>
> Hello. I would like some help/tips/pointers on setting up a very small
> and >>>inexpensive<<< network for my home.
>
> I am very new to the world of Linux (RH version 5.2)--I've only been
> using it since this past December. So far it's been dual-booting with
> Win 98. I also have a printer attached to this PC. My second PC has
> Win NT. Both have modems. The PC's are approx. 20-30 feet apart. What
> I would like to do is network them both to share the printer and dialup
> access to the net. I've looked through the FAQ's and How-To's etc. but
> they seemed a bit advanced.
>
> These are some the question's I have so far:
>
> 1) What kind of connection would I need, i.e., NIC cards, cabling
> type/length, ...
Inexpensive, huh? How 'bout this:
2 NIC's. 10BaseT (or 100BaseT for a few bucks more).
I picked up a 10/100BaseT PCI card for $18 as a local
show.
Cabling: Cat 5. should be able to pick this up fairly cheaply.
for you 20-30' apart, this will be no problem.
Cross-Over adapter: $1 or so. I picked up one at a local show.
The problem this RJ-45 cabling it that it is assumed
that you are connecting to a hub. In order to connect 2
NICs together without a hb, you need the transmit-wires of
from one end ot the connection to connect to the receive-wires
of the other. There are 2 solutions:
1) Buy a special cable (called a cross-over cable)
which will do what you want, but becomes worthless
if you get a hub.
2) get a regular Cat 5 cable, and use a cross-over adapter,
which attaches to one end, swithcing the transmit and
receive wires.
I suggest #2, but I had a bitch-of-a-time finding a cross-over
adapter. You may not be as patient. Look around for the adapter.
If you don't find one, just get the cross-over cable.
If you do get a cross-over cable, (rather than an adapter and regular
cable), do yourself a favor and LABEL IT A CROSS OVER CABLE.
I can't tell you how many folks I know who have wasted hours trying to
fix a network problem, and found out they were accidently using
cross-over cables with a hub.
> ... compatibility with Linux and NT?
Sure! Look into Samba (I don't use it personally, so I can't be of much help.)
> Can I connect the two PC's through their modems?
I don't think so. Even if you can it wouldn't be worth the trouble.
If you want to go the Ultra-cheap route, you can connect them using
serial-port to serial-port or parrallel-to-parallel.
> 2) Would I need Windows installed on both, or can I have the server run
> Linux and the client run Win NT?
Any combination is fine. I prefer Linux-Linux, but Linux-NT is fine.
> 3) How much would it cost? (I'm in Canada, so when you quote could you
> indicate whether it's US $$$ or not.)
>
The suggestion I mentioned above should be fairly cheap. All of this is in US$
2 10/100BaseT cards: $20x2 = $40
-or-
2x Used 10BaseT cards $10x2 = $20
Cat 5 cable: No more than $10 for 20-30'.
Cross over adapter (If you don't get cross over cable): $1
Hope this helps,
Bryan
