|
Home »
Hardware
» USB and 1394 Interfaces
Summary: If your computer has Firewire, you'll see a 1394 network adapter in your configuration. It can be used for networking, but I don't recommend it. I'm running a Gateway GT 4016 computer running XP service pack 2, from the start button I can push "network connections" and I see 2 network connections. I have one labeled Nile which I run my 2 machine home network on, the other is labeled 1394 network adapter. The one labeled Nile, runs at 100 Mbps, the one labeled 1394, runs that 400 Mbps. The Nile connection seems to be run by nVidia nforce drivers, and the 1394 connection seems to be run by Microsoft with VIA OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller drivers. Why do I have a two connectors and the slowest one seems to be the only one that I can run my home network on. Is it possible to use the other, faster network? I have the same connection, and no, I'm not aware of an easy way to use it for networking. It's possible, but in practice, that's not why it's there at all. You might know 1394 by another name: Firewire. • IEEE 1394 is the industry standard for a an external data connection also known as "Firewire" (trademarked by Apple), i.Link and a few other marketing monikers. They all boil down to the same thing: a high speed external interface for data transfer. Since you're seeing 1394 in your network connections, chances are you have one or more 1394 ports on your machine. They're easy to identify by their distinctively shaped socket. Here's a picture of the side of my MacBook Pro that shows the three common interfaces side-by-side:
Naturally the placement on your own machine might be quite different. USB and 1394 are sometimes considered "rival" interfaces, since they do many of the same things. 1394 has a slight advantage in popularity for streaming media - if your video camera has a digital interface, chances are it's 1394. USB has an advantage for random peripherals like mice, keyboards and the ever popular USB FlashDrive. And both 1394 and USB are often used for external hard disk drives. "Since you're seeing 1394 in your network connections,
chances are you have one or more 1394 ports on your machine."
So why does 1394 show up as a networking interface? It is possible to use a 1394 interface for limited networking. You can, for example, use 1394 to create machine-to-machine network. Naturally, both machines must have the 1394 hardware interface and the appropriate 1394 cable must be used to connect them. Much like networking with a single ethernet cable, I'd expect additional protocols might be required, or additional configuration steps needed in the TCP/IP configuration (since IP addresses would have to be assigned manually.) But, in all honesty, that's not what 1394 was really designed for. While it might be possible, I wouldn't recommend it, as you won't find a lot of how-to information. And you certainly cannot use your IEEE 1394 interface to connect to an existing ethernet based network. At least, not without some kind of adapter hardware, and I'm not sure that hardware even exists. And lastly, rumor has it that 1394 networking ability has been removed from Windows Vista. My recommendation is to use the interfaces for what they're best at and most commonly used for: USB for peripherals, 1394 for video cameras and perhaps external hard drives, and ethernet for networking. You'll get the best results, and the best support for your efforts, by following those common paths. Related:
• Recent Comments
I have an older Sony Vaio Laptop that doesn't have an ethernet port but does have a 1394/firewire port so I use that to network it with my HP that also has the 1394 port. Also note that Leo's picture shows the bigger version of the 1394 port. There's a smaller version that most digital video cameras have (at least the older ones) as well as my two laptops (mentioned above). Posted by: nathan at February 22, 2007 05:38 AMI differ. On a default XP installation, conecting two computers with Firewire(1394) is as simple as pluging the cable on both. The resulting connection is several times faster than a Ethernet conection (4x at least) which makes it ideal to transfer lots of information. MY problem is click on tools then internet options a small box opens but just for a blink of an eye it will not open for my settings, I then saw in connections 1349 connection I'm sure it wasn't there before could it have gotten there when I downloaded Live TV.could this have altered my settings Thanking you on reply. Yours Sincerely T.Ritchie Posted by: terry ritchie at July 27, 2007 01:05 PMI have a sony Viao vgc-44rb desk top running window xp svcs pk2. I am a computer idiot so I need an answer a 3 year old could understand.My 1394 shows connected @ 400 but I can't get online.It pops up that my tcp/ip are not configured for this device and the driver is missing for it.Sony has lots of drivers on it's site but I have not a clue what I am looking for.Help! Posted by: Michele Pond at March 14, 2008 06:43 PMI have a newly built computer. The LAN was there and it was connected to the internet. A week or so ago I had to change the power supply and the LAN has disappeared but the 1394 connecrion is still there. How can I recover the LAN in my computer? I am running windows XP Posted by: Chris Miller at March 19, 2008 02:21 PMChriss Miller - its most likely the current power supply is not sending enough power to your motherboard. Try disconnecting a CDrom drive and see if that helps. If not get a higher voltage power supply. Posted by: Mohammed at March 22, 2008 03:20 AMPost a comment on "What's this 1394 network adapter on my machine?":
|
Archives Advertisers |
