i have two computers. they both have 2 network cards inside. they're both hooked up to a hub and the hub then runs to a dsl modem

what I wanted to do, was to hook up the computers through the crossover cable so i can transfer files back and forth

one computer runs winXP, the other one runs RedHat 9

I know it sounds simple, but I'm really not sure what to do. I tired to get a crossover cable, and connect it between the two computers. but i didnt work


( I really don't want for one PC to be dependent on the other for the connection )


thanks in advance..

If they're both plugged into the same hub already, then they can already connect to each other through the hub. You just need to make sure they both have an IP on the same network (such as 196.168.0.0/16, so you would give computer1 192.168.0.2 and computer2 192.168.0.3).

two questions..

would this make either one dependent on the other to access the internet?

question 2: there is no router anywhere. and the IP address is dynamic. so it would change from time to time. would this mean I have to change the Ip every time?

So only one of your computers gets an IP at a time, the DSL modem doesn't have NAT? i.e. can both your computers be connected to the Internet at once, or only one at a time?

If only one at a time, then it would still be possible to connect through the hub, but since you already have two network cards you could do it with cross-over and not interfere with the Internet connection.

Plug the cross-over into the second NIC of each computer. On the Linux box do:
ifconfig eth1 172.16.0.2 netmask 255.255.255.0

On WinXP setup a new Local Area Network connection and choose to manually assign the IP rather than automatic. Give it the IP 172.16.0.3 and netmask 255.255.255.0. The default gateway should be empty.

I did as you said and assigned the IPs and netmasks to both systems.

But when I tried pinging one system from the other it didnt work


everything looks okay, I have no idea what could be wrong

Does:
cat /var/log/messages | grep Ethernet
show that your card is seen at boot up?
Firewalls can also be a problem.

network card is detected fine so that cant be the problem..

I think i configured something wrong
if not on the linux, then probably on the windows side =/

With my setup I have all PCs connected VIA a hub, but the modem is connected to my firewall PC.
Unless your modem is more than a modem, that may be the problem. Have you had it working that way before?
Both Pcs connected to the hub and assigned address on the same network should be able to communicate.
The DSL modem should be connected to one of the PCs and that PC should be a gateway for the other.
I think...

But are you sure you hooked the right cards up?

In WinXP, unplug the cable from the hub and only leave one cable plugged in. In your system tray you should see one set of little computers with a red X, this is the unplugged NIC. The other set of computers should be flashing occasionally. That's the one you want to right click on and go into properties (might have to go to status first, then properties).

On your Linux box unplug the cable that goes into the hub and only leave the crossover plugged in. If you do ifconfig -a|grep -i carrier it should show you one of the NICs says "NO CARRIER" (I'm pretty sure that's what Linux says when it's not plugged in). That's the NIC for the hub. You want to ifconfig the other one for the same subnet as WinXP.

Now the last thing is, you may have a firewall on either side that prevents ICMP echo requests (or replies). There's some iptables command you can run on Linux to check your rules (man iptables) and on Windows, if you go into advanced on the properties for your NIC there is a check box for Internet Connection Firewall. If the box is checked, go into settings and see if the allow ICMP echo request box is checked. Note that you do NOT need ICMP packets to go between your computers in order to share files and the like, you only need TCP and that only on the service ports you require (such as 139 for SMB).

Try a straight through cable instead of a crossover.

Some times having to nics of the same chipset may not work properly, you could try useing 1 nic in each and run throught the hub.

ok I read each and one of your every posts and thank you all for trying to help.

It is my fault that I forgot to leave out some details.

- I don't have a firewall installed on either side.

- I do not wish to touch the current connection.

I installed an extra NIC card into each PC specifically for the purpose of having a crossover connection.

All I really want, is to establish the crossover connection.

- I really don't want for one PC to be dependent on the other for the connection.


once again, thank you all for trying to help

So does it work, or not? Did you try my suggestions?

By the way, a straight-through between two NICs is not going to work, that's the whole point of cross-over cables!

I know lol

On the linux box I did exactly as you said.

On the windows box everything seems to be configured okay too, but if I ping one system from the other it doesnt work

Sorry i know a straight through wont work between 2 nics, i was tired and didn't read the thread properly, didn't see haveing 2 nics on the 1 machine