Reader Comments

You can actually setup a network using Firewire (1394), and it will be very fast too (400Mbps instead of 100Mbps with Fast Ethernet). Of course it is only viable for small distances and a small number of computers (as you will need to arrange them in a ring or similar)

The reason Windows lists firewire cards as network devices is because they ARE network devices. If you can have 2 PCs or MACs with firewire cards, and you can network them by simply plugging a FW cable from one PC to the other, no hub or switch is necessary. Firewire= 400Mbps network.

is a 1394 device really restricted to just being a firewire device? I haven't any firewire technology on board my PC or laptop yet I have 1394 connections

It was just what I wanted to know.

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The 1394 Network isn't there just because Microsoft choose to list it there. It's a real network adapter, one thar works at 400Mbit/s instead of 100Mbit/s. If you have a firewire adapter on your desktop computer and on your laptop it's a lot better using the 1394 ports to connect them than using the normal lan port.

I thought Firewire sockets were different from normal network ones??? Because I only have ethernet sockets on both PCs I have with 1394 Net Adapters in Network Connections - what does bridging this with an ethernet card do???

anyone knows how to setup this connection, I need help with this. please respond. thanks.

any one knows please tell me how to set up this connection

You set up this connection by 1, having a firewire card in all PCs/laptops on the proposed network. 2 every firewire card has 2 or more ports, use 1 of these to connect each port to eachother. if theres a PC and a laptop or another PC, two hosts in total, then there will be only one cable attaching each host. if there is three or more then there will be two cables, but the "middle" PC/laptop will form a link between the two, and both ports will be used. i hope this helps.

Just saw the 1394 connection on my network and internet connections site and wanted to thank you for all the info Good source of help. thanks

hej, guys, thanks a lot for the info on FireWire... usefull. tnx

HELP - first of all, why does my 1394 adapter show as connected when there is nothing connected to it, and second could someone please put a step by step guide on how to hook up two pc's (and or laptop) via firewire. It's not just easy as putting the cards in and pluging the cable in.

According to Microsoft, this is by design to show the network adapter even if it is not connected. See http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;298646 My other question is: can 1394 networked client computer browse the net throught this network connection?

nice...thanks

this article was great and not many networks are as simple as plugging the cables in.

When I try to use the XP Network Setup Wizard it fails and the nsw.log says "ICS Failed to Share 1394 Connection as a Private connection. Adapter Configuration for Home Networking failed." How can I get ICS to share 1394 as a Private connection? Thanks

I want to connect my laptop to my desktop using the 1394 connection. I plug in the cable (it even says 1394 so it must be the right one), the icon in the taskbar appears and everything should be ready to go. But I cannot see that the laptop gets "mounted", i.e. I cannot transfer files from one computer to the other. Reading the comments above, setting up a network connection should not be necessary, so what am I doing wrong? The firewall on the laptop (not connected to the internet) has been disabled.

support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307736

First, thanks to this site for not insisting on registration! What a blessing. I'm currently in a fist fight with my home network, and it's beating the hell out of me. All three computers are connected by their network cards using a hub and standard CAT5 cable, but they're no longer speaking to each other. I'm currently on my wife's computer because it has an internet connection. My own computer shows a 1394 adaptor that's unfunctional, although I thought it was functional before my problems began. If it was functional, does this mean that the machines were networked using the 1394? They were certainly never connected using USB, so I gather that the 1394 adaptor was used and that I should be trying to find the problem with that connection. I find that Windows XP's clarity in explaining all of this to consumers leaves a lot to be desired. I'd sure appreciate a little guiding light.

Hi, I can't turn off my 1394 connection. When I right click on Disable, I get the following message: "It is not possible to disable the connection at this time. This connection may be using one or more protocols that do not support Plug-and-Play, or it may have been initiated by another user or the system account." Any idea how I can disable it? Many thanks.

Thank you for the informaiton posted but i'm still struggling to connect my firewire external HDD case to the laptop (dell inspiron 8200). I'm running WinXP and under network connections I can see 1394 connection enabled. I'm not sure whether I need to configure it to a serial/parallel busses. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Cheers.

I registered just to say THANKS. I didn't know what the heck the 1394 connection was OR that I could connect two FW-enabled devices. Informative is to say the least.