Can I use APIPA for private networking on a shared wireless network?

raywood · 22 Apr 2023

I have two desktop computers within a larger WiFi network. Both are running recent versions of Win10. I would like to use Robocopy and perhaps Teamviewer to connect these two machines.

The larger WiFi network includes machines that I do not want to share with. I have just heard of, but have not yet used, Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA). I'm wondering whether that would be a useful way to achieve the connection.

At present, I have the machines connected via straight (i.e., not crossover) ethernet cable. Each machine has at least a 1 Gbps ethernet port. The faster machine has a faster ethernet port and also a USB-C port. I'm planning to do occasional heavy (e.g., 2TB) file transfers. I assume the ethernet will be sufficient for that.

I'm not good at networking. After trying to follow the advice on a number of webpages, I have still not yet managed to get the ethernet connection working. I have been tempted to buy one of those (e.g., Plugable) USB transfer cables, in hopes that it would help me achieve the connection. Years ago, I did have good luck with GoodSync for a somewhat similar purpose - as I recall, GoodSync helped me through the ethernet complexities - but GoodSync has become more expensive and isn't quite on target for this project.

I would appreciate links to a simple, foolproof method of achieving a working, wired connection between two computers. The cable probably won't have to be more than ~10 feet long. An ethernet solution would be cheaper and more convenient, given the cable already in place. Not sure if APIPA is the right direction; it just sounded like it might be simple. TIA.

Digital Life · 25 Apr 2023

Once the two machines are connected with a lan cable it does not have to be a crossover newer network cards figure it out on their own, You would need to find the IP of each machine then enable sharing of the folders you want.

Find the IP of each machine you want to connect to.

Code:

ipconfig
Ethernet adapter vEthernet (internal):

   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::7504:80e2:51f2:3fe1%25
   Autoconfiguration IPv4 Address. . : 169.254.16.39
   Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.0.0
   Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :

I would give the folders simple one word name's, Such as folder1, folder2 and enable sharing on them.

Connect to the machines in file explorer by typing in the IP then the folder name of the computer you want to talk to.
EG:

Code:

\\169.254.16.39\folder1
# if you have a lot of folders and want to choose one leave out the folder name
\\169.254.16.39\
# you could also use the IPv6 address if you want
\\fe80::7504:80e2:51f2:3fe1%25\