Networking -- Gareth Saunders v.5.0

I am no expert on networking computers, but I have managed to do it without too much bother on a number of occasions and with various different configurations.

To date, I've networked a Windows for Workgroups 3.11 machine to a PC running Windows 98se using a cross-over cable; I've networked a Windows 95b PC to Windows 98se also using a cross-over cable; latterly I've connected three PCs: Windows XP Pro, Windows 98se and Windows for Workgroups 3.11 to one another via a Netgear router/switch and a cable broadband internet connection.

Want more in-depth?

On this page (and section) I am simply sharing what I have learned. For a more in-depth introduction to networking I recommend you check out the Windows Networks website, or buy a good introductory book about it.

I have found the bookNetworking Complete , Third Edition, (Sybex, 2002) to be a valuable introduction to all aspects of networking.

Which type of network?

The kind of network that you set up really depends on your requirements and available resources.

There are three types of network:

To date, all the networks I have set up at home have been Hybrid networks, using the network itself to share printer and file resources, but one PC has always run a web-server to serve the network with locally stored websites in development (such as this one).

Choose a Topology

There are a number of different network topologies (the way that your network is physically and logically laid out) available. I shall focus on only two: bus and star.

Bus

In the bus topology the PCs are daisy-chained together, with a cable running from one computer to the next. A very simple NIC-to-NIC (NIC stands for Network Interface Card) network follows this topology:

Star

In the star topology every computer (workstation, server) and printer is connected to a central hub (or switch), this gives it the look of a star, hence its name:

Hubs, Switches and Routers

Before I go on to discuss cables and network interface cards (NICs) I will attempt to briefly explain the difference between hubs, switches and routers.

Hubs

A hub is the most simple central connection device. It is simply a device that provides a connection between the ports that allows the computers plugged into it to talk to one another.

Hubs typically provide from 4 to 24 connections, allowing anything from 2 to 24 devices to communicate with one another.

Switches

Switches are a little more complicated than your simple hub. All you need to know is that they handle the connections between devices a little better than hubs, as each port is assigned its own dedicated bandwidth.

If that last sentence didn't mean anything to you do not worry: if I have the choice between a hub and a switch and can afford it, I would almost always choose a switch.

Routers

Routers allow computers on completely separate networks to communicate with one another; the networks are connected via a router. An immediate example would be connecting a wide-area network (WAN), such as the internet, to a local area network (LAN).

Often you will be able to buy a device which combines a router and switch into one unit.

Hardware

You may already have an idea of which type and topology of network will suit your situation best, and now whether you require a hub, switch or router.

Regardless of which setup you opt for you will still require two things: a Network Interface Card (NIC) for each PC and cable to connect the devices.

In this section I shall focus entirely on Ethernet (CAT-5) cabling and network cards. These are the cards and cables that I have used.

Network Interface Cards (NICs)

You will need a Network Interface Card (sometimes called a Network Adapter by some manufacturers) for each PC on your network.

Built-in port

Many newer PCs come with an RJ45 network port built-in to the motherboard, which will often be all that you require to use.

Personally, I have had a few problems with one PC of ours using the built-in network port. The connection kept dropping in and out rather sporadically. Once I had installed a new, dedicated network interface card into a free PCI slot the problem was solved; the problem had simply been a cheap network port on a cheap motherboard.

Network Interface Card (NIC)

Where possible I try to install a good quality Ethernet 10/100 Mbps Network Interface Card into a free PCI slot.

Before you rush out to buy the latest NIC make sure you have a free expansion slot in your PC. These come in two varieties: on older machines you may still (or only) have an ISA slot (these are usually large and black); modern PCs favour the newer, and faster, PCI slots, which are typically shorter and white in colour:

The upper, black slots are ISA slots.
The lower, white slots, are PCI slots.

I personally favour two manufacturers, Netgear and 3-Com as I consistently find them reliable and with some models of NIC they also still supply drivers for Windows for Workgroups.

Your NIC will come with instructions on how to install your card. Follow these carefully, and take particular note of the instructions about dealing with electrical static discharge.

Cable

You will also require a cable (or cables) to physically connect the NICs either to one another, in the case of a peer-to-peer network, or to your hub, switch or router.

I am only interested in standard Ethernet 10BaseT cables here, sometimes referred to as Cat-5; the latest version is called Cat-5e.

Cross-over Cable

A cross-over cable (sometimes called a 'cross cable') is usually used to connect two hubs together, however it also can be used to connect a simple two-computer peer-to-peer setup, thus:

Straight-through

For connection to a hub, switch or router you will need an ordinary straight-through (i.e. not cross-over) Cat-5e cable; although many newer hubs and switches will automatically detect if the cable is a cross-over and automatically configure itself.

General Rules of Cable connection

(With thanks to Lockergnome)

Wireless Networks

I have now installed a few wireless networks, but the theory behind them and the planning involved is very similar to a wired network. Instead of an Ethernet NIC you will require a Wireless NIC.

I'll update this section very shortly to include how to set up a Wireless Network. (Jan 2006)

If you simply wish to connect two PCs (perhaps a laptop and dekstop) then you really only need one Wireless NIC in each machine.

If you wish to connect a number of PCs together wirelessly, or to add a wireless connection to an existing cabled setup then you will also need a Wireless Access Point (WAP), a bit like a hub for a wireless network!

The current standards are IEEE 802.11b (11 Mbps) and IEEE 802.11g.

Networking Basics