# Network needs **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 23, 2002, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/network-needs/129356 "2002-09-23T22:47:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PurpleNurple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d07c76/32.png) [@PurpleNurple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PurpleNurple)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2002, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/network-needs/129356/1 "2002-09-23T22:47:41Z")
So I was wonder what do I need to network two computers together? For like playing games adn such. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2002, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/network-needs/129356/2 "2002-09-23T22:56:38Z")
Well, Im sure the computer guys are going to ask this first, what type of computers are these? MAcs, PCs? ---
**Author:** ![Horseflesh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horseflesh/32/7502_2.png) [@Horseflesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horseflesh)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2002, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/network-needs/129356/3 "2002-09-23T23:02:02Z")
Yes, please. Also what operating system(s)? Do you have broadband Internet access as well? ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2002, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/network-needs/129356/4 "2002-09-23T23:16:00Z")
If these are windows computers (which most game computers are these days) then you can either use a direct cable connection or a “real” network. Direct cable connections use either the serial port or parallel port, and they are slower than ethernet. On the plus side, they are pretty cheap to set up since all you need is a cable (about 5 bucks). For a network connection, you need a network card in each computer and a crossover cable to connect them. For more than 2 computers you use straight cables instead of crossovers and you have to go through a hub. Things get more complicated if there’s an internet connection involved. ---
**Author:** ![PurpleNurple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d07c76/32.png) [@PurpleNurple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PurpleNurple)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2002, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/network-needs/129356/5 "2002-09-26T22:03:04Z")
thanks for the help so far, It will be PCs and most likely run Windows XP. So all I need is a patch cord and two ethernet cards or was it network cards…or are they the same thing? ---
**Author:** ![3waygeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/e95f7d/32.png) [@3waygeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3waygeek)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2002, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/network-needs/129356/6 "2002-09-26T22:15:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by PurpleNurple \* > \*\*thanks for the help so far, > It will be PCs and most likely run Windows XP. So all I need is a patch cord and two ethernet cards or was it network cards…or are they the same thing? \*\* For all practical purposes, network card = ethernet card; there are non-ethernet network cards (e.g. token-ring), but they’re not too commonly available in your local computer shop. Speaking of which, you might want to wait till the Sunday papers come out before buying components; CompUSA, BestBuy, Staples, OfficeMax, and OfficeDepot all offer frequent specials on ethernet cards – you can get PCI bus ethernet cards for as low as $5.00 – these specials will be featured in their Sunday inserts. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2002, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/network-needs/129356/7 "2002-09-26T22:28:57Z")
When I did this, I got a cheap Netgear hub, 2 ethernet cards. Plug them into the hub, go to network settings, speciffy ip addresses for each computer. Make sure you are using netbui or tcp/ip. ---
**Author:** ![Number](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/number/32/242_2.png) [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2002, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/network-needs/129356/8 "2002-09-26T23:47:01Z")
> [@](#): > > It will be PCs and most likely run Windows XP. So all I need is a patch cord and two ethernet cards or was it network cards…or are they the same thing? As **engineer\_comp\_geek** mentioned, it needs to be a _crossover_ cable. An ordinary straight-through cable won’t work between two PCs. Your local computer shop should carry both types. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2002, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/network-needs/129356/9 "2002-09-26T23:49:54Z")
Worldeater: If you had purchased a single crossover cable, you could have saved yourself the expense of one cable and the hub. For only 2 computers, all you need is a crossover cable. For 3+ computers you need a hub. If you are going computer to computer, make darn sure you get a CROSSOVER cable and not a straight through cable. I would recommend TCP/IP using static addreses. make one of the addresses 192.168.0.1 and the other one 192.168.0.2. I’d also recommend adding IPX/SPX protocol. That should do you for any games I’m familiar with. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2002, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/network-needs/129356/10 "2002-09-27T18:33:47Z")
Adding IPX/SPX would not likely be of any use in this situation. Not a lot of Novell based games out there. Stick to TCP/IP as the core protocol and add Microsoft Networking client/server over TCP/IP if you want to share files etc. Netbui is passe and then some. Also a lot easier to firewall sticking to just TCP/IP if one of the machines has an Internet connection.