How to connect two PCs?

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mattbiernat · #1 Post by **mattbiernat** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 5:05 am

Is there any way to phisically connect two PCs through USB or something like that? I basically need to constantly transfer data between my T60 and T23 and I would like to ditch my iPod (which i use as USB drive).

#2 Post by **KristianJ** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 5:33 am

Ethernet, I would assume...(I've never bothered trying since I've hardly ever transferred data between any 2 laptops I've owned). I'm fairly sure I've read somewhere that USB's not possible

mattbiernat · #3 Post by **mattbiernat** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 6:31 am

KristianJ wrote:Ethernet, I would assume...(I've never bothered trying since I've hardly ever transferred data between any 2 laptops I've owned). I'm fairly sure I've read somewhere that USB's not possible

i can't use ethernet ports because both are being currently used.

aaa · #4 Post by **aaa** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 7:06 am

For USB transfer you'd need a special cable (not just one that's the same on both ends). And it would be horribly slow because the T23 would be at 12Mbps.

I would do it over the network. Since they are both already plugged into ethernet, they can probably connect to each other and share files, right?

mattbiernat · #5 Post by **mattbiernat** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 7:35 am

aaa wrote: I would do it over the network. Since they are both already plugged into ethernet, they can probably connect to each other and share files, right?

how do i configure that?

#6 Post by **jdhurst** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 8:18 am

You can use the "Map Network Drive" function, but you need to ensure the same workgroup, ensure firewall settings, ensure both machines have proper userid's and passwords, and turn off simple file sharing. There are posts in here about that. ... JDH

mattbiernat · #7 Post by **mattbiernat** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 8:34 am

see that thing is that i am connected with about 400 students to the same ethernet network. i don't want everyone else to see the contents of my thinkpads.

#8 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 8:54 am

Buy a large USB stick, 2GB or 4GB.
If you also get a PCMCIA USB2.0 adapter for the T23, it would work quite well.

mattbiernat · #9 Post by **mattbiernat** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 9:09 am

RealBlackStuff wrote:Buy a large USB stick, 2GB or 4GB.
If you also get a PCMCIA USB2.0 adapter for the T23, it would work quite well.

like this one http://www.bixnet.com/2poruspcmcic.html
seems like a good idea, but i would prefer something simpler. how about those serial ports? can I use them somehow to transfer data from one thinkpad to another?

aaa · #10 Post by **aaa** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 9:20 am

mattbiernat wrote:see that thing is that i am connected with about 400 students to the same ethernet network. i don't want everyone else to see the contents of my thinkpads.

I use this from time to time, might be easier to set up, and you can put a password on it (just like you can with file sharing as well).

syedj · #11 Post by **syedj** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 9:44 am

mattbiernat wrote: like this one http://www.bixnet.com/2poruspcmcic.html
seems like a good idea, but i would prefer something simpler. how about those serial ports? can I use them somehow to transfer data from one thinkpad to another?

How much data and how often synchronization are we talking here? If its within a gig or two and less often synchronization then USB flash drive will work best.

Are you talking bout the 9-pin serial ports? They will require a cross-over null modem cable (an almost extinct item now) and some sort of software from the late 80's and early 90's to handle the serial transfer protocol.

For making your shared folders/directories secure, you can easily set permissions on the sharing to keep the prying eyes out.

#12 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 9:56 am

If you go the USB-way, you may as well get a combo USB2.0/Firewire card, like this http://www.bixnet.com/usb2cocabusc.html

The FTP server as suggested by aaa may not be a bad idea either (as it costs nothing), but the implementation might me a bit harder to set up.

mattbiernat · #13 Post by **mattbiernat** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 10:24 am

syedj wrote:If its within a gig or two and less often synchronization then USB flash drive will work best.

Are you talking bout the 9-pin serial ports? They will require a cross-over null modem cable (an almost extinct item now) and some sort of software from the late 80's and early 90's to handle the serial transfer protocol.

For making your shared folders/directories secure, you can easily set permissions on the sharing to keep the prying eyes out.

yes 9pin serial ports. i guess these are obsolete now....
i do have a USB drive (my30gGB iPod) but I would like to have the conviniece of not having have to: #1 use the slow USB1.1 on T23 #2 constantly attatch and detach something between two laptops.
connecting two a network of 400 people (and a lot of hackers here) makes me paranoid.
so im gonna go with the USB solution (getting the USB 2.0 adapter for T23) which is not very elegant but it will work.
unless there is a simpler way to connect... simple modem to modem? or directly connecting one ethernet port to another?

#14 Post by **jdhurst** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 10:32 am

The core of my earlier post was to eliminate simple file sharing (turn it off) and provide secure userid/password access to your machines. Once you do that, prying eyes don't really have a chance.

A word on passwords: Any password like hjlkhgdsihaishih can be cracked in less than 5 minutes. Change it to $hjlkhgdsihaishih$ and it is a lot more difficult to crack. So just secure your passwords.
... JDH

#15 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 10:33 am

Alternatively, get a crossover CAT5 cable, and make the Share available to the other laptop.
For more details, see e.g. here: http://www.leeindy.com/how_to_connect_t ... ther.shtml

syedj · #16 Post by **syedj** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 10:41 am

mattbiernat wrote:
syedj wrote:If its within a gig or two and less often synchronization then USB flash drive will work best.

Are you talking bout the 9-pin serial ports? They will require a cross-over null modem cable (an almost extinct item now) and some sort of software from the late 80's and early 90's to handle the serial transfer protocol.

For making your shared folders/directories secure, you can easily set permissions on the sharing to keep the prying eyes out.
yes 9pin serial ports. i guess these are obsolete now....
i do have a USB drive (my30gGB iPod) but I would like to have the conviniece of not having have to: #1 use the slow USB1.1 on T23 #2 constantly attatch and detach something between two laptops.
connecting two a network of 400 people (and a lot of hackers here) makes me paranoid.
so im gonna go with the USB solution (getting the USB 2.0 adapter for T23) which is not very elegant but it will work.
unless there is a simpler way to connect... simple modem to modem? or directly connecting one ethernet port to another?

Null modems for the 9-pin serial ports are still available, along with a matching serial cable however the data transfer rate will be pathetically slow compared to today's standards and amount of data. The fastest sustained data rate you can have 115,000 bits per second (~12 kB/s), without any error correction.

The above is the simplest modem to modem connection, in theory at least - since a modem is a serial device nonethesless

You can have a nice private 100 BaseT connection between the two laptops if you use a crossover ethernet cable between them, assign static IP addresses to the two interfaces and share the directories temporarily. However, for the actual steps you will have to disconnect the regular ethernet cable, connect the cross-over cable, assign the static IP addresses, share the folders, do the transfer, unshare the directories, clear the static IP Addresses, switch back the regular ethernet cable. Given all these steps using an iPod doesn't sound that much work anymore.

syedj · #17 Post by **syedj** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 10:49 am

RealBlackStuff wrote:Alternatively, get a crossover CAT5 cable, and make the Share available to the other laptop.
For more details, see e.g. here: http://www.leeindy.com/how_to_connect_t ... ther.shtml

The only issue is sharing of folders is not specific to any ethernet interface. Once shared the folders are visible through all interfaces.

Edit: Sorry, I misunderstood RealBlackStuff's posting. Please disregard my above posting. Just unsharing the folders once the transfer has complete should be enough.

mattbiernat · #18 Post by **mattbiernat** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 11:55 am

syedj wrote: Given all these steps using an iPod doesn't sound that much work anymore.

how about i get PCMCIA Fast Ethernet Adapter for my T60 and connect through this adapter to the internet. Use the other ethernet port on my T60 to directly connect to my other T23?
would this allow me to have to separate connections? one to the internet and the other one to my other thinkpad?
otherwise i have two more solutions:
1. use the USB
or
2. figure out a nice and long password as JD advised

syedj · #19 Post by **syedj** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 12:13 pm

mattbiernat wrote:
syedj wrote: Given all these steps using an iPod doesn't sound that much work anymore.
how about i get PCMCIA Fast Ethernet Adapter for my T60 and connect through this adapter to the internet. Use the other ethernet port on my T60 to directly connect to my other T23?
would this allow me to have to separate connections? one to the internet and the other one to my other thinkpad?
otherwise i have two more solutions:
1. use the USB
or
2. figure out a nice and long password as JD advised

Yes, it will allow you to have separate connections, however, the only issue is sharing of folders is not specific to any ethernet interface. Once shared the folders are visible through all interfaces.

I am not sure how just connecting USB will allow you to transfer data through it without having some driver software on both ends. USB is still just serial connection and doesn't automatically allow data flow, i.e. sharing of folders through it.

Sharing folders on your existing ethernet connection along with secure passwords sounds like the best bet so far.

Alternatively, if you want to control one of the machines remotely through ethernet along with data transfer between the two machines (provided they are both running some flavor of MS Windows) you can look into UltraVNC.

BeeJayEmm · #20 Post by **BeeJayEmm** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 1:35 pm

Matt, are these two computers physically near each other? You said both ethernet ports were in use. Can't you just get an ethernet switch and plug both into that? Then you could transfer files and still be connected to the other network. You also wouldn't need a crossover cable. You would still need to set up file sharing and security. I hope I'm not missing something.

Brian

mattbiernat · #21 Post by **mattbiernat** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 2:50 pm

BeeJayEmm wrote: You would still need to set up file sharing and security. I hope I'm not missing something.

Brian

yeah that's what JDhurst was suggesting to me. and yeah both are connected through a switch box. now i just need to look for some kind of step by step guide.

#22 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 4:06 pm

To protect your laptop content, your best bet would still be the USB stick. You don't need to disconnect from the web to do that, and it is safe as long as nobody else gets their mitts on the USB stick.

T22 4me · #23 Post by **T22 4me** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 7:37 pm

I may be missing something here;But,Isnt this what Infrared is for?

I connected a couple 560s a while back; just for fun

Did transfer files ,worked OK too.

Seems Bluetooth would be an option too.as it is encrypted.

Short range of these would be an ally on security.

#24 Post by **Kyocera** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 7:38 pm

The transfer rate for the infrared ports is way to slow for any kind of networking and I don't remember having a port on my t60.

There are ways to make your files not visible on the network if you just want to hide certain files.

You could also connect the two machines with an ad hoc wireless connection if they both have wireless cards.

T22 4me · #25 Post by **T22 4me** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 7:59 pm

How about the Bluetooth? I have just started using it;but,from what I have learned thus far it is capable of file transfer and networking.

I have integrated on T41; but,the dongles are pretty Cheap and the BlueSoleil software that came with my mouse is pretty cool.It manages all your BT devices.

mattbiernat · #26 Post by **mattbiernat** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 1:39 am

ok they both have wireless how do i go about connecting them? and what is the transfer rate of wireless vs bluetooth?

T22 4me · #27 Post by **T22 4me** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 2:22 am

Check out this link for wifi vs Bluetooth

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluetooth# ... networking

mattbiernat · #28 Post by **mattbiernat** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 7:59 am

Enhanced Data Rate (EDR) of 3.0 Mbit/s

unfortunately this is way to slow. im transferring GBs of information between my two thinkpads.

#29 Post by **jdhurst** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 8:35 am

I thought about this again, and at least over here in North America, you can purchase an inexpensive, yet good, router (under 100 dollars, well under) complete with DHCP capabilities. Hook your two PC's to the router (it does not have be connected to the Internet) and you will be good to go. I carry an older, wired, but venerable LinkSys router in my kit for just such issues. ... JDH

bhurley · #30 Post by **bhurley** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 10:10 am

I have another idea: how about using subversion (SVN)?

Our web developers use SVN for version control, and I use it on my machine -- the free and excellent Tortoise SVN is available for Windows and is pretty much the industry standard.

Basically you would set up an SVN repository on your main machine and then "subscribe" to it via SVN on the other one. That's a password protected process and can take place over Ethernet or over the Internet. Then all you have to do is a SVN update whenever you want to synch one machine with the other; you just have remember to "commit" any new or modified files to SVN when you create them, but that's easy to do as well; just right-click on the folder you're synching and click "SVN Commit." The synched folder will alert you when it contains modified content that you haven't commited to the repository yet. On your subscribing machine you click "SVN Update" and anything new or modified on the repository in the other computer will automatically transfer over to the subscribing computer.

You could set up a repository for your My Documents folder, for example, or your Outlook .pst files; I assume that would work.

My brother in California asked me to subscribe to his SVN repository as a way to do offsite backups for his coding projects...when the last earthquake hit there he realized it would be a good idea if I had a copy of his most important files, just in case. I do a weekly update to keep in synch.

The only caveat is that because SVN is a version-control system you probably need a pretty good-sized hard disk on the machine you're using as a repository, 'cause it's going to keep every version you post to the repository (there may be some way to limit that, I'm just not experienced enough with SVN to know how to tweak it). If it were me, I might want to use a NAS device as the repository and then "subscribe" to it from your two ThinkPads. In fact that's what I'm planning to do to keep my laptop and my desktop machine in synch.

There's extensive documentation available on SVN, it's an open-source project.

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