Direct connection with PC problem!!

[Livas, Mark, VF UK - Technology (TS)]

Hi,

I have a bit of a problem and was hoping someone could help..

I have a laptop in a hazardous environment (high RF emissions) which I want to control from a safe distance from another laptop.

How can I connect the two laptops directly (no network)? Can I use the ethernet cable that I use to connect to my office LAN?

If so, how can I assign an IP address to the remote laptop? 

At the moment if I hover the mouse over the icon it shows the loopback IP address..

I am a bit of a newbie at this so please include some detail in your instructions.

Thank you in advance,

Mark