Idiots Guide to a Simple LAN

(WINDOWS  PLATFORM)

First, you must have two or more PCs to network. Make sure you have Windows installed on each machine.Also while going through this page if you find any queer word do ask your dealer about it.It should be simple for him; but if he can't then doubt his abilities.This is the simplest way one can think of establishing a network on his own. 

Assuming that you are aware about different sort of cables used in networking, I place before you the most used cable in todays networks.That is the 10BaseT UTP(UTP is Unshielded Twisted Pair).

To create a 10BaseT network, you will need:

• A 10BaseT NIC for each computer (NIC is network Interface Card)
• 10BaseT UTP cabling
• 1 10 Mbit hub with enough ports for each computer
• Networking software that should have come with your NIC

1. Standard/Fast Ethernet (10BaseT, RJ45, Modular Twisted Pair)
There are different types of cable of which only 2 are usable for setting up your network, namely cat3 and cat5. Then there are 2 more possibilities, namely Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) and Shielded Twisted Pair (STP). UTP is mostly transparent and has no shielded layer. Do not use this cable in areas where there is strong electromagnetic interference (this won't be the case for most of us). STP has a shielded layer (mostly gray) so you can use this in places with strong electromagnetic interference. STP is a bit more expensive. Installation is the same though and from now on I will assume you will use UTP.

Advantages

• Speed UTP/STP (100baseTX) is 10 times faster than any coaxial cable.
• Duplex communication possible.

Disadvantages

• Cabling (cat5) is more expensive
• The 100Mbps HUB is quite expensive

2. When to use 10BaseT/100baseTX cabling

• You plan to use 16 or fewer PC's within a 300 foot radius of each other
• You plan to use portable computers
• You're planning to expand your network

3.  Building the Network

Let’s run through the steps:

1. If your NIC is plug-n-play, which most are these days, then you can skip this step. Otherwise, you need to record all of your IRQ settings and set up the NIC to use one that is available. Consult the manual for the NIC.
2. Make sure the PC is turned off and unplugged.
3. Remove the case cover.
4. Find a spare slot on your motherboard for the NIC.  
5. Put the case cover back on.
6. Repeat steps 1-6 for each computer you plan to include on the network.
7. For a 10BaseT network, run cabling from the back of each NIC to a port on the hub. 
8. Here you have to have a knowledge of RJ45 for correct termination of cables. 
9. Double-check all of your connections.
10. Turn on the PC.
11. If your NIC is plug-n-play, then skip this step. Otherwise, you will need to hit Start / Settings / Control Panel / Add New Hardware. Choose not to detect new hardware. Choose your NIC from the list. If your NIC’s installation disk has a xxxxxx.INF file, possibly in a Win95 directory, then click Have Disk and follow the prompts. When installed, click Finished and the system will probably reboot. If the NIC doesn’t work properly when done, then you may need to go into Device Manager and resolve some IRQ conflicts.
12. Go to Start / Settings / Control Panel / Network.
13. Click ADD, choose Adapter, then choose your adapter from the list.
14. Click ADD, choose protocol, then choose IPX/SPX and NetBEUI.
15. Click ADD, choose Service, then choose Client for Microsoft Networks under Microsoft. If this is not set up as your primary logon, then use the drop down list to choose it as your primary logon.
16. Be sure that each computer on the network is using the same protocols and is set for Client for Microsoft Networks.
17. Click on the Identification tab. All computers on the network must have the same Workgroup name. Each must have a different login and computer name.
18. Click on File and Printer Sharing. Enable both.
19. To make any directory shared for the network, go to Windows Explorer and right-click on the directory name. Choose Shared. If you don’t want others to be able to manipulate the files, choose Read Only too.