How To Configure A Direct Cable Connection With Windows XP Home Edition

How to Configure a Direct Cable Connection with Windows XP Home Edition (PART 1)
Applies To
SUMMARY
This article includes Part 1 of the "Configure a Direct Cable Connection with Windows XP Home Edition"
guide. Part 1 provides an introduction to this guide.
Note To view the other topics of the "Configure a Direct Cable Connection with Windows XP Home
Edition" guide, see the Microsoft Knowledge Base articles that are listed in the "References" section of
this article.
The "Configure a Direct Cable Connection with Windows XP Home Edition" guide includes the following
topics:
Part 1. Introduction: Configure a Direct Cable Connection with Windows XP Home Edition
Part 2. Connecting the Cables
Part 3. Setting the Computer Names and Workgroups
Part 4. Sharing Resources
Part 5. Configuring the Direct Cable Connection
Part 6. Configuring TCP/IP
Part 7. Using NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS-Compatible Transport Protocol
Part 8. Connecting the Computers
MORE INFORMATION
For the occasional exchange of data between a laptop computer and a desktop computer, you do not
have to use a whole network. If you use only a direct cable connection and a cable, you create a real
network connection that you can quickly create and disconnect.
The direct cable connection is a connection between a guest computer and a host computer. When you
use this connection, you can connect two computers to each other.
• The host computer provides resources such as folders, drives, or even a printer.
• The guest computer uses the resources that the host computer provides.
Strict task sharing results in a one-way direct cable connection. The resources can only be accessed in
one direction. To change the direction, disconnect an existing connection, reassign the tasks, and then
reestablish the connection.
The guest computer uses the resources of the host computer.

Applies To
SUMMARY
guide. Part 2 describes how to connect the cables.
this article.
topics:
MORE INFORMATION
For two computers to exchange data, they must be physically connected. To connect them, you can use
the following configurations:
• A serial null modem cable for the COM port
• A parallel interlink cable for the LPT port
• A USB link cable for the USB interface

• CAT5 UTP or STP cable (category 5 unshielded or shielded twisted pair cables with RJ45
connectors on both ends)
• If you do not have cables, you can use an infrared connection if both computers have the
required hardware.
Cables are special equipment. You can obtain them from specialized dealers under a variety of names.
Null modem cables and interlink cables cross over the reception and transmission lines. USB link cables
are straight-through cables that are equipped with conversion electronics.
A cable that is used for a direct cable connection has the same connector at both ends. This feature
distinguishes it from other cables. For example, a null modem cable has socket connectors at both ends,
and a typical serial cable that you use for connecting an external modem has a socket connector at the
computer end and a pin connector at the modem end.
Obtain a suitable cable and connect your computers with it. You do not have to obtain any other
hardware.
Applies To
SUMMARY
guide. Part 3 discusses how to set the computer names and workgroups.
Note To view the other topics of the ""Configure a Direct Cable Connection with Windows XP Home
this article.
topics:
MORE INFORMATION
Make sure that the two computers can identify themselves. Each computer must have a computer name
and it must be a member of a workgroup. To make sure the computers can identify themselves, follow
these steps:
1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.

2. In Classic view, double-click System.
3. Click the Computer Name tab, and then type a description (optional).
4. Click Change, specify the computer name and the workgroup, and then click OK.
Notes
 Assign each computer a different, meaningful name.

 Assign each computer to the same workgroup.
1. Click OK.
2. Restart your computer. To do so, click OK, and then click OK again.
After you complete this procedure, you can set up the resources that you want to share.
Applies To
SUMMARY
guide. Part 4 discusses sharing resources.
this article.
topics:
MORE INFORMATION
Before you can exchange data between the host computer and the guest computer, you must make the
data available. To do so, you must share the appropriate folders on the host computer. You can also
share drives or printers and access them from the guest computer.
Sharing Folders
1. In My Computer, right-click the folder that you want to share, and then click Sharing and
Security to configure the remaining settings.
2. The next two windows only appear when you set up your first shared item. Windows notifies
you that sharing data presents a certain security risk. Therefore, remote access is turned off by
default. Click the Security warning message, click Just enable file sharing, and then click OK.
3. Now you can share your data. Click Share this folder on the network, and then type a share
name. You can use this name to access the data later. The share name and the folder name do not
have to be the same.
4. Specify whether data that is accessed over the network can be changed, and then click OK.
5. The shared folder icon now appears with a picture of a hand:
If you selected Allow network users to change my files, you can view, copy, move, change and
delete files in this folder from the guest computer. You can add new files and can also access subfolders
and files.
You can use the same method to share whole drives. For example, you can share the following drives:
• Hard disks or partitions

• CD-ROM drives
• ZIP drives
Sharing a Printer
You share a printer the same way that you share a file. To share a printer, follow these steps:

2. In Classic view, double-click Printers and Faxes.
3. Right-click the printer that you want to share, and then click Sharing.
4. If you have already shared a folder or a drive, printer sharing is already turned on, and you
only have to enter a share name. Otherwise, you must first turn on remote access.
5. Click the Security warning message if it is required, click Just enable printer sharing, and
then click OK.
6. Click Share this printer, and then type a share name.
7. Click OK.
The printer is now shared.
Applies To
SUMMARY
guide. Part 5 describes how to configure the direct cable connection.
this article.
topics:
MORE INFORMATION
Now you can set up the connection. You must configure the host computer and the guest computer.
Configure the Host Computer

2. In Classic view, double-click Network Connections.
3. In Network Tasks, click Create a New Connection. The New Connection Wizard starts.
4. You may have to type your location information. To do so, type the area code, and then click
OK to close the window.
5. Click Next.
6. Click Set up an advanced connection, and then click Next.
7. Click Connect directly to another computer, and then click Next.

8. Specify the role of the host, and then click Next.
9. Click the connection device, and then click Next. In this case it is a null modem cable on COM2.
The next step is very important. You must make sure that the guest computer has the right to access
the host. To do so, you may have to create a new user account for each user who wants to log on from
the guest computer.
The configuration in this case will be as follows:
 Host computer: hostname with a user account for user1.
 Guest computer: guestname with a user account for user2.
For user2 to access hostname, user2 must have a user account with the same name on hostname.
1. If necessary, create the corresponding user account, and then click Add.
2. Type the user name and password, confirm the password, and then click OK.
3. User2 can now access the host. Click Next, and then click Finish.
4. The host configuration is now complete. The new connection appears in the category
Incoming.
Note For user1 to access guestname in a later configuration, the roles are reversed. Now user1 must
have appropriate account on guestname.
Configure the Guest Computer
1. Click Start, click Control Panel, click Network Connections, and then click Create a new
connection to start the New Connection Wizard.
2. Type your location information here, click OK, and then click Next.
3. Click Set up an advanced connection, click Next, click Connect directly to another
computer, and then click Next.
4. Specify the role of the guest, and then click Next.
5. Type a name for the connection. The computer name is most appropriate for this. Click Next.
6. Specify the communication device. On this computer, the null modem cable is connected to
COM1. Click Next, and then click Finish.
First Connection
7. The guest immediately tries to establish contact with the host. Type the user name and
password. Save them both for your own reference, and then click Connect.
8. The new connection is established and appears in the category Direct.
9. To view the details, right-click the connection, click Status, and then click Details.
10. The successful connection is registered on the host. It appears in the category Incoming below
the user name.
11. To disconnect, you can use either the General tab or right-click the connection.
Optimizing the Connection
A connection with a null modem cable is relatively slow. Therefore, you may want to configure the
optimum connection speed.
On the Host Computer

1. Right-click Incoming Connections, and then click Properties.
2. Click the General tab, click your communications port, and then click Properties.
3. Increase the transfer rate to 115200 bit/sec, and then click OK to close the window.
On the Guest Computer
1. Right-click the connection, and then click Properties.
2. On General tab, click Configure.

3. Increase the transfer rate to 115200 bit/sec, and then click OK to close the window.
4. The next time you establish the connection, the performance will be improved.
Exchanging Roles
You can also create a configuration where the roles are reversed. Each of the two computers can then act
as either the guest or the host computer without requiring any additional adaptations. Make sure you
have the correct user account and verify that the connection rates are set to the same value before you
make the first connection.
When you have finished all the configuration steps, all the connections appear.
Applies To
SUMMARY
guide. Part 6 describes how to configure TCP/IP.
this article.
topics:

MORE INFORMATION
Over the past years, TCP/IP has become the standard protocol used in large and small networks. Even
your direct cable connection uses the TCP/IP protocol to connect the computers.
This works even if one of the two computers is already a member of a small network. In this case, the
computer is connected to the Local Area Network (LAN) by its network card and directly to the other
computer by its communication cable.
Additionally, you can access the Internet. You can configure everything at the same time in the best way
for each connection, and use it all at the same time.
• IP address
Every computer in a TCP/IP network has a unique IP address where it can be reached in the
network. The IP address is made up of four numbers between 0 and 255, separated by periods.
All computers are numbered in a series.
• Subnet mask
The subnet mask determines the network where the computer is located. This is especially
important in larger networks. Large networks are frequently divided into several subnets. The
direct cable connection also forms a network of its own.
• Automatic addresses
You must configure a small LAN with private IP addresses yourself, for example, with
192.168.0.x and the subnet mask 255.255.255.0, where x is a different number between 1 and
254 each time. However, with a direct cable connection, Windows automatically assigns IP
addresses to the two computers:
 169.254.x.y with the subnet mask 255.255.255.255 for the host computer
 169.254.x.y with the subnet mask 255.255.255.255 for the guest computer
Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) gives you your Internet IP address when you dial in.
Note The range of IP addresses from 169.254.0.1 to 169.254.255.254 is reserved for Automatic Private
IP Addressing (APIPA). APIPA enables your computer to have a valid TCP/IP configuration even if it does
not have a fixed IP address or, in larger networks, if a DHCP server cannot be found.
The standard subnet mask for this address range is 255.255.0.0. During a direct cable connection it is
replaced by subnet mask 255.255.255.255 because the respective remote party is the only computer
that must be reached.
The IP address range used for APIPA is reserved by Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA). The IP
addresses in this range are not used in the Internet.
Client and Server Software
You must turn on Client for Microsoft Networks and File and Printer Sharing for direct cable connection.
Windows automatically sets this up when the host or guest computer is configured. Therefore, you do not
have to do anything else. Your Internet connection does not notice this. It works even without Client for
Microsoft Networks and File and Printer Sharing.
Address Pool for Incoming Connections
You can configure an address pool on the host where the host and guest computer can assign specific IP
addresses. To do so, follow these steps:
1. Click Start, point to Connect To, and then click Show all connections.
3. Click the Networking tab, click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and then click Properties.
4. Click Specify TCP/IP addresses, and then type the first and last address that should be used.
A direct cable connection requires two addresses (one for the host, one for the guest), but can have
more than that. In this example, the direct cable connection can select from five addresses:
 192.168.55.1
 192.168.55.2
 192.168.55.3
 192.168.55.4
 192.168.55.5
1. Click OK two times.
If you connect to the host now, the guest and host computers use two specified addresses from the
pool. You can check this:
a. Right-click the connection, and then click Status.

b. Click Details.
c. The corresponding entries for the host and guest appear under the server IP address
and client IP address.
2. Click Close, and then disconnect the connection.
Fixed IP Address
The address pool also permits users to use a fixed address for the guest computer. To use a fixed
address, follow these steps:
1. When you configure the pool, click to select the Allow calling computer to specify its own
IP address check box.
2. Configure a fixed IP address on the guest computer, right-click the connection, and then click
Properties.
3. Click the Networking tab, click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and then click Properties.
4. Click Use the following IP address, and then type an IP address that corresponds to the
address pool.
5. Click OK.
When you connect to the host, the guest computer uses an address from the pool and the host computer
uses the fixed IP address assigned to it. A fixed, assigned IP address is useful when a computer cannot
handle automatic address assignment. This might occur when a computer is still running Windows 95, for
example.
If you are not sure how to configure a Windows 95 computer, see the step-by-step guide for Windows 98
if you need help. That guide discusses how to specify a fixed IP address for the dial-up adapter, activate
the Client for Microsoft Networks and file and print sharing, and what you have to do to access the
Internet again. Configuration in Windows 95 is practically the same. For additional information, click the
following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
814235 How to Set Up a Small Network with Windows 98 Second Edition (PART 1)
For all direct cable connections to Windows 98-based and Windows Millennium Edition-based computers,
you can enable the guest computer to dial in to the Windows XP host without needing to enter a
password. To do so, follow these steps:

2. Click User, and then click to select the Always allow directly connected devices such as
palmtop computers to connect without providing a password check box. You must still set up
the corresponding user account.
The guest appears as an Unauthenticated user.

Applies To
SUMMARY
guide. Part 7 describes how to use NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS compatible transport protocol.
this article.
topics:
MORE INFORMATION
If you just want to connect two Windows XP computers, you do not have to use the NWLink
IPX/SPX/NetBIOS Compatible Transport Protocol. However, you can use it if you want to.
However, if a Windows 98-based, a Windows 98 Second Edition-based, or a Windows Millennium Edition-

based computer is involved, a second protocol is worthwhile, especially if you want this computer to have
Internet access. Otherwise, you may have to constantly reconfigure because only one TCP/IP instance
exists for the dial-up adapter.
• For the Internet: automatic IP address, Client for Microsoft Networks and file and printer sharing
disabled
• For direct cable connection: automatic or fixed IP address, Client for Microsoft Networks and file
and printer sharing enabled
In this case, a second protocol provides more convenience. You can then optimize TCP/IP for the Internet
and configure the NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS Compatible Transport Protocol for the direct cable
connection.
By default, the NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS Compatible Transport Protocol is not installed. However, you
can install it now on the host computer and the guest computer.
Host Computer
1. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Network Connections.
2. Right-click Incoming connections, and then click Properties.
3. Click the Networking tab, and then click Install.
4. Click Protocol, and then click Add.

5. Click NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS Compatible Transport Protocol, and then click OK.
6. If the direct cable connection occurs only over the NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS Compatible
Transport Protocol, you can disable the TCP/IP protocol. To do so, click to clear the corresponding
check box, and then click Close.
7. Optimize your other network connections. Disable NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS Compatible
Transport Protocol here and disable the Client for Microsoft Networks and file and printer sharing
wherever appropriate. The entries are under Properties for each connection.
Here are two examples:

8. Restart your computer.
Guest Computer
Follow the same steps on the guest computer:
1. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Network Connections.
2. Right-click your connection to the host, and then click Properties.
3. Follow the same installation steps as on the host computer.
4. Later, you can use the NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS Compatible Transport Protocol to connect.
The configuration process on a Windows 98-based, a Windows 98 Second Edition-based, or a Windows

Millennium Edition based computer is very similar. For more detailed information, see a step-by-step
guide for the older Windows versions.
However, you must also enable NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS Compatible Transport Protocol. If you do not,
you will establish a connection, but you cannot display the resources.
1. Look under the installed network components for the IPX/SPX entry for the dial-up adapter, and
then click Properties.
2. Click the NetBIOS tab.
Applies To
SUMMARY
guide. Part 8 describes how to connect the computers.
this article.
topics:
MORE INFORMATION

If the connection from the guest computer to the host computer is established, you can display shared
resources. To do so:
1. Click Start, and then click Run.

2. Type a resource with which you want to connect. This follows the Universal Naming Convention
(UNC):
\\computer name\share name
Accessing a Folder
1. Type the computer name and the share name, and then click OK.
2. The resource appears, and you can work with it.
Accessing a Printer
1. Type the printer name and the share name, and then click OK.
2. If this is the first connection attempt, you must install the printer driver. Windows notifies you
of this.
3. Click Yes. Windows installs the printer driver.
4. When the installation is completed, the queue on the host appears:
User is printing a document right now.

5. The printer is now permanently installed and always ready for use when a connection to the
host is established.

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How to Configure a Direct Cable Connection with Windows XP Home Edition (PART 1)

Part 2. Connecting the Cables

Part 3. Setting the Computer Names and Workgroups

Part 4. Sharing Resources

Part 5. Configuring the Direct Cable Connection

Part 6. Configuring TCP/IP

Part 7. Using NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS-Compatible Transport Protocol

Part 8. Connecting the Computers

The guest computer uses the resources of the host computer.

Part 2. Connecting the Cables

Part 3. Setting the Computer Names and Workgroups

Part 4. Sharing Resources

Part 5. Configuring the Direct Cable Connection

Part 6. Configuring TCP/IP

Part 7. Using NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS-Compatible Transport Protocol

Part 8. Connecting the Computers

Part 2. Connecting the Cables

• A serial null modem cable for the COM port

• A parallel interlink cable for the LPT port

• A USB link cable for the USB interface

Part 2. Connecting the Cables

Part 3. Setting the Computer Names and Workgroups

Part 4. Sharing Resources

Part 5. Configuring the Direct Cable Connection

Part 6. Configuring TCP/IP

Part 7. Using NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS-Compatible Transport Protocol

Part 8. Connecting the Computers

Part 3. Setting the Computer Names and Workgroups

1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.

 Assign each computer a different, meaningful name.

Part 2. Connecting the Cables

Part 3. Setting the Computer Names and Workgroups

Part 4. Sharing Resources

Part 5. Configuring the Direct Cable Connection

Part 6. Configuring TCP/IP

Part 7. Using NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS-Compatible Transport Protocol

Part 8. Connecting the Computers

Part 4. Sharing Resources

• Hard disks or partitions

1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.

6. Click Share this printer, and then type a share name.

Part 2. Connecting the Cables

Part 3. Setting the Computer Names and Workgroups

Part 4. Sharing Resources

Part 5. Configuring the Direct Cable Connection

Part 6. Configuring TCP/IP

Part 7. Using NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS-Compatible Transport Protocol

Part 8. Connecting the Computers

Part 5. Configuring the Direct Cable Connection

Configure the Host Computer

1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.

7. Click Connect directly to another computer, and then click Next.

 Host computer: hostname with a user account for user1.

 Guest computer: guestname with a user account for user2.

Configure the Guest Computer

On the Host Computer

On the Guest Computer

1. Right-click the connection, and then click Properties.

2. On General tab, click Configure.