Quote Originally Posted by ockham23
2. If so, get a cross-over ethernet cable from your local computer store.
To toss my 2 cents worth in here, I find that, if you can even find a cross over cable in a store. they are usually over priced, as much as $29.99 U.S.. Why does someone need a cross-over cable? Bacause if they are trying to connect two NICs that lack auto-sensing together without the use of a switch or router then you need to cross the wires in the cable. But anyone with a high speed connection should have a router anyway, and before unquestionably shelling out more for a cross over cable than for an inexpensive router (which usually comes with one standard cable), at least check the price of the cable and consider getting a cheap router and an inexpensive normal cable (and yes, I said inexpensive, I've seen some stores that try to charge more for this than for a router that includes a cat-5 cable too). Of course, if you have the tools and parts to make your own cross-over cable that's a different issue, but unless you can find one at a good price then you are likely much better off, both for this problem and in the long run, getting a router and an extra cable. Even buying an ethernet switch and 2 lan cables may be less expensive than a cross over cable and will give you extra utility (although a switch does not give you all of the utility of a router and will not by itself let you share a high speed connection with one IP address or provide NAT protection).