Connect Two or More PCs--Anywhere, Anytime
I often find myself needing to connect two PCs when I'm away from my regular office network. Maybe I want to pass files to a friend without searching for a thumb drive. Or if I'm feeling generous, perhaps I want to share an Internet connection in a hotel or airport. Such tasks would be easy if both devices were on the same network already, but in a pinch, you can create an ad hoc connection anywhere. Here are five techniques to share files or an Internet hookup. With little or no preparation, you'll be out of a jam and back to work in minutes.
Note: Ad hoc networks are a useful tool for quick file and Internet sharing, but you should watch for unscrupulous attempts to draw you into such a network unawares. For details, see "Don't Fall Victim to the 'Free Wi-Fi' Scam."
If you want just a temporary arrangement for sharing files between two computers, a direct cable connection can be the fastest method. With this setup, you manually configure the computers' IP addresses, since you have no DHCP (dynamic host configuration protocol) server to create the connection automatically.
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