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How to make your home network...Apr 29 '01 Write an essay on this topic.The Bottom Line You should first decide how many computers are you going to connect, after that get the hardware, connect it, and run the software! Many people are willing to have a home network, or just network with their neighbours. Many of those do not have money to do it, but there are some who have, and would make the network. So, if you are ready to buy the components for your network, you will first have to know what you have to buy and what you have to do it after that. First, you must know how many computers there will be. I will now tell you the basis of which depends how to organize the network. Okay, the basic networks are 2 kinds - peer to peer, and through a Hub. Peer to peer network These networks are used where a few computers must be connected. They are cheaper, and easier to maintain. And they are also the best solution for networks between 2 computers. In these networks, every computer is connected to the other. The up bound is approximately 4-5 computers. In fact it can be more, but it is really not recommended, as there could be errors, between the packets transfer. The packets I suppose you may be wondering what are these "packets". Well, when you make any kind of network transfer, then the information that is transferred is divided into packets. Hub Networks These are networks between many computers. This way, you use a server computer, called Hub. Every computer is connected to the Hub, and all the data transfer goes through the Hub. This way, you have to maintain the Hub but not every computer by itself. Using a Hub is better, as it gives many advantages, like built-in firewall, easier access to network resources (such as printers). Unfortunately, the Hub networks are not that cheap as the peer-to-peer ones. But if you have many computers you should then use this kind of network. Advanced Networks... The peer-to-peer and the Hub networks are not the only one. There are many more kinds, but they are pretty advanced for home networking, and even network in a firm. They are mostly used in places where is needed strong security and high level of stability. For example, such kind of network is the Double Ring networks. In these networks, every computer is connected to the Hub, but with two cables, so if one of the lines breaks, then it automatically switches on the other line, and this way your transfer will not be interrupted. As I said, there are many other kinds of networks, but I am not telling about them here, as it is not needed. Step 1 Okay, so far, I was just putting the basis. You should now make the first step. And it is- how many computers there will be? Depending on what you learned, you can see which kind of network you need. If you are going to have just a few computers, then use peer-to-peer, otherwise use Hub network. If using peer to peer... If you are going to use peer-to-peer network, you should then buy the needed components that are (P.S. have in mind that 'x' is the number of the computers which will be connected!): X Ethernet cards. Also known as LAN cards. There is plenty on the store! Me myself is using Relthek and I am very pleased with it. Of course this is not the best you can find, but the cheapest! In my opinion, the best network hardware is the 3COM's and Cisco’s! Before buying the LAN cards, you should first think of how fast your network should be. Most of the ways, 10 Mb is enough but for some networks it's better 100 Mb. (10 Mb is approximately 0,8 MB/s, and 100 Mb is approximately 8 MB/s speed). Okay, you already have the LANs (no you don't but let imagine you do...). You now need to buy cables to connect the Ethernets. You should see the length of the area the computers are in, and then see how long cable you will need. I recommend you to buy cable that is for higher speed than your LAN card is. For example if your LAN card is for 10Mb, you'd better buy 100Mb cable. Also, have in mind, that using standard cables (10base2, 10base5) and standard LAN cards, you have limit of the length. The limit is approximately 150 meters. After that length, it's not recommended to use peer-to-peer networks! Other thing that you will need is terminators. When you send some information in the network, this information is being delivered to all the computers in the network (but not all accept it...just the one the information is for can get it...). After this "information" (packets) go in the network, there is risk that they stay there without being removed. This way, there is risk of packets collision, which will crash your network, and you will have to restart it. Putting terminators between the LAN card and the cable, protects your network from packets collision. Well, that's all the hardware you would need to build your LAN peer-to-peer network! (P.S. LAN means Local Area Network). If you are going to use Hub network... If you are willing to build network with Hub, you will then need the same components like the peer-to-peer network, but one Hub in addition :) After you have the hardware... After you have the hardware, you will have to put it on your PC. Said with other words- to install it! The LAN card should be placed on your motherboard. For more information about installing the network, you should see the user guide of your components. The software part... You should install drivers of your Ethernets (the LAN cards). After that, you should install the proper protocols. In most of the ways they are: TCP/IP IPX/SPX And one service: File and Print sharing. After you are done, you should make sharing of anything, which you want to be visible over the network. After that ask someone else to see if everything is all right. There are many problems that may happen (software problems), so I recommend you getting some book on the topic.  |
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