Linking two pc's together for gaming ?

[carpetpaul]

I'm aware that this isn't a website related question but you guys seem to have a good knowledge about most things.
I have two laptops (or option of one laptop and one desktop) that I'd like to connect together so that we can play games like Quake against each other. I'm fairly sure that all the machines have network cards installed but don't know how to go about this.

Is a hub the way to go ? is this the same as a network adaptor/switch ?

I've got two pc's connected at work and they have some kind of network adaptor and is is CAT 5 cable inbetween ?

Please advise or let me know where on the net I can find info. (have had a quick look on forums but I find people are making several suggestions based on what reason they've needed to connect the pc's for)


Thanks for your time

Paul

[Lightlord]

ugh... Not so simple of a question to answer.


Traditionaly most people connect to a gaming server to play others. This will work even if your playing someone across the room. There are different pros and cons with this if your just playing under the same roof.


The least prefered method is connecting PC to PC (gaming or for other reason) this is known as an adhoc network.


The traditional home router will provide your non-enterprise solution. The typical home router will meet all your needs, they also have home gaming routers which have less latency (or commonly know as lag).


Basically there are a number of ways to do this wireless, both wireless and lan line. For optimum performance have both connect to the router using cat5 cables. Depending on which type of internet connection:

DSL you will connect the dsl modem to the router and the modem to your dsl telephone line

Cable you will connect the cable modem to the router and the modem to your cable outlet

Fiber Optics like fios will connect directly to your to the router with no modem.

I am not so familiar with networking Quake. The basics are the same with networking any item.

You will need to adjust firewall settings accordingly on any machine and the router accordingly. You may need to set up port fowarding (your router guide should explain how to perform this).


You then configure both machines and set up file sharing if needed. Make sure you check the system control to see if they have the the printer and file sharing files installed. Check the add or remove system components in the add or remove software section of the control panel.

Depending on which version of quake will determine how you will need to configuire the game to work on the network. My understanding is that the newer version will help you configure the game for network play. My guess is that the gaming forums will be able to assist you in this process if you need assistance on the specific settings.


Hope this gets you pointed in the right direction

LL

[carpetpaul]

thanks very much for such a detailed reply. Unfortunately due to my failed attmepts I've now removed the second desktop pc from the room. Maybe I'm have another serious attempt when I replace the desktop with another laptop..... and I may enlist the help of the guy who sorted our network for our business.... this kind of stuff may be easy for you but it's beyond me !

thanks very much for the advice and I will bear this in mind if I decide to have another go myself

cheers


Paul.

[\\.\]

What are you trying to achieve?

If you have game software that connects to a server and your expecting to be able to link 2 PC's or combination of Laptop's and PC's then you will not succeed because you are missing the all important "SERVER" bit.

This is why multiple players who link in to a router will be able to play as your router acts as a gateway for many connections to one server. Each player has to be registered with that server before you can play online.

It is doubtful that you will ever get a copy of the game server software as this for the games vendor is a money, money & more money making exercise. They don't just want to sell you the game once, not twice even but at least three times. So that £39.99 is more like a £199.99 when you tally it all up.

You may want to look at RPG's that are "Open Source" developments, this may offer you more...

[Sunny G]

I've done this before, but just linked my laptop to my desktop without the server via cat5. It works, but flakey at best.

'course now that I have a WiFi network, I should try doing it that way....

[\\.\]

I've done this before, but just linked my laptop to my desktop without the server via cat5. It works, but flakey at best.

'course now that I have a WiFi network, I should try doing it that way....
Networking WiFi is no different to Cat5, the noticeable difference is the lack of wires in WiFi but the networking principles are the same.

[Lightlord]

Networking WiFi is no different to Cat5, the noticeable difference is the lack of wires in WiFi but the networking principles are the same.


I am thinking he meant that he was running a lan cable, box to box without a router in between.

LL

[\\.\]

Yep, but this still does not get around the issue of him needing the server software that allows multiple versions of the same game to interact with outer users in a network.

[bathurst_guy]

If you don't use a router/switch/hub then the cat5 cable needs to be a crossover cable if the computers are somewhat old. Newer network cards will realise and adjust one to be a crossover but if you don't then you cannot connect the two. If you are using a router/switch/hub then you need straight cat5 cables.

Also if it is gaming that you are doing I recommend using cables over wifi, unless your computers have 802.11n then cables are faster.

With most games that I use to play I also needed to have NetBIOS over TCP protocol installed and allowed for each network card too.

Also you need to manually set the static IP addresses of each computer if you aren't using a router with DHCP on.