Two computers connected via a switch for file sharing?
Two computers connected via a switch for file sharing?
Yes, you can transfer files between two computers using Ethernet. Since the switch only connects the two PCs and they’re linked via Wi-Fi, mounting one as a network drive is a valid approach. Just ensure proper file sharing settings are configured on both devices.
If memory serves yes and at the same time you could omit the switch. The two interfaces will use Auto-MDIX for cross-over and Windows will auto-negotiate two addresses on a 169.254.0.0/16 subnet. You may have to set the network metric to a value lower than the Wi-Fi interfaces though since Windows might try to transfer the files over Wi-Fi anyways but that's a road you can cross later if you find yourself there.
Yes, when both cards offer gigabit or higher speeds, a standard Ethernet connection should work without issues. You can set up IP addresses and subnet settings manually on each machine if automatic setup fails. For instance, assign 192.168.0.101 with a 255.255.255.0 mask to the first computer and 192.168.0.102 with the same settings to the second. For private networks, you can use the 172.16.x.x to 172.31.x.x range with a 255.240.0.0 mask. If auto-detection doesn’t function due to hardware problems, create your own crossover cable using either 568-A or 568-B, switching one connector to normal mode and the other to crossover mode. I prefer configuring an FTP server on one device and using an FTP client on another to handle file transfers efficiently, especially when moving many small files at once. Filezilla FTP server and client are free and install quickly, ideal for backups where opening the laptop is cumbersome.