Table of Contents
What to Know
- Join each computer systems with one cable, resembling an Ethernet crossover or special-purpose USB cable.
- Or, join the PCs by means of a central infrastructure, resembling an Ethernet or USB hub. Two cables are required.
- For newer computer systems and laptops, join wirelessly through Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or infrared. Wi-Fi is most popular.
This text explains the way to join two computer systems to 1 house community. You should utilize this sort of community to share information, a printer or one other peripheral system, and an web connection.
Two folks sharing a photograph file from one pc to a different of their house
Join Two Computer systems Straight With a Cable
The traditional option to community two computer systems includes making a devoted hyperlink by plugging one cable into the 2 techniques. It’s possible you’ll want an Ethernet crossover cable, a null modem serial cable or parallel peripheral cable, or special-purpose USB cables.
Ethernet Connections
The Ethernet technique is the popular alternative as a result of it helps a dependable, high-speed reference to minimal configuration required. Additionally, Ethernet expertise presents essentially the most general-purpose answer, permitting networks with greater than two computer systems to be constructed later.
If certainly one of your computer systems possesses an Ethernet adapter, however the different has a USB, an Ethernet crossover cable can be utilized by first plugging a USB-to-Ethernet converter unit into the pc’s USB port.
Serial and Parallel Connections
This sort of cabling, known as Direct Cable Connection in Microsoft Home windows, presents decrease efficiency however the identical primary performance as Ethernet cables. It’s possible you’ll choose this feature when you have Ethernet cables available, and community pace will not be a priority. Serial and parallel cables are by no means used to community greater than two computer systems.
USB Connections
Atypical USB 2.0 or newer cables with Sort-A connectors can join two computer systems immediately to one another. It’s possible you’ll choose this feature over others in case your computer systems lack purposeful Ethernet community adapters.
Devoted connections with Ethernet, USB, serial, or parallel cables requires that:
- Every pc has a functioning community interface with an exterior jack for the cable.
- The community settings on every pc are appropriately configured.
- One cellphone line or energy wire can’t be used to immediately join two computer systems for networking.
- Join Two Computer systems With a Cable Via a Central Infrastructure
Quite than cable two computer systems immediately, the computer systems might be joined not directly by means of a central community fixture. This technique requires two community cables, one connecting every pc to the fixture. A number of kinds of fixtures exist for house networking:
- Ethernet hubs, switches, and routers.
- USB hubs.
- Phoneline and powerline wall shops.
Implementing this technique typically entails a further up-front value to buy extra cables and community infrastructure. Nevertheless, it is a general-purpose answer that accommodates any cheap variety of units (for instance, ten or extra). You’ll doubtless choose this strategy if you happen to intend to develop your community sooner or later.
Most cabled networks use Ethernet expertise. Alternatively, USB hubs work properly, whereas powerline and phoneline house networks supply a novel type of central infrastructure. The usual Ethernet options are typically dependable and supply excessive efficiency.
Join Two Computer systems Wirelessly
Lately, wi-fi options have elevated in reputation for house networking. As with cabled options, a number of wi-fi applied sciences exist to assist primary two-computer networks.
Wi-Fi Connections
Wi-Fi connections can attain a larger distance than wi-fi alternate options. Many more recent computer systems, particularly laptops, include built-in Wi-Fi functionality, making it the popular alternative in most conditions. Wi-Fi can be utilized both with or with no community fixture. With two computer systems, Wi-Fi networking minus a fixture (additionally known as advert hoc mode) is easy to arrange.
Bluetooth Connections
Bluetooth expertise helps fairly high-speed wi-fi connections between two computer systems with out the necessity for a community fixture. Bluetooth is often used when networking a pc with a client handheld system like a cellphone.
Most desktop and older computer systems don’t possess Bluetooth functionality. Bluetooth works finest if each units are in the identical room in shut proximity to one another. Think about Bluetooth if you are interested in networking with handheld units and your computer systems lack Wi-Fi functionality.
Infrared Connections
Infrared networking existed on laptops years earlier than both Wi-Fi or Bluetooth applied sciences turned widespread. Infrared connections work between two computer systems, don’t require a fixture, and are fairly quick. Being easy to arrange and use, contemplate infrared in case your computer systems assist it, and you do not need to make investments the trouble in Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
In case you discover point out of an alternate wi-fi expertise known as HomeRF, you possibly can safely ignore it. HomeRF expertise turned out of date a number of years in the past and isn’t a sensible possibility for house networking.
FAQ
How do I join two computer systems to a single monitor?
One of many less complicated methods to share a monitor between two computer systems is with software program like Microsoft Distant Desktop, although distant connections do typically embody drawbacks like show lag and pixelation. Many trendy displays additionally supply multiple port for video enter, so you possibly can bodily join each machines to a single display screen. The downside on this case being that you will additionally have to manually change the monitor’s inside enter choice settings each time you need to swap.
How do I join two computer systems to 1 printer?
If each computer systems are already sharing the identical community, giving them each entry to the identical printer is straightforward. Make sure that the printer is related to your primary PC, then open Management Panel and choose {Hardware} and Sound > View units and printers. Proper-click on the printer you need to share and choose Printer properties > Sharing, then choose Share this printer. Now different PCs in your community will be capable to discover it and join.