Comments

Cheesehole wrote on 5/4/2003, 11:00 AM
Networks are not complicated to set up but there are a lot of different ways to do it.

My set up includes an internet connection which is shared among all the pc's in my house so it is more complicated.

If you want the absolute simplest method of connecting two PC's, all you need is a "crossover cable" and two network cards (NICs) (most PC's come with built in network ports).

You have to use a crossover cable instead of a normal network cable to connect two PC's directly to each other. Normal network cables (cat 5 ethernet cables at the store) are for when you are using a hub with multiple ports that all the PC's connect to.

Then it's just a matter of configuring Windows. You'll need to enter an IP address for each PC and enable File/Printer sharing. This process varies depending on which version of Windows you are running.

Once you have a network going you can edit/render from either PC at any time. Depending on what kind of work you are doing, the network should be fast enough so you can edit projects that are sitting on another PC's hard drive.
TorS wrote on 5/4/2003, 11:29 AM
If you have broadband/ADSL you ought to have a router (An inexpensive piece of hardware between your PCs and your modem). You could get one with four outlets, allowing you to connect 4 PCs in a local network, share a printer between them etc.
Anyway, here's an address that deals with the mysteries of local networks, connecting PCs and such.
HomeNetHelp

If you use anything other than Win98, click around to see if it's covered.
Tor
vicmilt wrote on 5/4/2003, 11:29 AM
It sounds harder than it really is. There are many ways, but this is the easiest. It's called a "sneaker" net, because you physically move the data by moving a hard drive.

1. Get a 1394 Firewire card for each computer (about $35 each).
2. Get two Firewire hard drives at least 60 gig each (more is better, but not necessary).

Computer # 1 uses Hard Drive #1. This always remains so.
Computer # 2 uses Hard Drive #2 to layout and render your high render stuff. When the render is done, you unplug Hard Drive #2 and plug it into Hard Drive #1 where it will automatically appear on your Computer #1 "My Computer".

You actually move the drive itself from one computer to the other. I believe it's probably even possible to have both computers tied into the Firewire drives, but I never do this, for fear of screwing something up (under stress or deadline). It's just so easy to only plug one computer into one hard drive, and then to move them as necessary.

So here's how the Firewire (sneaker net) system works. You come up with a brilliant graphic that needs an hour of render time. You do that on computer #2. You start the render and move to computer #1 where you have your "main show". You continue to work on "The Show" and put in "slugs" where you will eventually have "rendered brilliance". When the render is done, you unplug the drive#2, connect it to Computer #1 and Drive#1, and drag the render over. You move the Drive #2 back and go back to that computer for your next "high render time" graphic.
It sounds way more difficult than it is.
I do this all the time, and I never wait for complex renders. Plus the exercise of moving from one seat to the other keeps me in tip top shape :)
(that's a joke).
Is this all clear? It is very easy, and foolproof to do.
BillyBoy wrote on 5/4/2003, 11:33 AM
Kind of depends on the "mess" factor, besides what you're going to use the network for. In a home, running cables for a network can get a bit sticky, not hard to do, but if you or your better half don't like the little piles of plasterboard all over the place, fishing wires, etc you could try one of several network cards where you put a card in each PC and connect through phone jacks already in place and then there are wireless methods too. Downside is speed isn't too fast and if you plan on doing it for video files which can get huge not that great an idea for transferring.

My present favorite is the removable drawer method. Assuming you are going to mostly move video files around. The advantages are you only need one big drive and its truly portable. The drawers or cages or enclosers, whatever you call them as cheap and sturdy. Another plus is you can easily expand as your needs grow. The downside is you need to power down and up, to move the drives. Again, about 90 seconds or so, so not that big a deal unless you do it several times a day.