At 02:21 PM 4/13/99 -0400, Gerardo Medrano wrote:
>I will be making a peer to peer conection between two computers running
>Win98.
>What is the best cabling type to use: Coaxial or UTP? Most
>documentations recommend coaxial, however one of the NIC does not have a
>BNC connector, just the RJN45.

Having dealt with Coax issues like connectors coming off, connectors
failing, cables crushed and having heard similar stories from others, I
have an inherent dislike of coax. The problem w/coax-based is if there's a
problem _anywhere_ it can screw things up for all the machines, more
annoying is these can be intermittent faults that "just happen."

For a peer-to-peer, with two machines, this isn't really an issue. You
didn't mention how apart the machines are, but you should be able to get a
patch cable that'll do the job connecting them. If you're talking
peer-to-peer where the cable plugs into both machines with no hub, you're
going to need a cross-wired cable.

Cross-wired cables are available via mail-order (since asking at local
computer stores usually generate blank stares). A good source with good
prices and great selection of components, cables, etc. that also offers a
free catalog is Dalco Electronics (http://www.dalco.com). Another option is
to make up an adapter or cable, I've got some network how-to and
peer-to-peer networking links at my web site at
http://www.christopherzguris.com/cgi-local/linkgen.pl?networking . I ended
up making an adapter using a couple of Cat5 connectors that use punch-down
connectors (requires a tool). I've been thinking of adding info about it
(and networking how-to) on my site, if there's sufficient interest email me
and I'll try to put something up.


Christopher Zguris

[log in to unmask] / http://www.christopherzguris.com

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