creating a crossover network with 2 linux boxes
 

Hello, I am trying to setup a crossover network from one computer running Debian Sarge to another running Ubuntu. My first problem is that im having trouble getting Sarge to recognize the second nic. when i run the network admin tool it only shows an eth0. how can i create an eth1 to use for the crossover network? i tried to create one using the network admin tool but that just changed my settings on eth0. it also asked me if i wanted to set up a plip connection.. that doesnt sound like exactly what i want after i did some research. i already have a configuration that should work once i get an eth1 setup on the Sarge system.

Sarge
eth1
ip: 192.168.1.2
netmask: 255.255.255.0
gateway: 192.168.1.3

Ubuntu
eth0
ip: 192.168.1.3
netmask: 255.255.255.0
gateway: 192.168.1.2

can anyone help me create the eth1 (or tell me any other options) or see any reason why my above configuration shouldnt work?

We're assuming here that your Sarge system already has another network on its eth0 interface?

yes.. eth0 is the nic i use for the Internet..

Is the second nic (the one you're having trouble with) from the same manufacturer as the working nic? If not, do you know if it's supported?

well those gateways are clearly wrong, you're going to go round in circles for ever if the other box is the gateway for the first... do you need a gateway? are you after internet access or access to another lan?

ok the second nic in the Sarge system actually used to be only nic on that system before my motherboard died and i had to replace it. so yes the second is supported.. and my eth0 is the onboard network card which is also supported (since its working). the reason i am trying to do this is because i do not have a router/hub and this is much cheaper. since my mb died a few weeks ago my sound doesnt work and my dvd burner isnt recognized.. i built a machine out of old parts i had lying around and was going to move all my data to that machine and do a fresh install.. of debian..

to answer chris, i am connecting these computers directly not using a router/hub/home network.. its my understanding that those gateways will work for what i am trying to do..

well in that case you don't have a gateway at all, they shouldn't be put in wrong...

The only thing "special" about an xover network is the cable itself. outside of that everything is totally standard and the machines themselves have no idea or interest in there not being a switch involved. just get both NIC's working sperately and implicitly it'll work fine.

ok, so how do i get the Sarge system to let me configure eth0.. or am i supposed to use it as plip0? below is the output of lspci so even the Sarge sees the card it wont let me configure and/or activate the card as eth1 (or anything for that matter).

brandon@wembley:~$ lspci
0000:00:00.0 Host bridge: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 741/741GX/M741 Host (rev 03)
0000:00:01.0 PCI bridge: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS]: Unknown device 0003
0000:00:02.0 ISA bridge: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] SiS963 [MuTIOL Media IO] (rev 25)
0000:00:02.1 SMBus: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS]: Unknown device 0016
0000:00:02.5 IDE interface: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 5513 [IDE]
0000:00:03.0 USB Controller: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] USB 1.0 Controller (rev 0f)
0000:00:03.1 USB Controller: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] USB 1.0 Controller (rev 0f)
0000:00:03.2 USB Controller: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] USB 2.0 Controller
0000:00:04.0 Ethernet controller: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] SiS900 PCI Fast Ethernet (rev 91)
0000:00:09.0 Multimedia audio controller: Ensoniq ES1370 [AudioPCI]
0000:00:0a.0 Ethernet controller: Linksys NC100 Network Everywhere Fast Ethernet 10/100 (rev 11)
0000:01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation NV15DDR [GeForce2 Ti] (rev a4)

well it's certainly not a plip connection, ethX on both sides totally conventional.

Fixed! apparently with my system i cant configure an ethernet adapter until the system recognizes that something is plugged into it.. so i hooked the cable up to the 2 systems.. then the Sarge system let me create and configure an eth1 and now it works.. im not sure if thats how most systems work.. i thought it was kinda weird.. usually you have to configure something before you can use it..