Help with networking?

i was told i needed a router for networking two computers, my question is do some computers come with net adapters and is that the same as a networking card that you buy seperate from the router for a wireless network ???? please some one help i am so confused

Help with networking?
To be on any network, wired or wireless, your computer needs a NIC (Network Interface Card). If you do not want to use a router, you can opt for a switch/hub. Now one more important thing here is, whether you are trying to share internet on both computers or just trying to connect each other (no intenet sharing). For internet sharing, you can have 2 NICs on one computer, use one for internet and other to connect to second computer. If not internet sharing needed then you can connect two computers with one NIC on each, but for that you will need a cable different from CAT5, I guess its called coaxial cable. It looks like CAT5 cable except the internal connections are different.





But using a router/switch/hub simplifies the process a lot
Reply:to connect 2 computers directly together you need a crossover cable. They will need to be on the same IP network say 172.1.1.1 one computer and put the subnetmask at 255.255.255.0 and then assign the other computer as 172.1.1.2 ( or anything else up to 254). and again use the same subnet mask of 255.255.255.0.


Then enable sharing on a drive and you'll be able to map to that drive from the other comuter.





To use a straight thru cable and arouter set the router up as 172.1.1.1 and the computers up as 172.1.1.2 and 172.1.1.3.





Most modern computers come with a LAN port to plug the cable into.
Reply:from what i know computers don't have net adapters pre-installed in them, and no it's not the same thing
Reply:You need a router to split the internet access and for setting up the network easily.





You also need a network card (ie NIC) for each computer you want to put on the network. These can be a network card (looks like a large phone jack on the back/side) or it can be wireless.





You set up the router per the manufactures specifications (its really easily done, just run the CD / follow the fold out) and boom your network is done.





Then follow the instructions for the same on the other PCs. There is also a networking wizard in the control panel on the Networking section and in there you will see the "Network Setup Wizard"





Once you get the hardware set up (ie router and NIC cards) then run that and use the same information between both and "TADA" you have a network.

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