Networking 2 PCs

What are you trying to accomplish?

If you just want access to the files/services on the other machine, an ethernet crossover cable will get that done. Alternatively, and more likely, most environments have a switch somewhere to which the ethernet cables run.

If you want keyboard/video/mouse, the easiest way is to get a KVM switcher to connect your existing keyboard, mouse and monitor to both systems. Alternatively, you can first install a remote management tool on the second PC (VNC is a big player, as is Remote Desktop built into later Windows OSes) and then attach the monitor back to your first machine, using the remote management tool to run the second PC from the first.

 

This was an interesting read on the topic:
- http://www.wikihow.com/Connect-Two-Computers

 

this is easier to do with a home firewall - with both PC's plugged into an Ethernet jack on the firewall, as both PC's are likely setup to get their network values from the firewall. Otherwise they need to be hard-coded. Easy to do, but it takes a few more minutes, and can interfere with your Internet usage.

With windows, you need to set the file space as 'shared' to allow network access to them. 2000, XP, Vista?

bahh, sounds too much like work!

 

http://www.stardock.com/products/multiplicity/

To control more than one PC with a single keyboard and mouse.

Much better than a KVM.