How to direct connect to Apple TV with ethernet cable

Question

I have been trying all week to connect to AppleTV trying all forms of networked connections. I also tried connecting cat6 ethernet direct to the ATV and 2 computers I have. Both computers have Gigabit ethernet ports so I expected that a connection would be plug and play. 1 PC has 2 Yukon Marvell gigabit ports, both lit up when connected but the Apple TV will not show up in devices in itunes off either port. I returned the ATV to factory defaults and connected to the newly re-formatted PC with clean install of XPPro and iTunes 9.0.2. No go on the Intel Pro1000 gigabit adapter port either.
The ATV connects fine to the internet so I know the ATV ethernet port is OK.
A few say I need a crossover cable but both PCs are new and haved adapters rated to handle the connection without it.
Everyone I talk to says it should be just plug and play but that is just not happening. Is there something I need to do at the PC or ATV end to have this connection work?

Answer 1

crochammer wrote:
I have Apple TV 1. I don't think there is a a home-sharing option in ATV 1
No there isn't
and I am trying to by-pass the local network because I can't get ATV to be recognized in devices at all. So I am trying to connect direct to the PC ethernet port and the ATV ethernet port to do that.
Have you not tried to pair the AppleTV with iTunes?
Home sharing on my network is not working because the PC does not see an ATV to stream to. That all started when the latest itunes update screwed that up.
Have you tried setting up under Settings>Computers
NOTE CHANGING SYNC COMPUTER DELETES CONTENT ALREADY SYNCED TO APPLETV
For sync/stream connection you need to set up the top entry in computers
Select any existing top entry and then add a new computer to replace it - you need to enter a 5 digit code in iTunes when prompted to pair the devices.
Same would apply for a shared streaming only connection - the computers listed below
You can have 5 streaming computers but only 1 sync and stream computer
I have read where you should be able to link to the ATV without a network with a direct link.
Yes, but unless you've paired using the numerical code it won't work.