Networking made easy; three quick tips for setting up a wired connection.If you have more than one PC and are tired of inserting floppies to share Files, you might consider a home LAN (home Local Area Network) See home network. . It lets you share files among PCs by dragging and dropping them in Windows Explorer--and share a broadband connection See broadband and wireless broadband. , CD drives, and printers connected to other PCs. Here's how: 1. GET THE EQUIPMENT Make sure everything you buy is for an Ethernet LAN (Local Area Network) A communications network that serves users within a confined geographical area. The "clients" are the user's workstations typically running Windows, although Mac and Linux clients are also used. . (Adding wireless takes additional steps.) You'll need: * One 10/100 (Dual Speed) Network Hub See hub and hub vs. switch. A hub is the small box with Ethernet ports that everything plugs into. It should have one port for each PC you have now--and one for each PC you will add (not replace) in the next five years. * Network Interface Cards (NICs) Get one 10/100 card for each PC you have now. Make sure you have a free slot in each PC by opening the cover, and determining what kind of slot it is (consult your PC manual), so you'll know which type of card to buy. The most common types are ISA (1) (Instruction Set Architecture) See instruction set. (2) (Interactive Services Association) See Internet Alliance. (3) (Internet Security and Acceleration) See .NET. , PCI (1) (Payment Card Industry) See PCI DSS. (2) (Peripheral Component Interconnect) The most widely used I/O bus (peripheral bus). , PCM-CIA (Type II or III), and Compact Flash. No free slot inside? Plug the LinkSys USB USB in full Universal Serial Bus Type of serial bus that allows peripheral devices (disks, modems, printers, digitizers, data gloves, etc.) to be easily connected to a computer. 200M into a USB 2.0 port ($26.99 at www.ThinkGeek.com). * Ethernet Cables Connect NICs to the hub with "Fast" Category 5 cable (or Cat 5) for even better performance than regular Cat 5. Cable can be up to 50 feet long if your PCs are spread out ($1.79 for 1 foot--$14.95 for 50--for the house brand at www.PCConnection .com.) Different color cables are priceless when you're stating at the hub end. Check out network starter kits such as D-Link's DFE-905 Network Kit In A Box: one 4-port 10/100 hub, two 10/100 PCI cards, and two 20-foot cables for $64.99, available at www.dlink.com. But go a la carte if your PCs have two different kinds of card slots or you want a hub that integrates switch/router/firewall technology so you don't have to add more hardware to protect your broadband connection. In that case, try the LinkSys EtherFast Cable/DSL Router with 4-Port Switch ($69.99 at www.CompUSA.com). 2. INSTALL HARDWARE & SOFTWARE Put cards in PC slots and follow the manufacturers' instructions. Windows will install software drivers or prompt you to feed it a driver disk. Connect PCs to the hub via cables. 3. CONFIGURE THE NETWORK IN WINDOWS In Windows XP Home Edition, click Start\Settings\Control Panel and choose Network Connections\Network Setup Wizard. The wizard will ask you simple questions and configure the network. |
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