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Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 9:15 pm
by Bob
Mandy wrote:I

Though this seems a typo. In this setup, you MUST use a cross-over cable.
These days, most NIC's don't require one as they can cross over on the fly on their own...

Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 12:38 am
by Mandy
Bob wrote:
Mandy wrote:I

Though this seems a typo. In this setup, you MUST use a cross-over cable.
These days, most NIC's don't require one as they can cross over on the fly on their own...
I must get with the times :) Us old phobies didn't even realise NICs had that option / auto-sensing ability :)

Anyway, that implies either cable would work.

Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 2:29 am
by major.tom
Mandy wrote:
Bob wrote:
Mandy wrote:Though this seems a typo. In this setup, you MUST use a cross-over cable.
These days, most NIC's don't require one as they can cross over on the fly on their own...
I must get with the times :) Us old phobies didn't even realise NICs had that option / auto-sensing ability :)
Me neither. That's pretty cool that newer NIC's can handle this automatically.
Anyway, that implies either cable would work.
...as long as the NIC supports it.

My original error was the product of a murky memory. Nicely spotted. :D

Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 2:45 am
by faceless
So, is using MSN messenger to utilise remote desktop, and windows firewall to block internet use when not required, the easiest way to come as close as possible to what was asked?

Answers by email to overcomplicated@boilingwater.com !

Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 3:40 am
by major.tom
I haven't used MSN messenger for this, but assuming it works, sure.

I was focusing more on the network topology that would prevent the 2nd computer from having access to the 'net. There are various tools you can use for remote desktop (eg. PC Anywhere, etc).

"Clustering" the two pc's to act as one (shared CPU & RAM) is much tougher nut to crack. You'd need some enterprise software like Microsoft Application Center for that.

Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 7:59 am
by Brown Sauce
it's only to share rendering. Backburner, as far as I'm aware does for max, I've managed to find royal render and will try with that when I find a few minutes / hours ... :)

Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 8:32 am
by major.tom
...on the subject of Windows Firewall...

I don't have a very high opinion of it. a) it doesn't do outbound filtering, so if not being able to access the net is a requirement, it wouldn't do that. And b) unless you're running as a user with no admin privileges, pretty much any program will automatically open up a door on it and accept inbound connections from any computer that can reach it. If both computers are inside a router, no harm done, but there's no benefit either (unless you don't trust the ppl in your home). :D

Some routers might allow you to filter outbound traffic from a specific PC on your local network, but my Linksys doesn't. Maybe Netgear or Cisco. Or even Dlink.