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Computers: Making plans for home networking
Aslam and his two brothers, Feroz and Zahid have their own computers and laptops. Aslam decides to link all these computers together to form a home network. So that Aslam and his brothers could get maximum benefits from the resources available to them. Some of the benefits Aslam could think of are as following :
Sharing resources
Benefit 1: All computers in a network can share a single Internet connection.
Aslam’s computer has an Internet connection. Setting up a home network will also make it possible for Feroz and Zahid (from their individual computers) to share the same (Aslam’s) internet access to view websites, read, write and send emails, and play online games.
Benefit 2: One printer for all computer! All computers on the network can share one printer or any peripheral device.
The computer system in Feroz’s room consists of a printer and a scanner. When Aslam writes a document in a word processor such as Microsoft Word on his personal computer (PC), with networked environment, he can connect with Feroz’s computer system to make prints of his documents, without having to leave his room. In the same way, Zahid can use the scanner from his own computer without going to Feroz’s room.
Transfer of files
Benefit 3: With the help of home networking, people can exchange files and folders with each other’s computers.
Feroz writes an essay and sends it to Aslam’s computer for correction. Aslam opens the file, makes a few changes in the essay and transfers it to Feroz’s computer again.
Benefit 4: By means of a home network, children can play multi-player games from their own computers.
Have fun with multi-player games and music. When the three brothers are done with their school-work, they can take pleasure in playing multi-player games. It means that they can play their favourite games with each other from their personal computers.
Similarly, all the users can share a single CD-ROM, which is installed on Zahid’s computer, to enjoy music on their respective computers.
Steps to build a network
Collect peripheral devices: The first step to build a network is to get your computer physically connected to each other using special cables, network cards, hubs, and switches. You can hire a hardware technician to do this. Once the computers are physically hooked up, you require to set your peripherals or hardware devices, that are installed on different systems, on shared mode. The peripheral devices include modem, printer, scanner, web camera and CD-ROM drive. These devices play an essential role in establishing a complete integrated home network system because all the users share these devices from their respective computers. Each component plays its individual part in the system. For instance, a modem is installed in the ICS computer for the Internet connection, printers for taking documents, and CD-ROM to install and play games or music.
Installation of network adaptors: To connect computers in a network, an external or internal network adapter is installed on every computer. The external adapter is connected with the computer via cable while the internal adapter is installed inside the computer. The function of an adapter is to send and receive data to and from the network computers. Usually the home networking setup is based on Ethernet. the ethernet network adapters of all computers are connected with the ports of Hub.
Run the network setup wizard: If you have installed a Windows XP operating system, you can easily construct a home network because this operating system has “network setup wizard” to set your computer to become a part of the network. It creates an Internet connection firewall to save your home network from cyber attacks. It manages and controls the working of network components. To run, the wizard do the following: Start>Connect to>Show all connections>Setup home or office network.
A welcome box now appears on your computer screen. It recommends you to check all hardware components before continuing with the process. After a few queries, it gives your computer a name (Feroz computer, etc.) so that it is identified by this name in the network.
Enable internet sharing: Select the internet host computer, which is also known as central computer (Aslam’s computer), which originally has the Internet access running on Windows XP operating system. Internet connection is shared by enabling a feature called Internet Sharing Host Computer (ICS). And as long as the central computer is turned on, it provides data to the rest of the computers connected to the home network. This allows others users the facility to access websites, transfer files, download music, and check emails, etc.
Working of home networks
Home networking is based on the “peer to peer” (p2p) network technology. In p2p network, all computers are connected directly to each other (no need of a server). They share each other’s resources, which means that Feroz can use the Internet connection of Aslam’s computer and Aslam can utilize the printer of Feroz’s computer system.
Get set ...go!
After you have completed the arrangement of the network components, you are ready to connect your computer with other computers in the network. To view how many computers are connected to the network, click on Start>My network places> View work group computers> Double click on “Feroz computer” to reach his computer.
To share folders and files with other computers in the network, click on: My documents>New folder> Share this folder
Now drag the folder to shared documents (left side). Click Ok.
To view this folder, simply click on the computer at ‘My network places’, which carries this folder. For more details you can read Windows XP help.
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