what is the cheapest way to make a LAN?

DaFool · Defense Minister **Joined**: 07 Nov 2006

My old computer is worthless, so I am buing a new one (for my room). I also have a nice "family" computer in the living room also. What is the cheapest and fastest way to connect the to computers? USB extension chord lol?

(I am more of a software guy as opposed to a hardware guy I guess, so if someone enlightened me on the topic that would be great)

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Team Black · Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2007 6:28 pm Post subject:

Well Hamachi makes a LAN through the internet, it's pretty convenient. Judeau's Hamachi tutorial

I don't know much more than that about LAN though, as I haven't really used it..

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Equiredox · Rocket Infantry **Joined**: 29 Jun 2005

Buy a Cat 5 crossover ethernet cable, and two ethernet network cards (the slowest you can get these days is 100Mb/s - Fast Ethernet), and your set.

This is by all means, the easiest (lazy mans) solution, from my experience.

1.) Install the card in both PCs (make sure you have a PCI slot free for the cards before you go out and buy them).
2.) Plug the network cable into both cards.
3.) Follow the instructions (available over the internet) involving creating a Peer-to-Peer windows XP network.

Von Kriplespac · General **Joined**: 01 Sep 2004 **Location**: Somewhere

Theres always the expensive way, buy a router or a switch, two Cat 5s and maybe one more if you want internet on both...Plug and play on most of them out there.

Personally, Routers/switch method is easier, and might be easier to troubleshoot on a single router/switch setup...get in the multi-switch/router setup and it becomes a pain. :p

Update: Also theres some routers/switchs out there for under ten bucks, five port...Should fit your need perfectly with alittle room to expand.

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