for information

f you want to directly connect you use a Cross Over CAT5 Cable for a Wired Network Connection or if both have Wireless you can network through the Wireless.

If you want to connect through a Hub all you need it 2 CAT5 cables and the Hub.

Col

As Oh SMeg said, either cable setup will work.

If you want to know how to make a cross-over cable , see this document. http://www.n-tron.com/pdf/Cat5eCableSchemes.pdf

If both machines are Windows, make sure they are both configured for the same WORKGROUP name or they will pretend they don't see each other. If they are confiugred for the default TCP/IP settings they should autoconfigure to an IP address range where they can communicate with each other.

If you have an internet connectin and want both machien to be connected you need a router connected to your internet connection.