This section provides a tutorial example on how to configure a crossover cable network.
Assuming that I have two computers: a desktop and a laptop, here are the steps to connect them and configure them
into a network:
1. Connect the crossover cable to the network connectors of both computers. You should see a tiny light coming
up on the connector when the cable is well connected.
2. On the laptop, go to Start > Control Panel > Network Connections > Local Area Connection.
3. Right mouse click on "Local Area Connection", and select "Properties".
The "Local Area Connection Properties" dialog box shows up.
4. Select "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)" and make it checked.
5. Select "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)" and click the Properties button.
The "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties" dialog box shows up.
6. Select "Use the following IP address" and make it checked.
Enter "192.168.0.1" in the IP address field. Enter "255.255.255.0" in the subnet mask field.
7. Click the OK button to close the "Local Area Connection Properties" dialog box.
8. Click the Close button to close the "Local Area Connection Properties" dialog box.
9. On the desktop, repeat step 2 to step 8 the same way as on the laptop except that
entering "192.168.0.2" in the IP address field and entering "255.255.255.0" in the subnet mask field.
10. Open a command window and run the ipconfig and ping commands:
>ipconfig
Windows IP Configuration
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.2
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :
>ping 192.168.0.1
Pinging 192.168.0.1 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 192.168.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Ping statistics for 192.168.0.1:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 0ms, Average = 0ms
11. On my laptop, open a command window and run the ping command:
>ipconfig
Windows IP Configuration
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :
>ping 192.168.0.2
Pinging 192.168.0.2 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 192.168.0.2: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.0.2: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.0.2: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.0.2: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Ping statistics for 192.168.0.2:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 0ms, Average = 0ms
Very nice. My crossover cable network is working!
Note that:
Both computers are configured to static private network IP addresses.
If you are taking the laptop back to an office network with dynamic IP address allocation,
you need to change the settings on the "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties" dialog box.
"ipconfig" displays the connection status and settings of the network connection.
"ping" command is good testing tool to check if you reach a remote computer or not over
the network.
