Advice on how to connect 2 computers please

[The Tuffen]

Could some1 with more knowledge explain to me how I'd go about connecting my PC to my laptop so that i can play multiplayer games on them.

[Duke of Gloucester]

I use a router to connect my laptop and desktops to the internet at the same time. It is very easy to play a multiplayer game with this set up - just follow the instructions.

If you don't have a router I would recommend buying one - most useful bit of hardware I have ever bought - means the whole family can surf the internet at the same time as well as play multiplayer and share one laser printer. Of course if your family is smaller than mine .....

I think you need a LAN to do multiplayer, so I am don't think you can just connect two computers together using a null modem or something similar. Mind you, I am pretty ignorant when it comes to these things, so maybe someone more knowledgeable will correct me.

[The Tuffen]

I would only need it for playing multiplayer games with my friend. I live with my girlfriend and she has her own laptop for printing and surfing the internet with.

I have no experiance of linking computers - could you explain what a router is and what it does please.

[Xiphias]

Just get a couple of wireless cards, plug them in and follow the instructions to set up an 'ad-hoc' network.

You can also do it with normal network cards and a crossover cable.

[R'as al Ghul]

A router is an enhanced modem.
It allows more than one connection. Mine has usb and network card ports. But I can also use it as a modem.
If you're behind the router only the IP of the router can be seen, the IP of your machine is hidden behind because the router gives it to you. A router is like an additional firewall by the way it works.

You don't need one to connect your machines though. If you have network cards in both of them you just need the appropriate cable. (crossover i think)

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/medievalcheers.gif

P.S.: Gah Xiphias was faster

[The Tuffen]

hmm, don't know if the laptop has a network card. Will have to check later. If it doesn't how easy will it be to get one for it?

I'll have to get one for my PC as well http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/frown.gif

[R'as al Ghul]

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif
They'll throw them cards after you if you pay about 15 bucks each.

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-jester.gif

[Imperial Buffoon]

You probably won´t get that cheap a card for your laptop.

The cheapest way to connect two machines (I have done this a couple of times before for playing multi) is two network cards and a crossover cable.

Laptops usually have network cards because they tend to have loads of connectivity options. Otherwise you'll probably need to buy a PCMCIA (it goes on the slot that looks a bit like a zip drive), these are not so cheap.
Putting a card in your other machine is easy as long as you're not afraid to see its guts. Just open the case (with adequate precautions for static and the like, including coffee http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/tongue.gif ) and plug the card into a free PCI slot, close up and install the card.

After that you need to configure the network in each machine. I find it easier to stick to TCP/IP rather than anything else, if you just pick two private IP adresses and then tell each machine to use the other as gateway, it should be easy enough. This is a lot simpler than setting up a proper network but will only work for two machines. For more, you'll need a router and a machine will have to handle the network (depending on the router)

Oh, BTW, it's worth your while getting good cards and a good cable (the cable may not be so cheap) and it won't be much more expensive.

With some windows systems you can connect the machines via parallel or serial (null modem) port easily but it'll be a lot slower and I don't think you can play that way - it's OK for file transfer.

Finally, there's an option using a special USB cable (I think Belkin does them, this is not an endorsement, it's just that they're not that easy to find). It's very important that you buy a proper cable for this, it has a thingy (like a small box) in the middle that handles who sends and who receives and I've heard horror stories about burnt components from people who just used a standard USB cable with two PC plugs. This has the advantage of not requiring the network cards. It's not cheap but may be worth considering if you would need a PCMCIA network card. I've played with this type of connection with no problems.

Edited stupid spelling mistakes

[The Tuffen]

Cheers for all the help,

My laptop does have a network card in it thankfully and I've just bought myself a cheapish card for my pc and will install it tonight.