Ten Steps to Get a Complete and Running Home Network - Speech or Presentation Example

?Setting a home network It possible you can get a complete and running home network using the below ten steps Check the available hardware Each location of every computer should be checked together with its hardware’s up to and including the peripherals like the modems and printers. 2. Choose your ICS host If you plan to share the internet connection between your computers using the Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) then make, a choice of which computer will be used as your ICs host. ICS host has a direct link either by dial-up modem or the high speed link, to the internet and provides an avenue for access to the internet for other computers on the network, its ideal forb the host computer to run on Windows XP. Besides the easy handling of the XP ICS, by the XP computer as the ICS host the other benefit is using the internet connection Firewall. 3. Choice of a network technology The commonly available choices are the Ethernet and wireless LANs. When using an Ethernet LAN its essential to have the network interface card, or the NIC that ought to be fitted in each computer and then run the cabling between the computers. Just in case you don’t find the idea of opening the computer to fit/or to install the network card good for you, then get yourself a USB adaptor to assist you. Considering the size of the network, you may also find it necessary to have a network hub or router to provide interconnection between the PCs on the LAN. Two PCs can get by using an RJ-45 crossover cable; three or more computers require a hub or a multi – speed hub (also called a switch). For high – speed internet connection, a high – speed router is a good option. If you decide to have a wireless LAN as your choice, you may also need an NIC for each and every PC (although there are versions that use USB adaptors as well) the major advantage of home environments is that a wireless LAN eliminates the need for cabling. Although on the contrary wireless LANs tend to be slower, less robust and most likely more expensive than the traditional Ethernet LANs. Wireless LANs particularly do not live up to their stated working range and you may encounter factors such as your construction and design in your home, in addition to interference from other devices which affect the performance of your wireless LAN. You may also need to add an expensive Access point to be able to extend the range of the LAN and more so it may not be sufficient. What is essential here is that if you make a choice of going wireless route, then ensure that the store will refund your money if the LAN will proof not to be reliable in performance within the range specified. 4. Make a list of hardware needed Come up with a list that outlines the hardware you need for each computer, without forgetting any cabling, and purchase them. If you find it a little dazzling to make an appropriate choice and the configurations, then consider purchasing a networking kit. This kind of kits contain all that is needed to set up a two or three Pc network. If it’s possible, then look up for hardware that contains the Windows XP logo that indicates its fully compatible with XP. 5. Install the adaptors. Make an installation of the network adaptors and also install your modem on the ICS host computer(you may also let the computers connect to the internet independently by installing modems on each one of them) 6. Cable the computers Physically cable the computers and hubs or routers together, as usual you may not need to undertake this if you have decided to use the wireless option. When installing an Ethernet network and you have a lot of cabling work to be done then its preferable that you get a professional to come in and do this kind of work for you. It may not be cheap but to ensure that the work is perfectly done with minimal damage done to the walls, ceilings and the floors. 7. Switch it on Power all computers, printers and other peripherals. 8. Connect the ICS host Get to the ICS host computer and ensure it’s connected to the internet. 9. Run the network setup Wizard on the ICS host To be able to run the network Setup Wizard on the ICS host, click Start ->Control Panel-> Network and Internet Connections-> Setup or change your Home or Small Office Network. Follow the instructions in each screen and press next to continue. The network Setup Wizard will guide you through: Configuration of the network adaptors (NICs) Configuration of the computers to enable them share a single internet connection Giving a name to each computer to be identified on the network Sharing the shared files folder. Any file in this folder will be accessible to all computers on the network Sharing printers Installing the Internet Connection Firewall to guard you from online attacks. 10. Run the Network Setup Wizard on all computers To achieve this: 1) Insert the Windows XP CD in the first computer’s drive 2) When the XP Welcome Menu appears, click perform Additional Tasks 3) Click Setup Home or Small Office Networking and follow the prompts 4) Repeat the steps 1 and 3 for each computer on your network. How to share a broadband internet connection Here I describe three most common techniques that are used to share a broadband internet connection with multiple computers. The first option is sharing a broadband connection using Microsoft Internet Connection Sharing which is suitable for home users with low budgets, the second is sharing a broadband connection using a dedicated broadband router which is better solution for small enterprises and homes when flexibility is needed. The last method is sharing a broadband using the Linux router which is the most advanced solution; it provides the broadest range of features and the most control over security, logging and access. 1. Sharing a broadband connection using Microsoft Internet Connection Sharing Microsoft Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) enables a computer connected to the internet via a cable or DSL modem to share the connectivity with other computers connected to it. Its cheaper due to its less hardware requirement and its fairly straightforward to set up. Even though its mainly suitable for situations with limited requirements. Microsoft internet connection sharing is a software built into Microsoft Windows 98 SE, Windows 98 ME, Windows XP and 2000. ICS enables a computer that is connected to the internet via a cable or a DSL modem to share its connection with other computers that are connected using the Ethernet cable. Based on the number of computers that need to share the network it can be connected in two ways For two computers only When only one computer needs to share the network in this connection as shown in figure 1 then the second computer can be connected directly to computer one by use of a crossover cable and both computers ought to have a network card installed in each. The hardware requirements for connection sharing using Microsoft ICS with two computers -network card for each computer Each computer ought to have a network interface card (NIC) installed. -Ethernet crossover cable A crossover cable is an Ethernet cable designed in such a way to eneble the connection of two computers directly together, thus eliminating the need for a hub or a switch. The cable should be long enough to connect the two PCs together properly. -broadband modem This is like an ordinary telephone modem except that it connects you to a broadband service instead of a dial up service. For three or more computers When there is need for more than one computer to share the connection with computer one the a switch is needed or a hub as shown in the figure below. Here all computers are connected to the switch using standard Ethernet cable. Hardware requirements for connection sharing using Microsoft ICS wuth three or more computers -switch (or hub) It allows all the computers on the network to make communication with each other easily. -network card per computer All the computers on the network must be fitted with a network interface card (NIC). -Ethernet (straight through) cable per computer The cable enables each computer to be connected on the hub or switch. The length of the cable ought to be long enough to connect the devices although it should not be longer than 100m -broadband modem. Its similar to an ordinary telephone modem except that it connects you to a broadband service instead of a dial up service. Broadband internet connection sharing using a hardware router The hardware requirements for connection sharing using a broadband router -network card and network cable per computer Each computer on the network ought to have an Ethernet Network Interface Card (NIC) installed and must be connected to the router with Ethernet cable. -broadband router It allows multiple computers on the network to use same internet connection. They typically perform multiple tasks and those that are typical for home and small office use have a built in four port switch, router (and firewall), and either cable or ADSL modem -switch (if not included with the router) In case the broadband router does not have a built in switch, then a separate one will need to be obtained. And make sure the switch has sufficient ports to connect all the computers and the router together. -broadband modem (if not included with the router) Incase the broadband router does not have a built in modem (either a cable or ADSL modem) then a separate modem ought to be obtained. Most of the routers will require that the modem has an Ethernet port to connect to. Sharing a broadband connection using a Linux router A dedicated Linux router provides the greatest control over access, security and logging. Linux is an operating system that is designed from the ground up to secure and robust in a network environment. The software that is required to configure a Linux computer as a router and firewall comes as a router and firewall comes as standard with the operating system. Linux router is similar to that of a hardware router, all computers on the network are connected together using a switch or hub and the switch is connected to the Linux router. Using the Linux router you have full control over the traffic that is allowed in and out of your network. You can also be able to control who accesses what and what time , you can also log everything that passes through your internet connection. Hardware requirements -network card -Linux router -Switch (or hub) - Broadband modem Read More