Hi
I have two computers one running linux and another running windows. The linux machine has a 3com nic that I confirmed is compatible and the windows machine has realtek nic and a winmodem. I want to log the windows machine to my isp and have the linux machine connect to the windows machine. My question is what kind of wire do i need for connecting the two?
Thanks in advance

You could run a Cat5 crossover Ethernet cable from the NIC in your Linux box to the NIC in your Windows box.

Or you could set up a hub and run a straight-through Cat5 cable from each NIC to the central hub.

Keep in mind you will still need to configure the Linux box via ifconfig and modify your /etc/hosts file. Just plugging the cables in wont allow the two machines to connect to one another.

I suppose your nics are of the standard type and have 10BaseT or 100BaseT ports, which are the same only one is faster as far as cables go.


You should get a cat 5 cable that is wired for crossover, If you want to do it yourself you can get the connectors, crimpers and patch cord. If this is your only project you might want to buy a crossover cable.


A standard cable connects a computer nic to a hub or other such device.
The wiring for a standard cable is

pin 1 to 1
pin 2 to 2
pin 3 to 3
pin 6 to 6

the other wires are not used but you could hook them up anyway

To connect two nics together without a hub use a crossover cable.
The wiring for a crossover cable

pin 1 to 3
pin 2 to 6
pin 3 to 1
pin 6 to 2

Also note that for a good cable you need to use the twisted pairs on the pin pairs like this

pin 1 and 2 is a pair

use the grn/wht and grn pair

pin 3 and 6 is a pair

use the org/wht and org pair

so a crossover cable will be like this on one end

pin 1 wht/grn
pin 2 grn
pin 3 wht/org
pin 6 org

and this on the other end

pin 1 wht/org
pin 2 org
pin 3 wht/grn
pin 6 grn

A cheep set of crimpers is about $ 12.

make sure you get the 8P8C type some of them are made for 6 conductor.

Ok you are connecting them together, this is only part of the solution...


You need to have a connection I guess you are using a modem since you say logon to your ISP.

For windows to do what you want it must have ICS which comes with win98 SE and up.

You can also get a freeware proxy server program to do the same thing.

You will need to setup the proxy server and also setup your linux ip address and dns server info and it will work.

Do you have a modem that will work with linux?

If so you should try using linux as your connection and use ip masq to connect your windows machine.

Thanks for your help. i'm connecting the windows box to AOL and both comps use winmodems. I'm wondering if I did connect to AOL w/ the win machine, could I still use lynx or netscape on linux to browse the net? I don't need to look at its 'special content' just want to browse the web.

sure once you get the win proxy thing installed you will be able to browse the internet.

My friend just gave me a 10/100 5 port hub that he didn't need anymore. If I used it, do i need two network cables? Will AOL still work behind a hub?

you don't really need a hub.

You can put it between the two computers and use standard cables, but now you need two cables instead of one. If you are going to connect more computers up than the two then you would need the hub.


It will not effect anything as far as connecting to the internet goes, it is simply a way of connecting things together when you have more than two computers.


you may have a port on the hub that is an uplink or cascade port...

If so you could use a crossover cable in the uplink port and a standard cable to connect the other computer. Or just use two standard cables.


Be advised that these hubs usually share the port next to it so if you use the uplink port look and see if it has a line drawn to the other port it is shared

uplink

X __ X X X



you cannot use both the shared port and the uplink port at the same time
some hubs may have a switch on them

Ok i decided to go with the crossover cable. My neighbor gave me the cable and i connected the two 3com nics together. I opened
both machines and logged on to AOL in the win box. What settings do i need to put now?