network them together it only takes a few mintues to get setup. It's also generally the only way (that I'm aware of) to network pc'c completely separately from the internet.

I used my network for remote desktop functionality and file transfers, which once setup I never had a problem with - the only slight issue was once both computers were turned on I had to wait a couple of minutes (after getting to Windows desktops) for the network to initiate and connect (it kept saying was no computer there to connect to, then it eventually said it was there).

Never networked beyond XP though, so good luck with Vista! If you can, avoid Wizards or any other automated bits of software. In XP I manually configured IP addresses, setup a RDP launcher (Remote Desktop Protocol) and that's the main part of it. If you concentrate on the RDP setup then your file transfer "arrangement" will be covered at the same time.

References:

RDP:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remote_Desktop_Protocol

Very basic network guide:
http://www.home-network-help.com/crossover.html


Good luck with it all.

I was thinking it had something to do with the IP address. I could easily go into the lappy and check it's IP address, then into the DAW and set the IP address close to the lappy. Maybe then they can see each other everytime I plug them in .

DayDay72


If I am not mistaken, you are trying to connect 2 PC's through a switch, with no router.  This will require Straight through cables, and not crossover.  If you had no switch, then it would be xover....the switch looks for layer 2 info....go into the switch and create/place on the same vlan, or subnet....no IP needed (at least for an actual connection of two machines). you also might want to glance on the Microsoft QA in the above reply after you have done this to setup your network.   The main thing is that you will need straight thru's to the switch, or the switch needs auto-detect enabled.

yes switch,

yes straight through cables.

I have not had time to work on this but I will reference this thread when I do.