Home Networking for Dummies
Apr 28 '01
The Bottom Line There are so many benefits to home networking...you'll use that extra computer a lot more, too.
I have two computers at home: An AMD 950 running Windows 98 SE and an old Packard Bell Pentium 100 running Windows 95 version B. We only have one phone line and my family always fights for computer time. To solve this problem, I decided to network our computers and share the internet connection.
This info is written for Windows users who wish to share files, printers, and a modem based internet connection between two computers.
Networking your computers will allow you to share files, printers, and internet connections. It will also allow you to play games over the network, with a person on each computer running the same game.
Before you get started
You will need to add some new hardware to your computer in order to network them together. Some computers include network adapters in systems, but most don't. To see if you have one, check the back of your system and you will see a plug-in that looks like an oversized phone jack. If you have this, then your system is ready for an Ethernet network.
Note: If you are using a laptop, you will probably need to get a PCMCIA card for an ethernet connection.
I highly suggest that if you don't really know much about networking computers - go out and buy one of those home networking kits that includes a hub and two network cards. A hub is simply a base unit that all the other computers plug into via network cable.
SAM's Club has a home networking kit made by Stratitec and it costs 40 bucks. I just recently got it and it installed perfectly.
The Hard Part
Once you get the hardware you need (network cards and a hub), you will need to install them. Hopefully you can install the network card without any fuss...HOPEFULLY. If it doesn't work for you, you will have to contact the manufacturer's tech support for help - there are about a million things that could cause it not to work.
That's about the only thing tough about this, besides finding a place to run the wires so that they don't stretch accross your floor.
The Easy Part
Once all the hardware is set up and working properly, you will need to configure your system for the network. This is simply a matter of installing the right drivers inside your Network settings under Control Panel. You will need Client for Microsoft Networks, TCP/IP, and IPX/SPX Compatible protocol. Chances are you already have them installed.
The software configuration will differ depending on your hardware setup, but all of the home networking kits will tell you everything you need to know in order to set it up properly.
Notes
If you want to share a modem-based internet connection between two computers, you will have to have Windows 98 SE, Windows ME, or Windows 2000 installed on the machine that is going to be dialing in to the internet. The other systems can have Windows 95 or higher.
If you are setting up a network using a cable modem, make SURE that you have a firewall setup. A firewall is a security program that keeps people from getting into your computer from accross the network. Without one installed, someone could very easily browse your hard drive.
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