How Do I Setup My Own Home Network

You can setup or connect the home computers to share files, share printers, share broadband Internet access, and play network games and a lot of other resource sharing.  Before setting up the network you must be clear for what purpose you want to configure or build your network. Following are the types of the home network that can be setup:

Peer-to-Peer network
Basic Ethernet network with file sharing
Basic network with file and modem Internet sharing
Basic network with file and broadband Internet sharing

We will setup the home network by using the Peer-to-Peer topology

Peer-to-Peer network

Advantages of Peer to Peer Network:

Connect two commuters quickly and easily.
Can share files, play network games.

Disadvantages:
Generally one or two or limited amount of computers can be connected to network

Estimated Time to Setup:
15-20 Minutes

Hardware and Software Required:
- 10/100 Ethernet network cards installed in two computer and in working condition.
- A Network cross-over cable of suitable length.

Steps for Windows 95 and Windows 98:

  1. Check device manager that network cards are properly installed and latest set of drivers are installed for that network cards.
  2. Physically connect two computers with a cable.
  3. Go to the Network properties. Just click Start / Settings Control Panel and double-clicking “Network”.
  4. Verify that both IPX/SPX and TCP/IP are installed for your network adapter. If one of them is not installed first install them from the CD.
  5. After the protocols have been installed, go to the Network window click the “File and Print Sharing” button. Here you specify whether to give the print and file sharing or not. This has to be done for each computer connected on the network.
  6. Now setup the TCP/IP protocol for the network adapter and clicking the “Properties” button.
  7. Select the option “Specify an IP address” within the properties. Enter any value as shown belowIP Address: 102.55.92.1
    Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.192
  8. The IP address differs from computer to computer. For the other computer the subnet mask can be the same but the ip address will be 192.55.92.2
  9. Now when all the things have completed successfully just reboot your computer and the home network is installed.

Steps for Microsoft Windows ME, 2000 and XP:

  1. First step is the same to verify that network card are inserted and installed properly.
  2. Now connect the two or more computers to each other.
  3. Launch the Network properties by clicking Start menu / Settings / Control Panel and double-clicking “Network and Dial-up connections” option.
  4. Make a Double-click on the “Local Area Connection” icon and click the properties button.
  5. Carefully verify that IPX/SPX and TCP/IP are installed for your network adapter. First install it if it is not present.
  6. In the next step choose if you want to enable the file and print sharing with other computers.
  7. Now setup the TCP/IP protocol for the network adapter and then click the “Properties” button.
  8. Specify the ip address. You can enter the values similar to the one shown belowIP Address: 102.55.92.1
    Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.192

    Subnet mask will be the same but IP address will be different for all the computers.

  9. Once all the steps are performed correctly make a reboot of the system and the home network is now ready.