Multiple netword cards - XP

[GazzLam]

Hi there.

First off the technical stuff.
I'm using :
VLC 0.8.6b.
XP - SP3

So... I've streamed quite happily across my network before, with no problems (BIG issues with the new VLC version, so I stick with the older).
I've been able to RTP unicast and multicast video with no issues when only using one network adapter enabled.

I've just set up another xp machine in the same room, and connected it to my second network card (onboard, as is the first).
Since the 2 computers are connected directly, and the new one doesn't require internet access I've set the IP options in windows to the most basic.

MainPC ---------- NewPC
192.168.3.1 ---------- 192.168.3.2 (neither adaptor on this network has Default G/W or DNS server)
192.168.2.2 --- Gateway (192.168.2.1) --- Normal home network (192.168.2.0)

Now....

If I stream video from MainPC, and unicast it to 192.168.3.2 (NewPC), there is no problem.. it works fine.
But if I try to multicast it, then NewPC won't play it... I've been trying for over an hour now.

I've changed the Preferences > Stream Output > Access Output > output addresses to 192.168.3.1, to force it to multicast on the second network adaptor, but the only effect I've noticed is, it prevents me from opening a second VLC on the same machine and "tuning" to the stream and watching it (the way I test that I'm actually streaming).

It's worth pointing out, that my actual goal here is to have:
1) an instance of VLC running on MainPC, multicast streaming
2) another instance on MainPC receiving the stream (since NewPC has no speakers)
3) NewPC running VLC receiving the stream, playing the video.

Basically 2 PCs, one playing video, one playing audio....

Any ideas??? I figure it's possible, but I'm sick of messing about with routing tables, that I don't fully understand!

Thanks.

[arbitrageur]

The way I would solve that problem personally is to add speakers to the PC that doesn't have them, but you may have some valid reasons for not wanting to do that.

I actually use a y-adapter to plug the same speakers into multiple PCs, and it works, so that's another idea you could try. The volume gets a little lower once you turn on the 2nd PC but you can just turn the volume control up to compensate.

[GazzLam]

Thanks for the reply.

I was after a more high-tech answer though

I'm sure it's possible somehow, I've read some posts from people running VLC under linux, and specifying a network cards as a command line option, I've tried the windows equivalent that I've found, but keep getting an error.

I initially set up a network bridge, so that both computers are on the same network address, but then I hit big delays viewing web pages, and (in particular) browsing my home network.
I presumed this was a network adapter metric issue, and have tried prioritizing my first card, but (for some strange reason) that didn't help (though I could do exactly what I wanted with VLC).

Hmmmmmm.......