How to create a direct connection using Ethernet crossover cable in Windows XP?

Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA)

5. It may take seconds up to a few minutes for Windows to discover a DHCP server to assign a private (LAN) IP address for a network adapter. Because there is no DHCP server, then it automatically assigns itself a private IP address from an APIPA address range. Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA) is a feature that lets a Windows XP computer (and several previous Windows versions namely Windows 98, 98 SE, ME, 2000, Server 2003) assign itself an Internet Protocol (IP) address when a DHCP server is not available. An APIPA IP address is a Class B IP address in this form 169.254.x.y where x and y are decimal numbers. APIPA address range is from 169.254.0.1 to 169.254.255.254 with a subnet mask of 255.255.0.0.

Network Connections folder

Figure: Private IP address 169.254.x.y and subnet mask 255.255.0.0 on the first computer (PC-01)

Network Connections folder

Figure: Private IP address 169.254.x.y and subnet mask 255.255.0.0 on the second computer (PC-02)

 
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