How to connect computers to each other. How to connect two personal computers directly over a network. Home network, step-by-step setup in pictures

I bring to your attention an article about how to connect two computers to each other in a network using twisted pair (technology Ethernet)using operating systemWindows 7. Twisted pair combines reliability, low price, provides a sufficiently high data transfer speed and distance between computers.

If you have two or more computers at home (or for example, a computer and a laptop), then, in my opinion, it is necessary to combine them into a network. Even if you are using the Internet. Even if you have unlimited Internet. The Internet is sometimes unstable, a local network using a twisted pair cable has much less failures, and why waste Internet traffic if you sometimes need to exchange information (or play games) within the same room, at home ...

I have already considered the information about that, I strongly recommend that you read that article first, and then return to this one. Let me explain why.

Today we will only consider software aspects of setting up a set in an environment of the Windows 7 operating system. In the article on setting up a network in Windows XP, I covered almost all the issues of this process: from measuring the distance between nodes and compressing a twisted pair to connecting RG 45 plugs to connectors on network cards. In addition, there you can find out information about how what is ip-address and much more on this topic.

We return directly to the task. connecting two computers to a network in the environment of the operating system Windows 7.

Let's consider this process in stages:

Stage 1. The first step is to enable "Sharing and Network Discovery" on both computers that will connect to the local network.

To do this, open the Start menu and go to the Control Panel. Then follow the address:
Control Panel\u003e "Network and Internet"\u003e "Network and Sharing Center"\u003e "Change add. sharing options ".

Fig 1. Sharing options

In the window that will open, you must check the following items:

- Network discovery;

- Sharing files;

- Shared access to shared folders;

Stage 2. Setting the computer name and workgroup name.

Press the key combination Win + Pause (the site has information about others).
The System Properties window will open. Go to the "Computer name" tab and click on the "Change" button. In the opened window "Computer name change" write the required computer name (any, according to your "taste") and working group name... By default, in operating systems, the workgroup name appears as WORKGROUP... You can leave it. For example, I created a working group called HOME NETWORK and assigned a name to the computer Home PC 1.

Fig 2. We name the computer and create a working group

Click on the Ok button. The system will provide information on the need to reboot. We agree. We will continue the process of connecting two computers to the network after rebooting.

Stage 3 ... Assigning IP addresses to computers.

To do this, go to the address:

Start\u003e Control Panel\u003e Network and Internet\u003e Network and Sharing Center.

Open "Local Area Connection Properties" and select "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP / IPv 4)

Fig 3. Local area connection: properties.

Then click on the "Properties" button and in the "Properties: Internet Protocol Version 4" window, check the "Use the following IP address" item. Specify the IP address

Note. IP-address (Internet Protocol Address, ai-pi) - network address of a node (computer or other network equipment) in a computer network built over IP. IP address is a 32-bit binary number... The basic form of an IP address is four decimal numbers (0 to 255) separated by periods, for example 192.168.0.1. Note that the range of IP addresses 192.168.X.X (X \u003d 0-255) is allocated for local networks.

Click in the "Subnet mask" field and this parameter (Subnet mask) will be set automatically.

Figure 4. Properties: Internet Protocol Version 4

For the second computer, you must specify the same workgroup, but a different name and IP address.

Stage 4. When the corresponding operations have been done with the second computer, it is necessary to check whether the communication over the network is working.

To do this, press the key combination Win + R, and in the Run window enter the command cmd.exe. The Windows command interpreter will start.

Transferring data between devices is one of the most important uses of a personal computer. An efficient and inexpensive way to connect multiple PCs is to use a twisted-pair network (LAN, Ethernet) cable.

A twisted pair cable consists of eight copper conductors twisted in pairs, enclosed in a plastic sheath, sometimes with shielding in the form of aluminum foil or braid. Outside, the cable has a PVC outer sheath.

Pairing and shielding is used to reduce cable noise and increase data transfer rates. The cable is designated UTP (unshielded) and FTP (shielded twisted pair).

Straight or crossover cable

One of the main questions about connecting a PC with an Ethernet cable is what type of cable, straight or crossover, to use.

To find out, you need to determine which devices the cable will connect:

In a straight cable, the connections (pinouts) of the contacts at both ends are the same (1-1 2-2, etc.). This type of cable is used for transmission, but not for the exchange of data between devices.

In a crossover cable, the transmitting pair at one end is connected to the receiving pair at the other (pinout 1-3, 2-6), i.e. the pin connections in the cable are “crossed”, which allows data exchange between the two devices.

Note!The color of the contacts in the examples indicates the color of the insulating sheath of the cable conductors.

Many devices today support an Auto-MDI (X) port interface where data transmission is automatically configured.

Reference! If at least one of the devices in the connection supports Auto-MDI (X), this excludes the obligatory use of a certain type of cable - crossover or straight.

Twisted pair connection of two PCs

For direct connection of two PCs, it is better to purchase a crossover cable of the correct length to avoid misunderstandings. Next, you need to connect the computers with this cable.

Step 1. Find an RJ-45 connector on the computer panel for connecting a network cable. This connector is found on almost any PC or laptop.

Step 2. Insert the Ethernet cable plug into the connector until it clicks, linking the two computers together.

The hardware connection of the PC is now complete.

Programmatic connection setup

To set up a PC connection, you need to transfer them to a common workgroup.

Step 1. Press the "Win + R" key combination on the keyboard of the first PC ("Win" is to the right of "Ctrl"). Type in the field "sysdm.cpl" and click "OK".

Step 2. In System Properties, click on the Computer Name tab and click Change.

Step 3. Come up with and type in the line the name of the "working group" in English letters. In the line "Computer name" you can leave the previous name of the PC or choose any other. Click "OK".

Step 4. Restart your PC for the settings you have made to take effect.

Step 5. After rebooting, press "Win + R" on the keyboard and type "control" in the field. Click "OK".

Step 6. Click View Status ... if Category is listed, or Control Center ... if Icons are enabled.

If "Large icons" are set in the "View" mode, click on the link "Control Center ..."

Step 7. Click Change Adapter ...

Click "Change adapter ..."

Step 8. Click on "Network Connection ..." and select "Properties".

Click on "Network Connection ...", select "Properties"

Step 9. Click the Networking tab, click TCP / IPv4 and click Properties.

Step 10. Specify 192.168.0.1 (mask 255.255.255.0). Click "OK". Setting up the first PC is complete.

Step 11. Repeat " Steps 1-10 " on another PC, specifying the same “workgroup” name, but entering the IP address 192.168.0.2 (mask 255.255.255.0).

Setting up PC access

To exchange data between PCs, you need to give permission to access their files and folders.

Step 1. In the "Network Control Center ..." (see. Steps 5-6 of the previous section) click "Change advanced settings ...".

Step 2. Expand all network profiles in the dropdown list and enable all permissions to discover, access and control the PC.

Step 3. Scroll to the bottom of the list and select disable password protection. Click "Save Changes".

Step 4. Do Steps 1-3 on another PC.

You can now view the connected PCs in the Network category.

Step 1. Double-click the This PC icon on your desktop.

Step 2. Left-click on the Network icon.

An icon will appear representing another PC on the network.

Checking the connection

The correctness of the PC connection to each other can be checked with the ping command, for example, using a PC with an IP address of 192.168.0.2.

Step 1. Press "Win + R", type "cmd" and press "OK".

Step 2. Enter in the window: ping 192.168.0.1 and press "Enter" on the keyboard. Lines starting with "Reply from ..." will appear. This means that the PC "sees" the other PC and the connection is established.

If the message "Request timed out ..." is received, it means that there is no communication between the PC. In such a situation, it is necessary to recheck all the settings above.

Note!The network connection can also be blocked by the Windows firewall or antivirus installed on the PC. In addition, the Ethernet cable or the network cards of the PC may be faulty.

Internet access

A network connection with two PCs accessing the Internet is possible if an additional network card is installed on one of the PCs and Internet distribution is configured.

After the physical connection of the PC, in addition to the settings mentioned above, you will also need to specify the gateway number in the TCP / IPv4 protocol setting on both PCs.

Step 1. Open the “Local Area Connection” settings with the right mouse button and select “Properties” (see Steps 5-8 in “Programmatically Configuring the Connection”).

Step 2. Specify the gateway 192.168.0.1 if the Internet is configured on a PC with an IP address of 192.168.0.1.

Step 3. To do "Steps 1-2" on another PC.

The general Internet connection is configured.

How to crimp a twisted pair cable

Sometimes the length of a commercially available Ethernet cable is not enough to connect PCs that are far from each other. In this situation, you can purchase:

Compression Standards

There are two options for crimping a twisted pair:

Reference!If you need a crossover cable, then on one side the connector is crimped according to the 568A standard, and on the other - according to 568B.

Ethernet cable crimp process

Step 1. Step back 3-5 cm from the cable cut, carefully cut the outer sheath and remove it.

Step 2. Untwist the strands and arrange the conductors in the order required for crimping. Pull the nylon thread or foil screen back.

Step 3. Step back 12-14 mm from the outer sheath edge and cut off the ends of the conductors perpendicular to the cable axis.

Step 4. Align the wires and insert them into the RJ-45 connector until they reach the front of the connector. The outer sheath of the cable must fit inside the connector using the plastic retaining clip.

Note!It is required to insert the cable into the connector with a certain force.

Step 5... Insert the RJ-45 connector into the 8P crimper socket until it stops.

Step 6. Squeeze the crimp handles with force until a distinct click in the tool.

RJ-45 connector crimped.

Cable Crimp Test

If you have a Lan tester, you can check the crimp on the Ethernet cable immediately.

Insert the cable into the tester connectors and press the test button. Sequentially synchronously illuminated indicators will show the presence of a contact and the correct connection of the wires.

Lack of glow or glow of a different color will indicate a broken conductor, crossing or short-circuited conductor. If there are crimping defects, cut off the connectors and crimp the cable again.

Video - How to connect 2 computers via Lan Cable

Although rare, there are situations when you need to connect two computers to each other without using a switch. There are several ways to do this. This is using a cross-linked patch cord, using an lpt cable, etc. In this article, we will show you how to use a cross-linked patch cord.

Materials and tools

A crossed patch cord (a cable where the yellow and green pairs are swapped at the end connectors) and two computers.

Technology

1. Connect both computers with a cross-linked patch cord. Insert one end of the patch cord into the network port of the first computer and connect the other end of the cable to the network port of the second computer.
2. Make sure that the LEDs on the network ports on each computer are on (assuming that both computers are assembled and connected to power).
3. Congratulations, you have completed the first part. You have physically connected computers. It remains only to configure each of them programmatically, and the job is done.
4. Go to the configuration of the network card along the following path: Start - Settings - Control Panel - Network Connections - Local Area Connection.
5. Right-click on the Local Area Connection icon and select Properties from the menu that appears.
6. In the window that opens, select the component "Internet Protocol TCP \\ IP" and click the "Properties" button.
7. On the General tab, check the Use the following IP address box. You will immediately be able to enter the fields with the IP-address, subnet mask.
8. Enter the following address in the "IP addresses" field - 192.168.0.101
9. Enter the following address in the "subnet mask" field - 255.255.255.0
10. Click on the "Ok" button.
11. Click on the "OK" button again.
12. In order to set up a workgroup, go to the following path: Start - Settings - Control Panel - System.
13. In the window that appears, select the "Computer name" tab.
14. Click on the "Change" button.
15. In the window that appears, fill in the "Computer name" field: for example, "comp1".
16. Check the box "is a member of the working group".
17. Enter the workgroup name "workgroup".
18. Click on the "Ok" button.
19. Click on the "Ok" button again. The system will prompt you to restart your computer for the changes to take effect. Please reboot.
20. Do the same for the second computer, just specify "comp2" as the computer name. The IP address in this case will look like this: 192.168.0.102, the subnet mask will remain unchanged (255.255.255.0), as well as the workgroup name ("workgroup").
21. Reboot the second computer.

Now you can be congratulated on successfully configuring and connecting two computers with one patch cord into a small network. Make public directories on both computers and enjoy using them!

When you need to transfer a large amount of data from one computer terminal to another, the problem often arises that copying to removable media, even a large enough volume, takes a very long time. So isn't it easier to connect the terminals directly? To do this, you have to solve the problem so that the data transfer rate is maximum. Next, we will consider two main methods of such a connection. Along the way, we will consider the issues of connecting a second monitor to one terminal or laptop.

How to connect a second computer to a computer: connection options

There are not so many connection options for both stationary PCs and laptops. Connecting a second computer to the main terminal in all cases, without exception, boils down to integrating them into a network.

But connecting two devices can be done in two ways: either use a cable cord called a patch cord, or through a router using Wi-Fi.

Cable connection

So, first, let's look at how to connect a second computer to a computer using

The power cord itself is a cable with two RJ-45 connectors at either end. It goes without saying that both terminals must have network cards with the correct drivers installed for them. Operating systems can be different (this does not matter).

First, you need to insert the RJ-45 connectors into the network card slots of both terminals so that they are directly connected to each other. After that, the question of how to connect the second computer comes down to setting up a local network and checking the connection.

The first step is to open the system properties (for example, through a right click on the computer icon) and go to additional parameters. In the system properties window, the computer name tab is used, where you need to change it by clicking on the corresponding button.

Please note that computer names must be different. For example, on one terminal it will be the name Comp 1, and on the second Comp 2. It is not so important how you name both terminals. The main thing is that the names are different, and in the given names only Latin letters, numbers or additional characters are used. You can also set the name of the working group, but it is highly recommended to leave it unchanged. In addition, it should be the same on both terminals if it is changed.

Next, you need to save the changes and go to the "Network and Sharing Center", in which you should select the item to change the properties of the network adapter. If the connection is correct, its icon will appear in a new window, on which you need to right-click and select the property line.

After that, the IPv4 protocol is selected in the window and the properties button is pressed. Now attention! The subnet mask will be the same (it will automatically attach when you enter the IP). For Comp 1, the address is 192.168.1.1, for Comp 2 - 192.168.1.2. Be careful. DNS addresses remain unchanged (they are usually set to get them automatically).

After saving the changes, the connection will be established. Now you need to check if it works. To do this, on the first terminal, you need to call the Run console and write the ping command ping 192.168.1.2. In a couple of seconds, a response should come from the second computer in the form of transmitted packets. The same procedure is done on the second PC with the only difference that the address of the first terminal (192.168.1.1) is written for the ping command.

Connecting over a network via Wi-Fi

Now let's see how to connect a second computer to a computer using a wireless network. First, in the "Network and Sharing Center" it must be created (added) using the appropriate line with a hyperlink.

In the window that appears, the "computer-to-computer" network is selected, in the next window you simply click the continue button, after which in another window you need to enter the name of the network and your own security key. Then you just need to save the changes, and the network will appear in the list.

It is important to remember that the connection to the Internet is made through a router, so when the created network is activated, the Internet will not be available.

How to connect a second monitor to a computer

Now a few words about connecting two monitors to one terminal. This can be done in three ways:

• use several outputs of one (necessarily discrete, not integrated) video card;
• install a second card;
• connect through a splitter (splitter).

The second and third options are quite simple, although using a splitter on monitors may decrease the operating refresh rates. Let's consider the first option, when both monitors are connected to one card.

As a rule, all modern graphics cards have several video outputs, so it is not difficult to connect both monitors. However, you need to pay attention to the point that the main monitor must be connected to a higher level output. For example, if there are HDMI and VGA outputs, the main monitor is connected via HDMI, the second one via VGA.

When both monitors are connected, you just need to load the operating system, and it will itself determine the presence of the second device. After that, in the screen settings, you can select the action you need (stretching the image, using a projector, etc.). By the way, in the screen parameters (there will be two images with numbers in the settings), you can set completely different modes for both monitors, change the resolution, orientation and much more as you wish.

Possible connection problems

But back to the issue of combining two computers. Sometimes it happens that one computer does not see the second computer terminal. What is the problem? Most likely, the reason is the damage to the network cable, if it was done by hand, maybe the contacts are not connected correctly. But most of the time, the reason is the wrong terminal names, workgroup names, and IP addresses. Therefore, if such a problem appears, first of all, check the correctness of the settings.

Conclusion

As you can see, connecting two computers or connecting several monitors (not necessarily only two) does not present any particular difficulties. The main thing here is to be careful when setting up. Otherwise, with properly working equipment, there should be no problems.