How to setup a simple home network

Two working parents, two kids and a dog -- while the dog is probably doing
just fine, the rest of you need to use the printer, and to check emails on-line.
Sounds like you need a network.

Network Connection

There are three basic types of Internet connections in homes; modem connections,
DSL lines, and Cable Modems.

Modems

Modems have been around for more than two decades now. These connect your computer
to an ISP (Internet Service Provider). There are several ISP's out there. The
one you choose will be dependent on where you live, and what type of service
you are looking for. Some provide email and other services, some just give you
a connection.

Modems can be used for setting up a home network, but it is not recommended.
The speed just isn't there for multiple computers to use the connection at the
same time. The routers you would use for these types of connections use what
is called "On Demand Dialing". Which means, that when one of the computers
on your home network opens a browser or checks email, the request for Internet
connection tells the router to dial the connection number through its internal
modem. This means that the first person to request network connection has to
wait awhile for the connection to be established through your ISP. Anyone after
that, while the connection is still established will have a much faster response
time.

DSL

DSL connections are much faster, and convenient than the Modem connections
we talked about above. DSL still uses your phone line (so if your phone service
goes out, your Internet connection is down as well), however it does not require
a dedicated line, and you can use your phone while an Internet connection is
established. Also there is no "On Demand Dialing" hassle. The connection
remains on, all the time.

Speeds for DSL service vary. You may here that DSL is slower than Cable, but
really it depends on what DSL connection you are comparing to what Cable connection.
DSL speeds rely greatly on the distance from your house to the telephone exchange.
This restriction is more dominant with the higher speed connections. Cable has
problems of its own, and we will discuss them shortly in the Cable connection
section.

DSL comes in several variations. There is; xDSL, HDSL, SDSL, ADSL, RADSL, VDSL,
VDSL2 ... you get the picture. If you are really interested in all the types
of DSL services, and some information on the technology, you can check out WikiPedia's
Page on DSL http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DSL . You are probably going to me
most interested in ADSL. Once you have figured out with your service provider
which DSL they offer, and what you want to afford, then hooking it up to your
network is a snap.

Cable modem

Cable Internet connection is also very fast, and much more reliable than modems.
Many areas in major cites also have High Speed, or High Definition Cable service,
adding reliance and speed to the Cable modem option.

Internet connection using Cable service is again very easy to hook up. In fact
the directions are almost exactly the same as using DSL.

Modems

A modem (a portmanteau constructed from modulate and demodulate) is a device
that modulates an analog carrier signal to encode digital information, and also
demodulates such a carrier signal to decode the transmitted information. While
Cable and DSL technologies are much different than your basic telephone line
modem, the devices are still classified as modems, since then do utilize analog/digital
conversion (falling asleep yet?).

Basically, you need a modem, no matter what type of service connection you
are going to use, and depending on that type, is the type of modem you will
purchase. If you are going for the DSL, or Cable option, your ISP(Internet Service
Provider) will probably offer you a modem for sale or rent. You can also purchase
one of your own to use from any computer store (or online).

Routers

The router is what makes networking possible. The router is a device that sits
between your Modem, and your computers. It takes care of the traffic, sending
the signals to the proper sources, and even handles some levels of security.
In fact, even if you are not going to setup several computers on your network,
it is wise to have a router between you and the Internet connection (modem).

The router does two basic jobs for us. First, it creates our Home Network,
by connecting each of the computers in your house to each other, as well as
any network devices you might have (printers, networked hard drives, etc). Each
of the computers and devices are connected to the router (either through a network
line, or wireless) and the router connects them to each other.

The second job of the Router is to connect your home network (which it creates)
to the Internet Network, allowing each of the computers in your home the ability
to access the Internet at the same time, on the same connection.

Network Cards

We don't need to know a great deal about Network cards, just like we don't
really need to know a great deal about how modems work or how routers keep your
web page requests from going over to someone else's computer. We just need to
know enough to get one, and install one.

Network cable is called 10Base-T, or RJ45, depending on who you are talking
to. It looks like a thick phone line, with the same type of connection. Running
10Base-T around your house is a pain (trust me on this, I know of what I speak).
Unless you are able and willing to run it through the walls and do a professional
job, expect to be tripping over it, and replacing it as it become chewed on
by various pets. A single pin ***** in a 10Base-T line and you start having
network connection problems.

If you have the choice, go wireless. It is just about the same cost these days,
and it is much better for the home environment, and the love for your pets.

A network card (thought I forgot about them huh?) is the device that allows
your computer to talk to other computers through the network router. These can
be internal cards, or external devices. Wireless network cards can be internal
or attach to the USB port of your computer. There are many types, but they all
do one simple job, and that is to allow data to transfer between your computer
and the other network devices.

Installing a 10Base-T internal network card in your desk top computer is probably
not necessary. If you purchased it in the last couple of years, odds are that
your computer has one already. Same goes for your laptop. If your desk top computer
does not have one, installing them is very straight forward.

First open the case (I'm laughing hysterically as I write this, because opening
the case is probably the hardest part of this job). Some cases have screws in
the back, some have slider buttons, some have panels that come off of the side.
Figure out yours and open the case.

Blow out all the dusk and collected dirt in there with some compressed air
(you can get some compressed air at most computer stores, and you might want
to do this outside). Set the open computer on a flat surface. Look at your network
card. Find a slot that is the same size as the slot needed by the network card.
Remove the 'placer' panel next to that slot, so that the card can be accessed
from the outside. Using constant, steady pressure, push the card into the slot
without damaging any of the electronic components on the card. Close up the
case, and start your computer up.

Your card will come with step by step instructions. They really are fairly
easy to install, and if you feel comfortable working on your computer, this
should be a breeze. Again, make sure you don't already have a network card in
the computer before going out and getting one.

Setting Up Windows XP

Networking is one thing that XP does very well. In fact that is the single
reason that I started using it on my home computer. If you have a network card,
and you install it, XP finds it on start up, and gets it running. Its that simple.
You don't normally have to do anything to setup the computers. Most of our setup
work is going to be in the Router (and there is very little of that).

I know that sounds like I'm skipping a great deal of information on you, but
the fact is that networking has been around so long that much of it is automated
now. If your XP computer recognizes that you have a network card, it will setup
a default setting for the card and a connection to the local network. The setup
will have DCHP client, and the basic TCP/IP settings. This is all you need.
It will also setup a Work Group name, which defaults to WORKGROUP. Unless you
really want to learn a great deal about networking, leave these alone. I'm not
saying that learning more is not a good idea (and it is), but you don't require
more to setup a small home network.

The Router uses, DHCP(Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol), which is a nice
acronym for "I know what I'm doing, let me do it". Most Routers come
with this setting turned on by default. If you just install the router as instructed,
using all of the default settings, and plug your network cables into the router,
connecting them to the computers, your network will probably go live instantly
(it won't be secure at all, but we'll get to that). There is a bit more to setting
up the Router, but not much. Seriously, this is very easy stuff, for the level
we are at. Home Networks don't need a great deal of bells and whistles. We just
want to get email and surf the web.

If we are not using DHCP then we have to set the IP address for each computer.
This is not the best way to go. Static IP addresses are a hassle for computers.
Printers, and some network devices require static IP addresses, and we will
talk about this a little further on.

Putting it all together

Once each of your computers has a network card, and your cable (if you are
using cables) have been laid out through the house, then we are ready to start
hooking things up.

To setup your Router you are going to need a computer near it, and the cable
that comes in the Router box (even the wireless router will need this). If you
have a lap top, they are usually best for setting the router up. Your Router
may come with an installation CD. It is important to note that this CD will
only need to be installed on one of your computers, just to get the initial
settings done on the router. None of the other computers need this CD to be
"network ready". It is only for the Router setup.

Most Routers of the Home Network type have a browser interface. This will be
used after the initial setup to alter settings as required. For wireless routers
we will definitely be using the browser view to setup security features if required.

Once the router is setup using the instructions given to you by the manufacture,
we can go through the XP requirements for simple networking.

First, to find
your "Network Connections", select "My Computer" from the
start menu, then select "My Network Places" and finally select "My
Network Connections". From your Network Connections, select your network
adapter and then select "Change Settings of this Connection".

Next, select the "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)" and click Properties.

You should now see a screen like this one. If you have a network that uses a
STATIC IP ADDRESS schema you will see information here. Most likely, your screen
should look just like this.

Leaving the default settings will work with most Home Networks. If you change
anything from these defaults make sure you understand why you are doing it.

Next, click the Advanced Button

Select the WINS tab. Under the "NetBios Setting" area, select the
"Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP"

And we are done!

Do this with each of your computers and check them to see that Internet connection
has been established. Again, these are default settings, so you probably went
through those steps and didn't need to change anything. If the settings you
have are different, and you find you can not make connection to the Internet,
make notes of how the settings are, then set up the computer as described here,
and restart the computer. More than likely you will establish connection afterwards.

Sharing a printer

Now that we have a network, we can start utilizing some of the benefits of
networks, such as sharing printers and folders.

To share a printer, on the computer which is directly connected to the printer:

1. Click Start -> Control Panel -> Printers And Other Hardware ->
Printers And Faxes.

2. Click the printer you wish to share.

3. Click Share This Printer in the Task Pane.

4. In the printer's Properties dialog, click the Sharing tab.

5. Click Share Name and OK.

Once a printer has been shared you can access it from other computers on the
network. To do so:

1. Click Start -> Control Panel -> Printers And Other Hardware.

2. Click Add A Printer.

3. In the Add New Printer wizard, when asked whether the printer is a local
or network printer, select the latter.

4. In the next screen, select the option to Browse For A Printer and click
Next.

5. Select the appropriate printer from the list and continue with the wizard.

Sharing files and folders

Sharing a folder is even easier than sharing a printer:

1. Open a folder (such as My Documents), click Make A New Folder in the Task
Pane and name your new folder.

2. With the new folder highlighted, click Share This Folder.

3. In the Sharing tab of the Properties dialog box, select Share This Folder
On The Network.

4. Provide a descriptive name for the folder. This name should make it easy
for others on the network to recognize the folder; it doesn't have to be the
same as the folder name you selected in step 1.

5. You can let other people on the network view and edit your files or view
them only. If you want to protect your files from tampering, remove the check
from Allow Other Users To Change My Files.

There are a variety of ways to access a shared folder. Here's one way:

1. Click Start -> My Network Places -> View Workgroup Computers.

2. Click the computer whose files you wish to access and then click the shared
folder.

You can create shortcuts to shared folders to make them easier to access.

Be wary of sharing files and printers if you have an always-on Internet connection.
Doing so can make your files vulnerable to outside access. If you do enable
sharing, make sure you use password protection, that you don't share the root
(C:\) folder of any computer on the network, and that you install and use a
strong, commercial firewall.

Network IP Addresses

IP Addresses are a set of 4 numbers which can range from 0-255. They look something
like this 192.168.0.1 (there is no dot after the last number set). Each computer
on an IP network requires an IP address.

IP Addresses which start out with 192.168 (like the demo one I have here),
are called "Internal IP addresses". These are for internal networks.
No computer connected directly to the Internet can have an address that starts
with 192.168. This was setup as one of the first security measures. This is
also why routers make a very good defense against Internet intrusion. Routers
provide what is called NAT(Network address translation) addressing. This allows
a LAN (Local Address Network -- your home network) to have Internet access without
exposing the individual computers to direct access from outside the LAN.

Let's say that your computer has a local address of 192.168.1.100 (this is
a fairly typical internal network (LAN) address. When you go onto the Internet
however, your address past the router could be 72.197.209.180. There is a small
utility which shows what the Internet world thinks your IP address is at (http://www.glennhefley.com/ip.php).

When setting up your home network, you will want to use DHCP for your IP address
maintenance. What DHCP does is assign addresses to each computer that requests
one. Once setup, when your computer is turned on, part of the Boot process will
be a request for a IP address. The router will respond to this request by going
through the list of available addresses, and sending the next address on the
list.

This means that your internal IP address could change on a daily basis, which
is fine. However this doesn't work so well for network printers and devices.
So one change we are going to want to make in our Router default setup (after
everything else is already working ... this is important ... get the basic setup
done first, make sure all of your computers can access the Internet ... then
make changes) is to change the DHCP IP number list.

Going into the router through the web access is a little different. You use
the address http://192.168.1.1 (this should be documented in your router's setup
instructions). It will ask for a user name and password (again, this should
be noted in your setup instructions, what the default password is, and how to
change it).

Change your DHCP lowest number to 192.168.1.100, and while you are there, set
the maximum number of computers which can connect using DHCP to 1+ the number
of computers you have. I always setup to plus one, because I have several guests
who come over with computers. We don't what the world connecting to our network,

or anyone we don't know about. So setting these options is one more line of
defense.

Static DNS

DNS is Dynamic Name Server, which are the servers which translate Names, to
IP addresses. For example, you are on www.d-a-l.com, but that isn't the real
address of this server, nor do you want to try to remember all of the IP addresses
of your favorite sites. In order to find the site by name however, you need
a DNS server. You get that address from your ISP, and it is required to set
up your Router.

The ISP will give you two, a Primary, and a Secondary. Call them before starting
to setup your router and get those addresses.

Basic Security

We have already talked about NAT(Network address translation). What else can
we do? If your router has a Firewall system, then that is the best place to
start. What I do recommend is that if your router has the Firewall, don't also
use a Firewall program on your computer. The two will often conflict and you
will have several frustrating hours trying to get both of them to allow you
Internet connect. On top of that, Firewalls slow your computer down to a crawl.

Firewalls are going to slow down your connection a bit, no matter where they
are. On the router, they tend to work better. What exactly a firewall is, and
how they work is a topic for a future article. Your router will come with instructions
on how to set yours up.

What Firewalls first provided was NAT, and that took two network cards, installed
on the same computer, and then setup as a Proxy. What firewalls provide now,
is NAT (on routers) and Port Blocking. Ports are portals across an IP network.
For example, if you are using your browser on the Internet you are using port
80. If you are sending your email, you are using port 25. Getting your email
from a POP3 connection, you are using port 110. Using FTP is port 21. There
are literally thousands of ports. However, you don't require all of those ports
to be open, nor do you want them to be.

Closing all of the ports except the ones you use is a good idea. Trouble is
finding out the ones you use. Some Internet games, file sharing and other network
related software require ports to be open. The best way to find out what you
need is to open the ones you know about, then find out what broke. Do some research
on the application that is no longer working, and open the port it requires.

This is also a good way to keep children from using programs (such as files
sharing) that you don't want them using.

Besides the ones already listed, you probably want these ports open as well.

443 -- Secure HTTP (Web pages that are secured)

995 -- POP3 Secure (getting email from a secure server ... such as Gmail)

465 -- SMTP Secure (sending email to a secure server)

Now, a guarantee you that once you block everything except the ones I've listed,
something is going to break. Home computers with Internet access require all
kinds of port usage, but the more you can block the better.

If things go wrong

As the great Douglas Adams said, "Don't Panic".

Verify that the Internet Connection Firewall (ICF) or Windows Firewall (WF)
feature is not enabled on the adapters that you use to connect the computers
to the home network. If these features are enabled on these adapters, you cannot
connect to shared resources on other computers in the network.

Use the ping command to test connectivity between two computers on the network.
To do this, follow these steps:

1.Go to Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK.

2. First we will check that networking is installed and working correctly on
our computer by pinging a loop-back address. 127.0.0.1 That is our own computer
(no matter what our real IP address might be).

If this doesn't work, then you probably have more problems than this article
can help you with, and you should head over to our Help Forum and start a thread
there for further help.

Next we will check to see that we can ping our router. The address is typically
192.168.1.1

If you don't receive a reply from the router, then:

1. Check to make sure all the cables are secure

2. Unplug the power to both your router and modem

3. After 30 seconds plug the modem back in and wait for the Internet connection
light to become solid.

4. After the modem is active and read, then plug the power back in to the router
and wait for it to make connection as well.

5. Try to ping the router again.

If you can ping the router, but still can't get Internet access, then check
the setup instructions provided earlier and make sure you are using the default
settings.

If you can get Internet access, but can't make connection to other computers
in your home network (for folder and printer sharing for example), then you
will want to check the Workgroups used on each of the computes.

The default Workgroup is called WORKGROUP. Workgroups establish computers as
being able to connect to each other. A computer not on the same workgroup as
another will find it very difficult to share resources.

Go to Start, and in the menu right click on My Computer, and then choose properties.

Click on the Computer Name tag in the applet that will pop up and insure that
every computer in the home network has the same workgroup name. Capitalization
(they say) isn't important, but I don't believe them, so capitalize all letters
in the workgroup name and restart the computers.

Also you will want to make sure that each computer has a unique name. In the
same tab you will see what the computer's name is. You can change this if you
wish, but make sure that each of them is one word, and unique.

We have a great forum here on DAL that can get you back up and running. Write
down in a document file the type of router you have (the more information the
better), the types of network cards you are using, and the type of connection
through which ISP. Keep these so that you can post them to our help forum with
an explanation of the problem.

Don't forget to checkout our article on Home
Network Security as well.