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

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User Comments	74 comments
Firewire Networking guide - connecting computers at 400Mbps

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Firewire connect by South High - 8/29/2002 4:51:00 PM

Re: Firewire connect by Zippy - 10/26/2002 2:15:00 PM

Re: Firewire connect by Tim King - 12/9/2002 9:33:00 AM

Fire Wire cable by Viljem Kittl - 10/18/2002 7:27:00 PM

Apple Firewire networking now exists by Carlos - 12/6/2002 11:48:00 AM

Re: Apple Firewire networking now exists by Skip Baker - 12/9/2002 12:39:00 PM

Re: Apple Firewire networking now exists by James - 9/26/2003 10:13:00 AM

Firewire networking with PC's by Lou Doo - 3/10/2003 9:52:00 PM

Networking Mac and PC via Firewire by Matt Slater - 5/1/2003 1:59:00 PM

Re: Networking Mac and PC via Firewire by Erik - 7/9/2003 4:56:00 PM

Re: Networking Mac and PC via Firewire by Justin - 4/2/2004 1:45:00 PM

windows 2000 and xp? by jim - 5/5/2003 5:37:00 PM

Re: windows 2000 and xp? by Dan - 5/14/2003 6:16:00 AM

Re: windows 2000 and xp? by Randy - 5/25/2003 2:59:00 PM

Re: windows 2000 and xp? by jan - 6/21/2003 9:25:00 AM

Re: windows 2000 and xp? by jim - 6/30/2003 11:26:00 PM

Re: windows 2000 and xp? by fireIT - 8/6/2003 7:10:00 AM

Re: windows 2000 and xp? by Derek - 9/6/2003 5:57:00 PM

Re: windows 2000 and xp? by VJ - 11/20/2003 5:06:00 PM

windows 98 and xp? by E.chalapathy - 12/2/2003 12:11:00 AM

Re: windows 2000 and xp? by VJ - 11/20/2003 5:07:00 PM

Re: windows 2000 and xp? by Alex - 11/30/2003 6:53:00 AM

Re: windows 2000 and xp? by Alex Wolfe - 12/15/2003 7:37:00 AM

Re: windows 2000 and xp? by Joe Davies - 12/16/2003 10:55:00 PM

Re: windows 2000 and xp? by Marcos Mota - 3/14/2004 11:25:00 AM

Re: windows 2000 and xp? by Noel Cosgrave - 12/9/2004 12:08:00 PM

Re: windows 2000 and xp? by Chuk-D - 9/7/2005 6:54:00 PM

Re: windows 2000 and xp? by Dimiter Prenerov - 12/15/2005 5:59:00 AM

Posted by Dimiter Prenerov

12/15/2005 5:59:00 AM.

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 - 12/16/2005 6:29:00 AM

Posted by Dimiter Prenerov

12/16/2005 6:29:00 AM.

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 - 8/17/2003 4:00:00 AM

XP to XP direct Firewire network, how to make it work please? by Andrew - 8/20/2003 9:42:00 PM

Re: XP to XP direct Firewire network, how to make it work please? by merlin - 8/21/2003 4:46:00 AM

Re: XP to XP direct Firewire network, how to make it work please? by Andrew - 8/25/2003 7:40:00 PM

XP to XP file sharing? Not easy.. by V - 12/20/2003 5:30:00 PM

Re: XP to XP file sharing? Not easy.. by Baz - 8/30/2006 9:28:00 PM

Posted by Baz

8/30/2006 9:28:00 PM.

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 - 1/12/2004 2:38:00 PM

Re: XP to XP direct Firewire network, how to make it work please? by Greybird - 2/3/2004 12:19:00 AM

Re: XP to XP direct Firewire network, how to make it work please? by droopus - 2/7/2004 1:32:00 AM

Re: XP to XP direct Firewire network, how to make it work please? by Cirrus - 2/20/2004 1:05:00 PM

Re: XP to XP direct Firewire network, how to make it work please? by MO - 8/25/2004 11:03:00 AM

Re: XP to XP direct Firewire network, how to make it work please? by Dave M - 3/6/2004 11:54:00 PM

XP to XP netWORK - How I did... by Marcos Mota - 3/14/2004 7:09:00 PM

Re: XP to XP netWORK - How I did... by Marcos Mota - 3/15/2004 11:38:00 AM

Re: XP to XP netWORK - How I did... by Justin - 4/16/2004 12:11:00 PM

Re: XP to XP netWORK - How I did... by Justin - 4/16/2004 12:12:00 PM

Re: XP to XP direct Firewire network, how to make it work please? by Robbie - 10/25/2005 7:29:00 PM

w2k to w2k OK..hopefully by Ron - 12/26/2003 1:15:00 PM

firewire net with win2003 by Dick - 3/14/2004 7:45:00 AM

Re: firewire net with win2003 by Greg - 3/19/2004 12:45:00 PM

FireWire direct hook-up? by Sinister - 3/27/2004 9:27:00 PM

Re: FireWire direct hook-up? by Justin - 4/19/2004 2:29:00 PM

Re: FireWire direct hook-up? by ###agm - 4/25/2004 5:27:00 AM

Re: FireWire direct hook-up? by Justin - 4/29/2004 3:05:00 PM

Re: FireWire direct hook-up? by Paul Lee - 4/29/2004 9:45:00 PM

Re: FireWire direct hook-up? by Justin - 5/3/2004 8:49:00 AM

XP sharing internet to MAC OSX by Rodrigo - 1/11/2005 1:15:00 PM

firewire network by vgiambal - 2/3/2005 7:55:00 PM

Re: firewire network by Jason - 4/21/2005 3:19:00 PM

connecting via firewire by Dave Sciarretta - 2/18/2005 3:05:00 PM

winxppro-winxppro 1394 fileshare by potato - 3/16/2005 9:51:00 AM

Firewire & Wireless together by Linda - 4/15/2005 8:24:00 PM

firewire networking by jamie - 5/9/2005 1:42:00 PM

XP2XP firewire network only available a few seconds. by Cesar - 6/27/2005 12:47:00 PM

Re: XP2XP firewire network only available a few seconds. by midas - 6/29/2005 12:07:00 AM

Re: XP2XP firewire network only available a few seconds. by C�sar - 7/1/2005 1:33:00 AM

Re: XP2XP firewire network only available a few seconds. by J S - 8/3/2005 5:35:00 PM

Re: XP2XP firewire network only available a few seconds. by Cesar - 8/16/2005 5:49:00 AM

XP to XP laptop, connecting, but slow by Marc - 7/24/2005 10:37:00 AM

Re: XP to XP laptop, connecting, but slow by Patrick - 9/1/2005 3:09:00 AM

Re: XP to XP laptop, connecting, but slow by Intuit - 9/10/2005 9:43:00 PM

Re: XP to XP laptop, connecting, but slow by Intuit - 9/10/2005 9:50:00 PM

howto simulate a pc as firewire preview device like the dv cams lcd by Renjith - 9/8/2005 4:31:00 PM

No network over IEEE 1394! by Saurabh Agrawal - 9/13/2005 10:23:00 PM

Re: No network over IEEE 1394! by Intuit - 9/17/2005 3:55:00 PM

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