Firewire Networks

Firewire Networking guide - connecting computers at 400Mbps
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Firewire Networking Guide
Easy 400Mbps Networks
Firewire networking takes advantage of a spec called "IP over 1394".  This spec Standardizes how to transfer IP packets across a firewire (IEEE 1394) interface - translated: firewire networking!  By simply running an inexpensive firewire cable between two computers with modern operating systems and firewire ports, you get a 400Mbps network connection! (IETF RFC 2734).
The Catch
Firewire networking support is very limited in all but the latest operating systems.  It is fully supported under Windows XP Home and Pro.  Windows ME also has 'some' firewire networking support but don't count on it being reliable.  Also remember, native firewire networking is only for IP, not NetBEUI IPX or any other protocol.
 
Unibrain:  These guys make an 'enhanced' firewire networking program that brings firewire networking to Windows 98 and Me reliably.  It also brings reliable firewire networking to Mac OS9 and OSX. The unique thing about Unibrain's software is that it does more than IP - it does almost all protocols.
 
Distance
Maximum distance between nodes is also a problem for firewire.  It was never designed for the long haul so the maximum distance of a cable is about 15 feet.  Repeaters can be placed between 15 ft cables for a maximum distance of 237 feet.
 
Increasing Distance
A new way of increasing the distance between your firewire network enabled computers is to replace the copper wire in a firewire cable with something else - fiber.  Firewire to Fiber tranceivers are starting to appear on the market that would allow a firewire signal to travel VERY far - like 40km!  Right now they are in the $500 range but should come down.  An ethernet to fiber tranceiver is only about $120 right now.
Apple's special Firewire Targeted Disk Mode
Apple does not support firewire networking but it does have a nifty feature for transferring files between computers quickly.  First connect two Mac's with a firewire cable.  Then boot up one of the computer while holding down the 'T' key till the firewire icon appears.  This computer is now a slave 400Mbps 'firewire hard drive' to the other fully booted computer.  COOL eh?
References at HomeNetHelp:
Firewire networking info
More about firewire networking
 
References on the web:
PC Buyers Guide 1394 networking
askfor1394
1394 and the Windows Platform
Shopping
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Prices on Firewire PCI Cards
Prices on Firewire cables
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User Comments
74 comments
Firewire Networking guide - connecting computers at 400Mbps
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Firewire connect by South High - 29/08/2002 16:51:00
Re: Firewire connect by Zippy - 26/10/2002 14:15:00
Re: Firewire connect by Tim King - 09/12/2002 09:33:00
Fire Wire cable by Viljem Kittl - 18/10/2002 19:27:00
Apple Firewire networking now exists by Carlos - 06/12/2002 11:48:00
Re: Apple Firewire networking now exists by Skip Baker - 09/12/2002 12:39:00
Re: Apple Firewire networking now exists by James - 26/09/2003 10:13:00
Firewire networking with PC's by Lou Doo - 10/03/2003 21:52:00
Networking Mac and PC via Firewire by Matt Slater - 01/05/2003 13:59:00
Re: Networking Mac and PC via Firewire by Erik - 09/07/2003 16:56:00
Re: Networking Mac and PC via Firewire by Justin - 02/04/2004 13:45:00
windows 2000 and xp? by jim - 05/05/2003 17:37:00
Re: windows 2000 and xp? by Dan - 14/05/2003 06:16:00
Re: windows 2000 and xp? by Randy - 25/05/2003 14:59:00
Re: windows 2000 and xp? by jan - 21/06/2003 09:25:00
Re: windows 2000 and xp? by jim - 30/06/2003 23:26:00
Re: windows 2000 and xp? by fireIT - 06/08/2003 07:10:00
Re: windows 2000 and xp? by Derek - 06/09/2003 17:57:00
Re: windows 2000 and xp? by VJ - 20/11/2003 17:06:00
windows 98 and xp? by E.chalapathy - 02/12/2003 00:11:00
Re: windows 2000 and xp? by VJ - 20/11/2003 17:07:00
Re: windows 2000 and xp? by Alex - 30/11/2003 06:53:00
Re: windows 2000 and xp? by Alex Wolfe - 15/12/2003 07:37:00
Re: windows 2000 and xp? by Joe Davies - 16/12/2003 22:55:00
Re: windows 2000 and xp? by Marcos Mota - 14/03/2004 11:25:00
Re: windows 2000 and xp? by Noel Cosgrave - 09/12/2004 12:08:00
Re: windows 2000 and xp? by Chuk-D - 07/09/2005 18:54:00
Re: windows 2000 and xp? by Dimiter Prenerov - 15/12/2005 05:59:00
Posted by Dimiter Prenerov
15/12/2005 05:59:00.
Re: windows 2000 and xp?
Does anybody solved this?
I can't find information how to connect 2k to xp via 1394?
reply
Re: windows 2000 and xp? - the solution by Dimiter Prenerov - 16/12/2005 06:29:00
Posted by Dimiter Prenerov
16/12/2005 06:29:00.
Re: windows 2000 and xp? - the solution
If anyone is still ineterested, I found a solution.
The first is information, that win2k has no built in native firewire networking capabilities. ME and XP have.
I found a software, that makes possible to build a 1394 network between 2k and xp and other OSs.
the software is named Firenet and can be downloaded for evaluation from ://www.unibrain.com/evaluations/firenet.htm
I'll test it next week.
Cheers!
reply
How to ? connect 98 and XP by Henry - 17/08/2003 04:00:00
XP to XP direct Firewire network, how to make it work please? by Andrew - 20/08/2003 21:42:00
Re: XP to XP direct Firewire network, how to make it work please? by merlin - 21/08/2003 04:46:00
Re: XP to XP direct Firewire network, how to make it work please? by Andrew - 25/08/2003 19:40:00
XP to XP file sharing? Not easy.. by V - 20/12/2003 17:30:00
Re: XP to XP file sharing? Not easy.. by Baz - 30/08/2006 21:28:00
Posted by Baz
30/08/2006 21:28:00.
Re: XP to XP file sharing? Not easy..
Hi,
I'm in the same spot. I have connected pc and laptop both running xp pro. Connection works fine, packets are sending, but I can't get to see shared folders on either one of them. I have set them to:
host - 192.168.3.1 / slave - 192.168.3.2 , than I tried 10.10.10.1 / 10.10.10.2 and neither changed anything. I found in my computer a shared folder and I put some files in it on both machines. The problem I have that I don't know how to access those folders. What am I missing and how do I open a folder on the laptop from a pc and vice versa?
reply
Re: XP to XP direct Firewire network, how to make it work please? by John A. Parker - 12/01/2004 14:38:00
Re: XP to XP direct Firewire network, how to make it work please? by Greybird - 03/02/2004 00:19:00
Re: XP to XP direct Firewire network, how to make it work please? by droopus - 07/02/2004 01:32:00
Re: XP to XP direct Firewire network, how to make it work please? by Cirrus - 20/02/2004 13:05:00
Re: XP to XP direct Firewire network, how to make it work please? by MO - 25/08/2004 11:03:00
Re: XP to XP direct Firewire network, how to make it work please? by Dave M - 06/03/2004 23:54:00
XP to XP netWORK - How I did... by Marcos Mota - 14/03/2004 19:09:00
Re: XP to XP netWORK - How I did... by Marcos Mota - 15/03/2004 11:38:00
Re: XP to XP netWORK - How I did... by Justin - 16/04/2004 12:11:00
Re: XP to XP netWORK - How I did... by Justin - 16/04/2004 12:12:00
Re: XP to XP direct Firewire network, how to make it work please? by Robbie - 25/10/2005 19:29:00
w2k to w2k OK..hopefully by Ron - 26/12/2003 13:15:00
firewire net with win2003 by Dick - 14/03/2004 07:45:00
Re: firewire net with win2003 by Greg - 19/03/2004 12:45:00
FireWire direct hook-up? by Sinister - 27/03/2004 21:27:00
Re: FireWire direct hook-up? by Justin - 19/04/2004 14:29:00
Re: FireWire direct hook-up? by ###agm - 25/04/2004 05:27:00
Re: FireWire direct hook-up? by Justin - 29/04/2004 15:05:00
Re: FireWire direct hook-up? by Paul Lee - 29/04/2004 21:45:00
Re: FireWire direct hook-up? by Justin - 03/05/2004 08:49:00
XP sharing internet to MAC OSX by Rodrigo - 11/01/2005 13:15:00
firewire network by vgiambal - 03/02/2005 19:55:00
Re: firewire network by Jason - 21/04/2005 15:19:00
connecting via firewire by Dave Sciarretta - 18/02/2005 15:05:00
winxppro-winxppro 1394 fileshare by potato - 16/03/2005 09:51:00
Firewire & Wireless together by Linda - 15/04/2005 20:24:00
firewire networking by jamie - 09/05/2005 13:42:00
XP2XP firewire network only available a few seconds. by Cesar - 27/06/2005 12:47:00
Re: XP2XP firewire network only available a few seconds. by midas - 29/06/2005 00:07:00
Re: XP2XP firewire network only available a few seconds. by C�sar - 01/07/2005 01:33:00
Re: XP2XP firewire network only available a few seconds. by J S - 03/08/2005 17:35:00
Re: XP2XP firewire network only available a few seconds. by Cesar - 16/08/2005 05:49:00
XP to XP laptop, connecting, but slow by Marc - 24/07/2005 10:37:00
Re: XP to XP laptop, connecting, but slow by Patrick - 01/09/2005 03:09:00
Re: XP to XP laptop, connecting, but slow by Intuit - 10/09/2005 21:43:00
Re: XP to XP laptop, connecting, but slow by Intuit - 10/09/2005 21:50:00
howto simulate a pc as firewire preview device like the dv cams lcd by Renjith - 08/09/2005 16:31:00
No network over IEEE 1394! by Saurabh Agrawal - 13/09/2005 22:23:00
Re: No network over IEEE 1394! by Intuit - 17/09/2005 15:55:00
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