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Connecting Using Ethernet Crossover Cables
by: Bruce Derouen

System Requirements for using this method:  Your laptop must have an Ethernet port, also known as a high speed internet connection.  If your laptop doesn’t have one, you can buy an add on card to give it this ability.

I.  Configuring Network connection:

  1. Right click “My Network Places” and select ‘properties’.  Select your “Local Area network icon” by right clicking on it and choose ‘Properties’.

  2. Select (highlight) “Internet Protocol” and select “Properties”

  3. Each computer must have a unique IP (Internet Protocol) address to be identified properly.  There are many different number conventions to use.  The one I use, as it’s easy to remember is give one computer the IP address of 192.168.0.1;  the 2nd computer would be numbered 192.168.0.2;  the 3rd – 192.168.0.3…etc.  You enter the correct IP address in the dialog box open.  It’s important to use this range of IP addresses or another “non-pingable” address.  Non-Ping-able addresses are used for direct connections and are not available to be used on the internet.  

    1. select “Use the following IP address”

    2. enter the designated address for that computer in the IP address box that becomes available.  After you enter the last set of numbers in the box and hit tab, the next box will be automatically filled in.

  4. Hit Ok  on that box.

  5. Now, click on the "advanced" tab. The box by "Protect My Computer.." should be unchecked. If it is checked, uncheck it.

  6. Click on OK. You should be back at your desktop.

II.  The computers must be configured to the same workgroup.  The location of where the settings are changed vary slightly by operating system, but Windows XP and Windows 2000 are very similar.

  1. Right Click “My Computer” – Select “Properties”.

  2. Click the tab marked “Computer Name”

  3. Click box marked “Change”

  4. In the lower area of this dialog where it says “Member of..”  select Workgroup and make sure all computers are in the same workgroup.  It doesn’t matter what you name your workgroup, as long as they are all identical.  

  5. Press Ok and then Ok on the system properties box.  You’ll more than likely have to reboot your computer after these settings are changed.

After these settings are finished on both computers, connect your crossover cables to the Ethernet ports on both computers. After a moment or two, Windows should report the connection near the task bar. When you start C-Print, the rest should be automatic. If you're connecting 2 c-Print server computers, click the server 1 ("big computer") icon on one computer and server 2 ("little computer") icon on the 2nd. They should see each other at that point. If it happens they don't, you may have to select that network adapter under C-Print. If you do...

  1. Click on "Tools" and "Options."

  2. Click on "Server" tab.

  3. Make sure your network card is selected in the drop down box towards the top of the page. If it says "MS Loopback," then use the dropdown box to change it to your networking card. Ok out of that and you should be fine.