lan connection

29 Sep 2008 11:39 AM

Fabio De Dominicis

Hi all,
I linked, with a direct lan cable, two computers (a e b) with O.S. xpsp3.
Both have just one lan connection set with manual configuration, with ip
address which differs just for the last digit.
Computer a can correctly ping itself through its ip (192.168.1.2) and b can
correctly ping itself through its ip 192.168.1.3).
a can correctly ping b, but b can't ping a.
Workstation and server services are activated and started on both pcs, and
there are no errors in both's eventlog.
Computer browser and network access services are disabled on both pcs, but a
can correctly ping b, so this isn't the problem.
the firewall is turned off on both pcs and there's no antivirus or
antispiware. Panda, scanning software online has found no virus on both.
Do you have some idea?
thanks in advance,
Fabio

29 Sep 2008 11:51 AM

Malke

Fabio De Dominicis wrote:

Show quoteHide quote

> Hi all,
> I linked, with a direct lan cable, two computers (a e b) with O.S. xpsp3.
> Both have just one lan connection set with manual configuration, with ip
> address which differs just for the last digit.
> Computer a can correctly ping itself through its ip (192.168.1.2) and b
> can
> correctly ping itself through its ip 192.168.1.3).
> a can correctly ping b, but b can't ping a.
> Workstation and server services are activated and started on both pcs, and
> there are no errors in both's eventlog.
> Computer browser and network access services are disabled on both pcs, but
> a can correctly ping b, so this isn't the problem.
> the firewall is turned off on both pcs and there's no antivirus or
> antispiware. Panda, scanning software online has found no virus on both.
> Do you have some idea?
> thanks in advance,

When you directly connect two computers together with an ethernet cable,
that cable needs to be crossover, not straight-through. It sounds like you
used the wrong ethernet cable.

Malke

--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

29 Sep 2008 1:24 PM

Fabio De Dominicis

Show quote Hide quote

"Malke" <malke@invalid.invalid> ha scritto nel messaggio
news:O%2395mmiIJHA.1088@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> Fabio De Dominicis wrote:
>
>> Hi all,
>> I linked, with a direct lan cable, two computers (a e b) with O.S. xpsp3.
>> Both have just one lan connection set with manual configuration, with
>> ip
>> address which differs just for the last digit.
>> Computer a can correctly ping itself through its ip (192.168.1.2) and b
>> can
>> correctly ping itself through its ip 192.168.1.3).
>> a can correctly ping b, but b can't ping a.
>> Workstation and server services are activated and started on both pcs,
>> and
>> there are no errors in both's eventlog.
>> Computer browser and network access services are disabled on both pcs,
>> but
>> a can correctly ping b, so this isn't the problem.
>> the firewall is turned off on both pcs and there's no antivirus or
>> antispiware. Panda, scanning software online has found no virus on both.
>> Do you have some idea?
>> thanks in advance,
>
> When you directly connect two computers together with an ethernet cable,
> that cable needs to be crossover, not straight-through. It sounds like you
> used the wrong ethernet cable.
>
> Malke
> --

Thanks for the answer,
I checked, and the cable is crossover, as you suggest. The problem is in the
software, maybe some missing dll? Can I make some tests for example?

29 Sep 2008 1:06 PM

Malke

Fabio De Dominicis wrote:

Show quoteHide quote

>
> "Malke" <malke@invalid.invalid> ha scritto nel messaggio
> news:O%2395mmiIJHA.1088@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>> Fabio De Dominicis wrote:
>>
>>> Hi all,
>>> I linked, with a direct lan cable, two computers (a e b) with O.S.
>>> xpsp3.
>>> Both have just one lan connection set with manual configuration, with
>>> ip
>>> address which differs just for the last digit.
>>> Computer a can correctly ping itself through its ip (192.168.1.2) and b
>>> can
>>> correctly ping itself through its ip 192.168.1.3).
>>> a can correctly ping b, but b can't ping a.
>>> Workstation and server services are activated and started on both pcs,
>>> and
>>> there are no errors in both's eventlog.
>>> Computer browser and network access services are disabled on both pcs,
>>> but
>>> a can correctly ping b, so this isn't the problem.
>>> the firewall is turned off on both pcs and there's no antivirus or
>>> antispiware. Panda, scanning software online has found no virus on both.
>>> Do you have some idea?
>>> thanks in advance,
>>
>> When you directly connect two computers together with an ethernet cable,
>> that cable needs to be crossover, not straight-through. It sounds like
>> you used the wrong ethernet cable.

> Thanks for the answer,
> I checked, and the cable is crossover, as you suggest. The problem is in
> the software, maybe some missing dll? Can I make some tests for example?

The problem is not "in the software". You have something set wrong. See
below for general network troubleshooting.

A. Configure firewalls on all machines to allow the Local Area Network (LAN)
traffic as trusted. With Windows Firewall, this means allowing File/Printer
Sharing on the Exceptions tab. Normally running the Network Setup Wizard on
XP will take care of this for those machines.The only "gotcha" is that this
will turn on the XPSP2 Windows Firewall. If you aren't running a
third-party firewall or have an antivirus with "Internet Worm
Protection" (like Norton 2006/07) which acts as a firewall, then you're
fine. With third-party firewalls, I usually configure the LAN allowance
with an IP range. Ex. would be 192.168.1.0-192.168.1.254. Obviously you
would substitute your correct subnet. Do not run more than one firewall. DO
NOT TURN OFF FIREWALLS; CONFIGURE THEM CORRECTLY.

B. For ease of organization, put all computers in the same Workgroup. This
is done from the System applet in Control Panel, Computer Name tab.

C. Create matching user accounts and passwords on all machines. You do not
need to be logged into the same account on all machines and the passwords
assigned to each user account can be different; the accounts/passwords just
need to exist and match on all machines. DO NOT NEGLECT TO CREATE
PASSWORDS, EVEN IF ONLY SIMPLE ONES. If you wish a machine to boot directly
to the Desktop (into one particular user's account) for convenience, you
can do this. The instructions at this link work for both XP and Vista:

Configure Windows to Automatically Login (MVP Ramesh) -
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/Autologon.htm

D. If one or more of the computers is XP Pro or Media Center, turn off
Simple File Sharing (Folder Options>View tab).

E. Create shares as desired. XP Home does not permit sharing of users' home
directories or Program Files, but you can share folders inside those
directories. A better choice is to simply use the Shared Documents folder.

Malke

--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

29 Sep 2008 2:30 PM

Fabio De Dominicis

Show quote Hide quote

"Malke" <malke@invalid.invalid> ha scritto nel messaggio
news:ORYcmQjIJHA.1556@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>
> The problem is not "in the software". You have something set wrong. See
> below for general network troubleshooting.
>
> A. Configure firewalls on all machines: ok, there's no firewall installed
> on both pcs, so it's ok.

>
> B. For ease of organization, put all computers in the same Workgroup. ok,
> I checked, they allready belong to the same workgroup name.
>
> C. Create matching user accounts and passwords on all machines. ok, I
> checked, they are, anyway it's not important for the simple ping.

> D. If one or more of the computers is XP Pro or Media Center, turn off
> Simple File Sharing (Folder Options>View tab). Ok, they allready were
> turned off.

>
> E. Create shares as desired. Ok, about filesharing I'll think later, now
> it's just pinging.

Thanks a lot,
Fabio

29 Sep 2008 2:19 PM

Malke

Fabio De Dominicis wrote:

>>Ok, about filesharing I'll think later, now
>> it's just pinging.

Obviously you want some sort of communication between the two computers or
you wouldn't be doing this. Each computer needs to allow the other to
access it. This is what file sharing on a network is all about.

Malke

--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

4 Oct 2008 10:08 AM

Webbie

Show quote Hide quote

On Sep 29, 10:30 am, "Fabio De Dominicis" <f.dedomini***@alice.it>
wrote:
> "Malke" <ma...@invalid.invalid> ha scritto nel messaggionews:ORYcmQjIJHA.1***@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > The problem is not "in the software". You have something set wrong. See
> > below for general network troubleshooting.
>
> > A. Configure firewalls on all machines: ok, there's no firewall installed
> > on both pcs, so it's ok.
>
> > B. For ease of organization, put all computers in the same Workgroup. ok,
> > I checked, they allready belong to the same workgroup name.
>
> > C. Create matching user accounts and passwords on all machines. ok, I
> > checked, they are, anyway it's not important for the simple ping.
> > D. If one or more of the computers is XP Pro or Media Center, turn off
> > Simple File Sharing (Folder Options>View tab). Ok, they allready were
> > turned off.
>
> > E. Create shares as desired. Ok, about filesharing I'll think later, now
> > it's just pinging.
>
> Thanks a lot,
> Fabio- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Go through the steps in this tutorial and see if you missed anything:
http://www.leeindy.com/connecting_two_computers_using_crossover_cables.shtml

It worked for me a while back before I got Vista, so I bookmarked it.
Maybe it will help you spot a missed step or something.

29 Sep 2008 7:55 PM

John Wunderlich

Show quote Hide quote

"Fabio De Dominicis" <f.dedomini***@alice.it> wrote in
news:48e0c91f$0$41661$4fafbaef@reader4.news.tin.it:

>
> "Malke" <malke@invalid.invalid> ha scritto nel messaggio
> news:O%2395mmiIJHA.1088@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>> Fabio De Dominicis wrote:
>>
>>> Hi all,
>>> I linked, with a direct lan cable, two computers (a e b) with
>>> O.S. xpsp3. Both have just one lan connection set with manual
>>> configuration, with ip address which differs just for the last
>>> digit. Computer a can correctly ping itself through its ip
>>> (192.168.1.2) and b can correctly ping itself through its ip
>>> 192.168.1.3). a can correctly ping b, but b can't ping a.
>>> Workstation and server services are activated and started on
>>> both pcs, and there are no errors in both's eventlog.
>>> Computer browser and network access services are disabled on
>>> both pcs, but a can correctly ping b, so this isn't the problem.
>>> the firewall is turned off on both pcs and there's no antivirus
>>> or antispiware. Panda, scanning software online has found no
>>> virus on both. Do you have some idea? thanks in advance,
>>
>> When you directly connect two computers together with an ethernet
>> cable, that cable needs to be crossover, not straight-through. It
>> sounds like you used the wrong ethernet cable.
>>
>> Malke
>> --
>
> Thanks for the answer,
> I checked, and the cable is crossover, as you suggest. The problem
> is in the software, maybe some missing dll? Can I make some tests
> for example?
>
>

This really sounds like a firewall problem.
Do you have a Cisco VPN Client installed by chance? It has a firewall
that is enabled even when you aren't using the VPN.

-- John

29 Sep 2008 8:40 PM

Steve Winograd

On Mon, 29 Sep 2008 12:39:40 +0100, "Fabio De Dominicis"
<f.dedomini***@alice.it> wrote:

Show quoteHide quote

>Hi all,
>I linked, with a direct lan cable, two computers (a e b) with O.S. xpsp3.
>Both have just one lan connection set with manual configuration, with ip
>address which differs just for the last digit.
>Computer a can correctly ping itself through its ip (192.168.1.2) and b can
>correctly ping itself through its ip 192.168.1.3).
>a can correctly ping b, but b can't ping a.
>Workstation and server services are activated and started on both pcs, and
>there are no errors in both's eventlog.
>Computer browser and network access services are disabled on both pcs, but a
>can correctly ping b, so this isn't the problem.
>the firewall is turned off on both pcs and there's no antivirus or
>antispiware. Panda, scanning software online has found no virus on both.
>Do you have some idea?
>thanks in advance,
>Fabio
>

I agree with John Wunderlich's reply. A firewall on Computer a is
probably causing the problem. Some antivirus programs have firewall
components that have to be configured. Some firewall programs can
block network access even when they're disabled.

Go to Control Panel > Security Center. What does it show for
firewalls?

Start Computer a in "Safe mode with networking" and ping it from
Computer b. If the ping succeeds, a firewall on Computer a is almost
certainly causing the problem.

--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
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