Setting up a home network
October 12, 2003
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Home networking allows you to set up a system within the house to connect each computer together so you can do such things as share an internet connection, printer and files. Home networking has a one time set up cost for the equipment, and then the time and effort to setup the system. Other than that, you donít have to pay each time you want to transfer files, you have reduced all the costs of several individual internet accounts, and you no longer need to buy all these ink supplies.
So what is home networking?
Well let's first look at networking. Networking is the ability to connect one or more computers together so that they can communicate with each other. Traditionally networking computers meant physically attaching a cable to each computer, however due to the latest technologies, wireless networking, also known as wi-fi, has become very popular. So home networking is essentially networking computers at home.
The traditional method for networking has been physically connecting computers. These physical networks are often called Ethernet networks.
What's needed:
How is this set up?
The NIC card is installed into the computer and the CAT 5 cable simply connects into the Ethernet port and then connects into the hub (or switch, you can interchange hub and switch through out this article).
Get another computer, do the same and connect the CAT 5 cable to the NIC card and Ethernet hub and now these two computers are physically networked!
Of course you would have to install the correct software on the computers and set them up ñ giving them a name etc. Each operating system is different so setting this part up for each type of computer is a whole other topic. But once this is done your network is set up.
How does this network work?
The computers know there is a network so they can communicate to each other. For example you want to share a file, through the desktop you connect to the other computer.
Data transfer
Basically when data is sent to another computer it is broken up into small packets. These packets are sent across the network one by one and then reassembled at the computer. This allows networks to work faster.
Switch or a hub
The main difference between a hub and switch is at this point the switch will remember what port the computer is attached to whereas the hub won't. The hub will ask each port if itís the right computer each time it sends one packet. So the hub is slower than the switch. The switch can also be programmed to permantently remember what computer is attached whereas again a hub can not.
Of course, its far more technical than just that, but for the scope of this article we can leave it there.
You now have yourself a basic network.
So, what's next?
Setting up internet access.
So what is home networking?
Well let's first look at networking. Networking is the ability to connect one or more computers together so that they can communicate with each other. Traditionally networking computers meant physically attaching a cable to each computer, however due to the latest technologies, wireless networking, also known as wi-fi, has become very popular. So home networking is essentially networking computers at home.
The traditional method for networking has been physically connecting computers. These physical networks are often called Ethernet networks.
What's needed:
1. An Ethernet port on your computer. This can be built in, but most often is from an Ethernet card (also known as a NIC card).
2. A Category 5 cable, also known as a CAT 5 cable. This is a standardized cable for networking.
3. An Ethernet hub or Ethernet Switch. A hub is a central point for the network. This is the place where all the computers are connected together so that they may communicate with each other. (An Ethernet switch is more intelligent than a hub but can cost a little more. I'd go with the switch.)
How is this set up?
The NIC card is installed into the computer and the CAT 5 cable simply connects into the Ethernet port and then connects into the hub (or switch, you can interchange hub and switch through out this article).
Get another computer, do the same and connect the CAT 5 cable to the NIC card and Ethernet hub and now these two computers are physically networked!
Of course you would have to install the correct software on the computers and set them up ñ giving them a name etc. Each operating system is different so setting this part up for each type of computer is a whole other topic. But once this is done your network is set up.
How does this network work?
The computers know there is a network so they can communicate to each other. For example you want to share a file, through the desktop you connect to the other computer.
1. The NIC card sends data across the CAT 5 cable to the hub.
2. The hub checks its ports to see if there are any computers attached.
3. When there is a computer attached to it, it sends data down the CAT 5 cable to ask the computer if itís the right one.
4. If it is, it establishes a network connection and then transfers the data to the computer.
Data transfer
Basically when data is sent to another computer it is broken up into small packets. These packets are sent across the network one by one and then reassembled at the computer. This allows networks to work faster.
Switch or a hub
The main difference between a hub and switch is at this point the switch will remember what port the computer is attached to whereas the hub won't. The hub will ask each port if itís the right computer each time it sends one packet. So the hub is slower than the switch. The switch can also be programmed to permantently remember what computer is attached whereas again a hub can not.
Of course, its far more technical than just that, but for the scope of this article we can leave it there.
You now have yourself a basic network.
So, what's next?
Setting up internet access.
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