As an Information Technology (IT) administrator, it is important to understand how to connect two Windows PCs directly, without a router. This process is referred to as a “direct connection” or “peer-to-peer” connection. It is a useful method for connecting two computers for file sharing, gaming, or other purposes.
The first step in establishing a direct connection between two Windows PCs is to configure each machine’s Network Interface Card (NIC). Each NIC must be configured to use a static IP address. To do this, open the Control Panel and select Network and Sharing Center. Select Change adapter settings, then right-click on the Ethernet adapter and select Properties. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), then click Properties. Select Use the following IP address, and enter an IP address for each machine. Make sure to use different IP addresses for each computer.
Once the NICs have been configured, the next step is to establish the direct connection. To do this, connect the two computers using a standard Ethernet cable. Once the cable is connected to both machines, the connection should be established automatically.
If the connection is not established automatically, it may be necessary to manually configure the connection. To do this, open the Network and Sharing Center on both machines and select Set up a new connection or network. Select Set up a wireless ad hoc (computer-to-computer) network, then enter a name for the network and click Next. Select the security type for the network, then enter a security key. Click Next, then select the checkbox for Save this network.
Once the connection has been established, both machines should be able to communicate with one another. If a connection is still not established, make sure that the IP addresses are correct and that the correct security type is selected. Additionally, make sure that the firewall settings are not blocking communication between the two machines.
For advanced users, it is also possible to use the Windows command line to establish a direct connection between two Windows PCs. To do this, open an elevated Command Prompt window on both machines and enter the following commands:
On the first machine:
netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=
On the second machine:
netsh wlan connect name=
This method is more advanced and requires a good understanding of the Windows command line.
In conclusion, it is possible to establish a direct connection between two Windows PCs without the use of a router. This type of connection is useful for file sharing, gaming, or other purposes. To do this, the Network Interface Cards must be configured with static IP addresses, and the two computers must be connected with an Ethernet cable. Additionally, it is possible to use the Windows command line to establish the connection.
