After setting up the network, you need to confirm that the two computers are “seeing” each other or, better put, are able to communicate with each other.

One important thing i failed to mention in my first post is that both PCs must have the user account passworded. Do that if you have not.

Remember that you have assigned static IP address 192.168.10.11 to PC1 and 192.168.10.12 to PC2.

At this point, i will advise you disable temporarily your Internet security software because they contain firewalls that may prevent the 2 computers from communicating with each other. I will advise that you even uninstall it totally and install an antivirus instead. Those using Norton Internet security, especially, should please note this.

FOR PC1 and PC2
– Launch the command terminal

1. Click “Start”
2. Click “run” on the right pane of your “start menu”. A text box would pop up
3. Type cmd in the text box
4. Click OK. A new window, called the COMMAND TERMINAL, would be display. WARNING : It looks geekish but fear not.

If “run” is not displayed in your “start menu”, follow this sequence to unveil it;

1. Right-click on “start” on your task bar
2. Select “Properties”
3. Ensure the “start menu” tab is selected in the window that pops up.
4. Select “customize”
5. Scroll through the list and select the check box “Run Command”
6. Click OK.

FROM PC2
– To confirm PC2 can communicate with PC1

1. In the command terminal after the “>” sign
2. Type ping 192.168.10.11
3. Press Enter
4. You should have something like the picture below on your screen

Note the summary message on line 8
“Packets : Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% Loss)”
If you have “Loss” greater than 0 or more than 0% loss, you may repeat the command about 2 more times. If nothing changes, switch yourself to troubleshooting mode and check through all you have done. Do not forget to check your cables and disable or uninstall your internet security software!

FROM PC1
– To confirm PC1 can communicate with PC2;

1. In the command terminal after the “>” sign
2. Type ping 192.168.10.12
3. Press Enter
4. You should have something like the picture above on your screen

Also note the summary message on line 8, it must be “Packets : Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% Loss)”

Sharing Files Between The Two Computers

You will need to create folders on each PC that you will allow the contents to be shared. Other PCs would not have unrestricted access to your files except you allow them to.

1. Right-Click on the folders you have created that would contain files to be shared.
2. Select “Properties”
3. Select the “Sharing” tab from the pop up window.
4. Click “Share”. Select “Everyone” from the drop down menu
5. Click Done. You will be taken back to the “Sharing” tab
6. Click “Advanced Sharing”
7. Enable the check box “Share This Folder”
8. Click OK.

To access shared files or folder on another PC on the network;

1. Select “Start menu”
2. Click Computer
3. On the right pane, select “Network”. You should see the 2 PCs on the network.
4. Click the PC you want to access files from. You might be prompted for username and password if it is your first time of accessing that PC.
5. All shared folders will be available to you.

To install your printer to the network;

1. Install the printer software on both PCs
2. Connect the printer to one of the PCs. I would advise you install these peripherals to your less fancied PC or a desktop, if available.You will appreciate this recommendation better when we start with wireless networking.
3. Do a test print from the PC connected to the printer to be sure it is properly set up.
4. Click “Start”-“Control Panel”-“Devices and Printers”
5. Right-Click on the printer icon, select “Printer Properties”, then click “sharing” tab
6. Select the check boxes “Share this Printer” and “Render jobs on client computers”. Your printer displays may vary.

On the other PC

1. Click “Start”-“Control Panel”-“Devices and Printers”
2. Click “Add a Printer” from top of screen
3. Select “Add a network, wireless or bluetooth printer” from the pop-up window
4. Select the appropriate printer, click next till end.

Sharing Internet Access

In this instance, we would be using the regular Starcomms EVDO USB modem. I must warn that the browsing experience may not be nice if you are not in a location with good EVDO (broadband) speed. The same process should be applicable to GSM modems too, i have not tried it.

Insert the Starcomms USB on the Host PC. The installation process should be automatic.

Connect the PC to the internet.

Click “Start”-“Control Panel”-“Network and Internet”-“Network and Sharing Center”

You will notice at least 2 active connections, one is your Peer to Peer wired network most likely labelled “Local Area Network” and the internet connection. My Starcomms internet connection is labelled “ZTE Wireless Connection”

You should have a screen similar to this;

Click on “ZTE Wireless Terminal” on the right pane. The following window will pop-up;

Click on “Properties” to bring up the next screen

Select the “sharing” tab and select the check boxes as shown in the picture above. Also select “Local Area Connection” from the drop down menu. The screens below would be shown during this process.

The last image indicates that the IP address of your PC would be changed to the same network as Starcomms Internet, in my case it is 192.168.137.1, this is essential for the PC to access the internet.

Since we are using static IP and not DHCP (automatic allocation of IP addresses), we would need to put the second PC on this same network. We would change the IP address to, say, 192.168.137.2 . The procedure for doing this is explained in the first part of this write-up. While at it, you should also change the gateway address and the DNS server as shown in the image below. It is very important!

Phew! Really need to catch my breadth. This write-up ends here. The final part of this series would be on wired Peer to Peer networking with more than 2 systems in a network.

Stay hooked!