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General discussion

Peer-to-peer network help required

May 3, 2005 7:57PM PDT

I am trying to setup a simple home network. I have:

PC 1
Windows XP Home SP2
Onboard LAN connected to Broadband cable moden (working)
PCI Network Card locked to 100bT Full Duplex
Network configuration TCP/IP address 1 and subnet mask, workgroup MSHOME
Connects to internet directly and allows others to use internet connection and file and printer sharing
Firewall On or Off makes no difference


PC2
Windows XP Pro
Onboard LAN locked to 100bT Full Duplex
Network configuration TCP/IP address 2 and same subnet mask, workgroup MSHOME
Connects to the internet through another computer on network and allows others file and printer sharing
Frewall On or Off makes no difference

Linked by a twisted RJ network cable

Occasionally the Professional Machine will see the Home machine but this is sporadic. The Home machine simply will not see the Pro machine at all.

The Pro machine occasionally can't even see itself but the Home machine will always see itself.

Both machines ping each other successfully.
When typing "net view" on the Home machine it reports itself.
When typing "net view" on the Pro machine it reports "there are no entries in the list"

I thought a simple home network was supposed to be simple.

If someone can give me some genuine assistance without telling me to buy a router or a hub which shouldn't be necessary for peer-to-peer I would appreciate it. Obviously I am missing some configuration hidden deeply by XP. Bring back the easy Win98 days anytime.

Cheers
Angela Happy

Discussion is locked

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The cable connecting the two....
May 5, 2005 12:56AM PDT

PCs, should be of the crossover type. Is this so?

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Yes
May 5, 2005 1:29PM PDT

The cable is a crossover.

Any other ideas?

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Two other items come to mind>>>>
May 6, 2005 4:58AM PDT

1) Pro may need Home's user name or IP, listed on the Exceptions tab of it's firewall
2) Bad NIC since the problem is sporadic.

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Further Information
May 6, 2005 7:17AM PDT

I have Pro IP in the Home Exceptions - unfortunately I don't have the same configurability the other way as Pro isn't patched. But as I say whether the frewalls are on or off it doesn't make any difference.

I ran IPCONFIG today and Home indicates the IP Address, Subnet and another IP Address starting with fe80:....... Pro only returns the IP Address and subnet.

Looking forward to any further ideas from you, Michael. I have considered a faulty NIC as my pro machine is onboard and a second hand motherboard.

I might disconnect the internt from the onboard on the newer machine and plug the network into it although I had done this at some stage - i think before I got a twisted (cross-over) cable and it didnt work, but who knows.

Cheers
Angela

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hardware firewall router
May 5, 2005 2:14PM PDT

its always a good idea to invest into a hardware base router to create a small network even if you only have 2 computers. not only because it's easier to manage, it also give you better performance and you dont have to have the 1st computer turn on in order for the 2nd one to get online. linksys, netgear, smc, d-link....etc makes affordable routers. They are so cheap now a days and i dont see a reason not to get one.

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3 Contributors
May 9, 2005 1:32PM PDT

1. Faulty Hardware
2. XP Pro Firewall
3. Smartcard etc... authentication

Got fixed but without internet sharing. Stable and happy. Later down the track with new hardware I will try the other option again, but for now I am happy.

Cheers

Thanks for all the help.

Angela Happy