Connecting two laptops via a network cable. How to connect two computers to each other via a network cable. Where to get twisted pair

Despite the fact that software developers and hardware manufacturers strive to do everything possible to simplify the user's computer experience, various difficulties arise with surprising frequency.

For example, one of the most popular questions is: “How to connect 2 computers to the Internet?” Just a few years ago it was of interest only to a narrow circle of lucky users who had several expensive computing systems at once. But now, when prices for components have dropped significantly, and almost every family can buy another electronic assistant, the situation has changed. Therefore, it is not surprising that many people want to know how to connect the Internet to 2 computers. This is the question we will answer in this article. Let’s immediately make a reservation that it is impossible to consider all possible options, so we will focus only on the most common.

How to connect 2 computers to the Internet

It is as simple as possible to provide access to global resources from two terminals when they have previously been combined into a single local network. Since now all computers without exception come with built-in Ethernet network cards, you just need to purchase the appropriate cable and connect the system units with it. After this, you can figure out how to connect 2 computers to the Internet. This is the most common solution. However, it is worth noting that there are ways to jointly access the global network without the need to “raise the local area”. So, the cable has been purchased, connected, and the same work group is specified in the operating system settings. Let us recall the path along which in Windows Vista and 8 systems you can type the desired name: Computer - Properties - Additional settings - Name - Edit - Workgroup. After this, you can begin to study the question of how to connect 2 computers to the Internet using the sharing function. This feature assumes that one computer system accesses the network through another. This may be the only option if the provider makes the connection based on the MAC address of a specific computer, and there are no plans to purchase a router.

Practice

To connect two computers to the Internet, you will need to connect two cables to one of them, which will be the main one: the first from the Internet provider, and the second from the network card of another system unit or laptop. You may have to install a second Ethernet card into the system unit (costs about $5). After this, you need to follow this path: Network Control Center - Change adapter settings. Here, on the main connection (which “looks” at the global network), you need to right-click and in the “Access” tab check the “Allow” box. On the second computer, you need to create a connection through another computer system in the same menu using the “Wizard”. In Windows XP, this is even easier: you need to launch the setup wizard from the Start menu and specify how exactly you will connect to the network (explanatory pictures are provided there, so there should not be any difficulties).

How to connect two computers to each other using a network cable with RJ-45 connectors? In a particular case, this question may sound like this: how to set up a local network between a laptop and a desktop computer?

The reasons for connecting computers into a network can be very different - the need to access files and folders of another computer from one PC, the desire to combine a laptop and an old stationary computer, or simply for online games. Let's consider situations for different operating systems. In this case, we will need to have installed on both computers network cards(the vast majority of devices have them by default), as well as network cable with RJ-45 connectors at the ends.

How to set up a local network between two Windows XP computers using an RJ-45 network cable

Make sure that you are logged into Windows with administrator rights, that the computers have network cards, and that they are connected to each other by cable. If everything is OK, move on to setting up the network card.

• Opening Start > Control Panel > Network connections.
• We find LAN connection and right-click to open Properties.
• Select from the list Internet Protocol TCP/IP and open again Properties.
• In the window that opens, select the item Use the following IP address and enter the local address of our computer 192.168.1.1 (the last number can be anything from 0 to 255). Subnet mask 255.255.255.0.

We follow the same procedure on the second computer, specifying the IP address, for example, 192.168.1.2. Next, you need to make sure that the devices are in the same workgroup.

• My computer and choose Properties
• In the window that opens Properties of the system select a tab Computer name And Change. .

You can check if a connection is established between two PCs using the ping command. Open the command line: Start > Execute > cmd and click OK. Enter the command ping 192.168.1.2(here we indicate the IP of the second computer). If the packets are transmitted successfully, the network is configured.

Setting up a local network between two Windows 7 PCs

When working with Windows 7 on two computers, you must immediately specify the same workgroup, as is the case with XP.

• On the desktop, right-click on the shortcut My computer and choose Properties(key combination Win+Break or Win+Pause).
• In the window that opens Properties of the system select a tab Computer name And Change. Computers must have the same workgroup, for example WORKGROUP, but different network names.
• Save the changes and reboot the computers.

After this, the operating system itself must make all the add-ons and recognize the network; if this does not happen, you will have to perform a few more steps. Opening Start > Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network Sharing Center > Change adapter settings and in the settings of the required connection, set the computer’s IP address similarly to the previous instructions for Win XP.

Setting up a network between computers running Windows 7 and Windows XP

Above, we looked at setting up a network between computers with the same operating systems, but what if, for example, you need to connect a laptop with Windows 7 to a desktop PC with Windows XP? First, we perform the actions that are already familiar to us: we set the same workgroups and indicate the computer names (necessarily in Latin characters and without spaces).

To open access to files and folders on one PC for another, you need to right-click on the desired folder (or logical drive) and select General access. In chapter Specific users we open access.

To log in from Win XP to Win 7 you will need to accept the "seven" user account. If your account does not have a password, you will have to set one.

You may also need to do the following: Network and Sharing Center go to advanced sharing options, where you need to set the “correct” settings.

I bring to your attention an article about how to connect two computers to each other in a network using twisted pair (technology Ethernet) using operating systemWindows 7. Twisted pair combines reliability, low price, and provides a fairly high data transfer speed and distance between computers.

If you have two or more computers at home (or, for example, a computer and a laptop), then, in my opinion, they need to be connected to a network. Even if you use the Internet. Even if your Internet is unlimited. The Internet is sometimes unstable a local network using twisted pair has much fewer failures, and why waste Internet traffic if you sometimes need to exchange information (or play games) within the same room, at home...

I have already reviewed information about that. I strongly recommend reading that article first, and then returning to this one. I'll explain why.

Today we will only look at software aspects of setting up a set in the Windows 7 operating system environment. In the article about setting up a network in Windows XP, I discussed almost all the issues of this process: from measuring the distance between nodes and crimping twisted pair cables to connecting RG 45 plugs to connectors on network cards. In addition, there you can find information about what is an ip address and much more on this topic.

Let's return directly to the task connecting two computers to a network in the Windows 7 operating system environment.

Let's look at this process step by step:

Stage 1. The first step is to enable “Sharing and network discovery” on both computers that will connect to the local network.

To do this, open the Start menu and go to Control Panel. Next we follow the address:
Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center > Change additional settings. sharing options".

Figure 1. Sharing options

In the window that opens, you need to mark the following points:

— Network discovery;

— File sharing;

— Sharing access to public folders;

Stage 2. Set the computer name and workgroup name.

Press the key combination Win + Pause (the site has information about others).
The System Properties window will open. Go to the “Computer name” tab and click on the “Change” button. In the “Change computer name” window that opens enter the required computer name(any, to your “taste”) and name of the working group. By default, in operating systems, the workgroup name is listed as WORKGROUP. You can leave it. For example, I created a working group called HOME NETWORK and assigned a name to the computer Home PC 1.

Fig 2. Name the computer and create a workgroup

Click on the Ok button. The system will provide information about the need to reboot. We agree. We will continue the process of combining two computers into a network after a reboot.

Stage 3 . Assigning IP addresses to computers.

To do this, go to the address:

Start > Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center.

Open “Local Area Connection Properties” and select “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP / IPv 4)

Fig 3. Local network connection: properties.

Then click on the “Properties” button and in the “Properties: Internet Protocol Version 4” window, check the “Use the following IP address” option. Specify the IP address

Note. IP address (Internet Protocol Address, IP) - network address of a node (computer or other network equipment) in a computer network built using the IP protocol. An IP address is a 32-bit binary number. The basic form of an IP address is four decimal numbers (from 0 to 255) separated by periods, for example, 192.168.0.1. Note that the range of IP addresses 192.168.X.X (X=0-255) is allocated for local networks.

Click in the “Subnet Mask” field and this parameter (Subnet Mask) will be set automatically.

Figure 4. Properties: Internet Protocol Version 4

For the second computer, you must specify the same workgroup, but a different name and IP address.

Stage 4. When the corresponding operations have been completed with the second computer, it is necessary to check whether the connection over the network works.

To do this, press the key combination Win + R, and in the “Run” window enter the command cmd.exe. The Windows command interpreter will be launched.

It often happens that there are two computers in the house and it is necessary to frequently exchange a large amount of information between them. If such exchange occurs rarely with a small number of files, then it is logical to use a flash drive. Otherwise, it is better to create a home network. It allows you to exchange data between devices within this network at high speed. Let's figure out how a home network is convenient.

Using a flash drive is not entirely convenient: files are copied slowly, and due to memory limitations, you will have to constantly erase and upload new files, which takes a lot of time. Let's consider combining two computers through a homegroup. For this purpose, you must have a router installed in your home, to which both computers are connected using a network cable or WI-FI connection. To connect two devices to share information, you need to create a homegroup on one of the devices. The computer on which it was created is the main computer of the network. Another device that is a child of the master simply needs to be connected to this group.

What actions must be taken in order to make a connection:

• On the right side of the desktop taskbar, where the system icons are located, find the monitor image, right-click on it and select “Network Center”.
• In the resulting window, select the item "Home Group". In a new window

Click on the “Create a home group” button and in the section that appears, click “Next”.

• Now you must choose which folders will be open to other network devices. When everything is ready, click “next”.
• The next window will ask us to come up with a password for accessing the group and write it down in the appropriate text field. Thus, only those who know the password can use the home network, and no one else will be able to connect to it. In case you forget your password, it is better to write it down on a piece of paper.
• Finally, click the “finish” button, which ends the procedure.

Home network, step-by-step setup in pictures

Home network of computers. Completion

Now, knowing the password, you can connect to the group from any device on the network.

What you need to do to connect to the host computer:

• Open the “Network and Sharing Center”, after which a window with a “Join” button will appear.
• Next, you should select those resources that you are ready to provide access to the host computer.
• In the next window, type the password that was written down when creating the homegroup, and click “next”. That's it, the connection is established. Now you need to configure shared access to folders and drives:
• Select the desired folder or drive, right-click on the folder, drive, or file, and select the “properties” section.
• In the new window, select “access” and click on the “Advanced settings” section.
• In the settings, check the “share this folder” option and click “ok”. Now the disk is available to the group and you can perform various operations with it: copying files and folders, browsing, and so on.

Now, in order to work with folders and files on the main computer, you need to open the network on the child computer and find folders that are allowed access on the main computer. These files can be copied to a child computer, from a child computer to the main computer, and other things that are provided by the operating system. A situation where there is no connection may occur if the settings are correct. The reason may be an antivirus that does not allow connection to other computers. In order to open a connection, you must disable the antivirus while working in the homegroup.

Greetings to all visitors.

Nowadays, many people already have several computers at home, however, not everyone has them connected to a local network... And a local network provides very interesting things: you can play online games, exchange files (or even use shared disk space), work together on documents, etc.

There are several ways to connect computers into a local network, but one of the cheapest and easiest is to use a network cable (regular twisted pair cable) to connect the network cards of the computers. Here's how this is done and we'll look at it in this article.

What do you need to get started?

1) 2 computers with network cards, to which we will connect the twisted pair cable.

All modern laptops (computers), as a rule, have at least one network card in their arsenal. The easiest way to find out if you have a network card on your PC is to use some utility to view the characteristics of your PC (for information about such utilities, see this article:).

Rice. 1. AIDA: To view network devices, go to the Windows Devices/Devices tab.

By the way, you can also pay attention to all the connectors that are on the laptop (computer) case. If there is a network card, you will see a standard RJ45 connector (see Fig. 2).

Rice. 2. RJ45 (standard laptop case, side view).

2) Network cable (so-called twisted pair).

The easiest option is to simply buy such a cable. True, this option is suitable if your computers are not far from each other and you do not need to run the cable through the wall.

Rice. 3. Cable 3 m long (twisted pair).

Connecting 2 computers to a network with a cable: all steps in order

(The description will be based on the Windows 10 OS (in principle, in Windows 7, 8 the settings are identical). Some terms have been simplified or distorted in order to more easily explain specific settings)

1) Connecting computers with a network cable.

There is nothing tricky here - just connect the computers with a cable and turn them both on. Often, next to the connector, there is a green LED that will signal you that you have connected the computer to some kind of network.

Rice. 4. Connect the cable to the laptop.

2) Setting up the computer name and workgroup.

The next important nuance is that both computers (connected by cable) must have:

1. identical work groups ( in my case it is WORKGROUP, see fig. 5);
2. different computer names.

To set these settings, go to " MY COMPUTER» ( or this computer), then right-click anywhere and in the pop-up context menu, select the link “ Properties". Then you can see the name of your PC and workgroup, and also change them ( see green circle in fig. 5).

Rice. 5. Setting the computer name.

After changing the computer name and its workgroup, be sure to restart the PC.

3) Configuring the network adapter (setting IP addresses, subnet mask, DNS server)

Then you need to go to the Windows Control Panel, address: .

Actually, next you should see your network adapter; if it is connected to another PC with a cable, then there should not be any red crosses on it ( see fig. 6, most often, the name of such an Ethernet adapter). You need to right-click on it and go to its properties, then go to the protocol properties " IP version 4» ( You need to go to these settings on both PCs).

Rice. 6. Adapter properties.

Now on one computer you need to set the following data:

1. IP address: 192.168.0.1;
2. Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0 (as in Fig. 7).

Rice. 7. Setting up IP on the “first” computer.

On the second computer you need to set slightly different parameters:

1. IP address: 192.168.0.2;
2. Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0;
3. Default gateway: 192.168.0.1;
4. Preferred DNS server: 192.168.0.1 (as in Figure 8).

Rice. 8. Setting up IP on the second PC.

Next, save the settings. The setup of the local connection itself is complete. Now, if you go into Explorer and click the “Network” link (on the left), you should see the computers in your workgroup ( True, we haven’t opened access to the files yet, so that’s what we’ll do now...).

How to open access to a folder (or drive) for local network users

This is probably the most common thing that users need when joining a local network. This is done quite simply and quickly, let’s look at everything step by step...

1) Enable file and printer sharing

Go to the Windows Control Panel along the following path: Control Panel\Network and Internet\Network and Sharing Center.

Rice. 9. Network and Sharing Center.

Next you will see several profiles: guest, for all users, private (Fig. 10, 11, 12). The task is simple: enable file and printer sharing everywhere, network discovery, and remove password protection. Just set the same settings as shown in Fig. below.

Rice. 10. Private (clickable).

Rice. 11. Guestbook (clickable).

Rice. 12. All networks (clickable).

Important point. You need to make similar settings on both computers on the network!

2) Disk/folder sharing

Now just find the desired folder or drive that you want to give access to. Then go to its properties and in the “ Access" you will find the button " Advanced setup“, and press it, see fig. 13.

Rice. 13. Access to files.

In advanced settings, check the box next to “ Share a folder" and go to the tab " permissions» ( by default, read-only access will be opened, i.e. all users on the local network will only be able to view files, but not edit or delete them. In the “permissions” tab, you can give them any privileges, up to completely deleting all files...).

Rice. 14. Allow sharing of the folder.

Actually, save the settings - and your disk becomes visible to the entire local network. Now you can copy files from it (see Fig. 15).

Rice. 15. Transferring a file locally...

Internet sharing for local network

This is also a very common problem that users encounter. As a rule, one computer in the apartment is connected to the Internet, and the rest gain access from it (unless, of course, a router is installed :)).

1) First go to the tab “ network connections» ( how to open it is described in the first part of the article. You can also open it by entering the control panel, and then entering “View network connections” in the search bar.).

Rice. 16. Internet sharing.

PS

By the way, you might be interested in an article about options for connecting a PC to a local network: (the topic of this article was partially touched upon there). And I’ll call it a day. Good luck to everyone and easy setup :)