Wireless internet + wired local network

[Leros]

I have two computers in my office. I have a modem in the living room with a wireless router. I currently use a wireless connection to the router. Works fine for internet, but is slow for file transfers and there is some lag using Synergy.

I'd like add a wired network between the two computers (which are 6 inches apart) while keeping the wireless connection to the router for internet. Is it possible to do this? Currently both computers are running Windows7, but one of them could soon become either Mac or Ubuntu.

If it needs more explaining, here is an MS Paint diagram of what I want.

 

[spidey07]

If it's just two PCs you could use a regular path cable between the two if they are 1000 Base-T. If just 100 Base-T then a crossover cable would work. Or a switch. Windows will autoassign IP addresses in the 169 range and you're good to go.

 

[Leros]

If it's just two PCs you could use a regular path cable between the two if they are 1000 Base-T. If just 100 Base-T then a crossover cable would work. Or a switch. Windows will autoassign IP addresses in the 169 range and you're good to go.

Do I need to do anything to let the computers know to use the wired network instead of the wireless network for communication between the two machines?

 

[LiuKangBakinPie]

 

[Bryf50]

You don't need a switch if its only 2 computers. The way I do it is use windows to make a network bridge(go into network adapter settings, select both the wireless and wired nics, and hit create network bridge). This way the second computer grabs an ip address from your wireless router just like if it was connected to it.

EDIT: Well i see that you want to keep the wireless connection to the router on both computers. Then I guess what spidey said is your best bet.

 

[seepy83]

Do I need to do anything to let the computers know to use the wired network instead of the wireless network for communication between the two machines?

connect to the other machine using the IP of the wired nic (i.e. \\169.254.0.1\share)

 

[Leros]

connect to the other machine using the IP of the wired nic (i.e. \\169.254.0.1\share)

What about a networked application like Synergy?

 

[seepy83]

What about a networked application like Synergy?

I'm not sure. I'm not familiar with the application or what it does and how it works. If it's something that uses Hostnames, you could always edit your hosts file to have the hostname resolve to the wired IP. Then it should connect over the wired nic instead of looking up the wireless IP in your router's DNS server. If you're going this route, I would probably set static IPs on each computer's wired nic because there is potential that the address assigned by APIPA might change.

 

[thobel]

make your life simple get
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833127256

Will connect wireless to your main router and wired to the 2 pc's connected via gig switch

 

[kevnich2]

make your life simple get
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833127256

Will connect wireless to your main router and wired to the 2 pc's connected via gig switch

This would be my recommendation as well. I have this setup at my home theater setup for my mac and dvd player to access internet content. Anything between them is gigabit and then it's N wireless between it and my wireless router. I can stream HD content with no problem