> 1. Can I simply link the two computers with a 10base T cable, or
> do I need a special null-modem thingie, or a hub?

RG> If using a 10base-T cable (twisted pair) you'll either need to
RG> use a hub, OR a crossover cable. If using a 10base-2 (coax) you
RG> need to ensure that you use a "T" connector and terminators at
RG> both ends of the cable.

 The crossover cable solved all my problems (so much for the
"experts" behind the counter at Dicky Smith's).

 That business of terminating the cable has always amused me. There
is no reason to terminate a short cable, the reflections at 100MHz
will be stuff-all under about 10-metres, and with that silly thin
cable they use, the losses are so great that any reflection will be
lost at anything *over* that!

 We used to match TV tuners using standing waves on a long cable, but
to get decent amplitudes we used 100-metres of one-inch cable!

RG> Incidently, most modern network cards (including the cheap
RG> $10-$15 ones, based on the RTL8139 chipset) support 100Mhz (ie,
RG> 100base-x).

 I know... and it really is fast!

RG> Oh, don't forget DNS when performing ping tests. Unless you
RG> have a working/accessable DNS you'll need to use the IP numbers
RG> when pinging because if you use host names you'll probably get
RG> a 'host not found' error.

 Windows uses DHCP, and so does Linux, but the weird part is that
Windows uses 169.254.0.0 as their LAN and Linux uses 192.168.0.0!
Classic uniwanker...

 The more I see of Linux, the less funny the fuckwits running it
become. It is easy to understand why Gates owns 99% of the O/S market
when Linux is the main competition.

RG> Also check your routing tables. If your routes aren't set up
RG> correctly you'll get a 'no route to host' error message.

 ROFL! You're kidding, aren't you? Routing tables and there are only
two computers! ROFL!! Good one, Rod. That's the sort of unhelful crap
I've been handling all week, but having read a few hundred pages of
it, and having spent time in a Uni course doing the same thing, I
am now immune to stupid confusions like that. As Rod Speed might
say: try harder, boy.

Regards,
Bob

--- BQWK Alpha 0.5