Transfer files between my main PC and Mame cabinet PC...

[timsatari]

Hi all

What's the easiest way to connect (or indeed network) my main (connected to internet) and Mame PC so that I can transfer latest files etc... I'm not sure what's needed - at a guess, I've got a ADSL modem with additional free ports at the back for LAN cables. Does this mean that in effect, I could get a LAN card for my MAME Cabinet PC and newtwork via the modem??

Many thanks...
tim

[Alpha17X]

Grab yourself a router, some extra ethernet cable with the little rj45 plugs and then hook it all up.  plug your modem into the uplink port. and your desktop into port one and then the mame  system in port2,   if you have a cable modem, set your router to automatically detect all settings and then go through the power/cycle sequence.  which is, (and it has to be done in THIS order)    shut down the computer(s) unplug the power cord for the modem, from the back of the modem or the wall, then, unplug the power for the router, leave everything else connected.  connect modem first,  wait for the cable/sync light to go on solid. if you have a motorola surfboard modem, wait for the top4 lights to turn solid.  once your modem is syncronized with your ISP, plug the router back in,  wait for the router to show that its ready then turn your computer(s) back on.  Once they're ready,set up some shared folders and password protect them so people off the internet can't get at them.  then you can freely toss files from one comp to another.  or you could set up a work group if you just want it from one comp to another.

[Mr. Dude]

You could make it all wireless too by getting wireless ethernet cards and a wireless router.

[Lilwolf]

search under sneakernet.  A great low cost solution..

Not the fastest transfer protocol.  And it has some protocol options (bi-direction (2 disks), round robin (3), duplexing (kid brother running one of the two disks).

someone did a funny study on the speed / accuracy of sneaker net a bit ago to compare it to other network protocols.  It actually did pretty good

I have a very long network cable that I drag down the hall, down the stairs, and plug into the cabinet.  So I get everything setup on one system, then copy whats changed at one time.

[abrannan]

search under sneakernet.  A great low cost solution..

Not the fastest transfer protocol.  And it has some protocol options (bi-direction (2 disks), round robin (3), duplexing (kid brother running one of the two disks).

someone did a funny study on the speed / accuracy of sneaker net a bit ago to compare it to other network protocols.  It actually did pretty good

I have a very long network cable that I drag down the hall, down the stairs, and plug into the cabinet.  So I get everything setup on one system, then copy whats changed at one time.

Yeah throughput is incredible, but latency is your killer with sneakernet.  

As someone once told me, "Never underestimate the bandwidth of a station wagon filled with DLT tapes."

[nipsmg]

You can actually link 2 computers through ethernet without setting up a router by using a crossover cable.  If it's not going to be permanent, like a one shot deal, do that.  Otherwise, get a cheap DSL router (I recommend linksys.  They're reliable (for me at least) and very easy to set up.).  
Here: $45 new.  They're not that much more expensive to get one that does wireless as well, if you plan to go that route eventually anyways:

 http://www.cnetpc.com/productinfo.asp?item=ET-LI4PRS

DO NOT PLAN ON TRANSFERRING LARGE FILES OVER WIRELESS!!! Or if you do, plan on it taking an EXCRUCIATINGLY LONG time.  

Wired ethernet is your best bet for transferring large files.

--NipsMG

[Buddabing]

Since my cabinet PC is not on my LAN, I just pull the hard drive. I have my cabinet hard drive set to slave, the hard drives on the PCs around the house set to master, and the CD-ROMs around the house set to slave. So I just unplug the CD-ROM and plug in the cabinet hard drive. This works since my cabinet hard drive doesn't use the newer hard drive cables. I get nice throughput that way. The cab hard drive is also in one of those hard drive cages so remounting it is easy. (Enlight 7237 case)

[hyiu]

or if you have a cd burner....

burn a couple of CDs... and put it into the other machine... (and you'll also have a hard copy backup...)

with CDR's price dropping to like $0.25 each and holds like 700M.... its not bad....

but yeah... in the long run... just network all the computers in the house by wireless... that's the easiest...

[krick]

I use two methods...

1) I have a DVD-ROM drive in my cabinet and a DVD recorder in my computer.  I can transfer large amounts of data quickly this way.

2) I have a wireless adapter in my cab to connect it to my network.  The adapter I picked was theD-Link DWL-122 because it is very small.  It is about the size of one of those "thumb drive" USB keychain thingies and connects to the computer with a thin 5 ft usb cable.  I have it attached inside one of the openings in the back of my cab using velcro.

[Ed ONeill]

I agree with nipsmg the crossover cable is around $20 .

That is what I use to transfer files from my laptop to desktop.

Signed
Ed

[screaming]

I agree with nipsmg the crossover cable is around $20 .

That is what I use to transfer files from my laptop to desktop.

Signed
Ed

  If all you're looking to do is transfer between the two computers, a cheap ethernet card and a crossover cable is definitely your best solution. It gives a great low cost/ease of use/speed ratio.

  Additionally, if you get 2 network card for your main PC, you can set it up to provide internet access to and from your MAME cabinet.  Windows XP has a great wizard to walk you through this.

/s

[maraxle]

What OS is on your MAME PC?  If you're running DOS like me, network connectivity can be a pain.  Since I infrequently make any sort of update to my cabinet, I've found that it's easier to burn a CD than go through the pain of networking it.

[paigeoliver]

I actually reccomend setting up your cabinet one time, and then leaving it as is.

If you keep updating Mame versions, adding new ROMS, etc, etc, then eventually you are going to find out that the computer in your cabinet is no longer fast enough to handle the games it used to be able to play.

Back around Mame .55 a Celeron 400 was king, and could play everything in Mame full speed. Now with the current version that same processor can't handle much newer than 85 or so. Mame .55 wasn't that long ago.

[brained]

Routers are way too expensive, get yourself a switch if that the case, then mod your cabinet and add an ethernet card to the computer, and hookup a modular RJ45 Jack on the back, just like a phone.  

If your not into spending, you can still make a crosscable for about 5 bucks.  

My recommendation is to use CDRW's for data transfer and forget the whole ethernet stuff.....