Help for making a home network

[abdullah84]

Guys,

I am new to network configuration. I am trying to make I small home network. Now I am using a wireless modem which is DHCP enabled and I have some CAT5 cables & a Ethernet switch with me. Can U guys suggest me how can a make I small home network using these network elements?

Thanks in advance.

[deepsand]

Before anyone can begin to make any suggestions, you'll need to describe just what devices you intend to network, and what resources each will need to have access to.

[abdullah84]

Before anyone can begin to make any suggestions, you'll need to describe just what devices you intend to network, and what resources each will need to have access to.

Thanks for your reply. I am intended to network 4 Desktop PCs, 2 Laptops, one printer and a shared folder. Printer and the Shared folder would have full access from every PCs and Laptops.

[deepsand]

What networking interfaces do each of the 4 Desktop PCs, 2 Laptops, and one printer presently have?

Will any of the machines be sufficiently close together and in fixed positions so as to make wired connections feasible?

Which computers will need access to the printer?

What operating systems are on each of the 6 computers.

I am going off-line shortly. Will check back in 12-14 hours.

[DonOmite]

Physically it is not hard. Connect them all to the router either by cable or wifi. Create a DOMAIN for them all or a WORKGROUP. Right click on MY COMPUTER and select PROPERTIES. In the popup box select COMPUTER NAME tab. Then put each into the same group or domain. For you I think it will be WORKGROUP. I'm pretty sure you have to have a server involved to do a DOMAIN.
Then on each computer you can share a folder or a hard drive. You say you will have a shared folder as if it is seperate from the computers. It is not. It will be on one of the computers or all of them.

To share a folder or drive just right click on it and go with PROPERTIES or SHARING AND SECURITY and create a share.

Of course I'm getting this feeling that you aren't real clear on what a network is or does.

[deepsand]

Not quite that simple. The matter of which OSes are involved is of high import.

For example, if one or more machines are XP Home, resources on those machines cannot be shared with others on the network without some hacks.

Or, if XP, and if multiple user accounts are involved, shared files must be in the system designated "Shared Documents" folder.

[alphaomega]

I wish I can give you 5 simple steps and bingo. You have network. It takes many years of study to do networking successfully. Depending on OS and selected security you can spend many frustrating hours if not days. List all you operating systems you like to connect. This is the most difficult part to get different OS to share. Are you just using many workstations your self or are you sharing with others? What are you willing to share and what you keep for your eyes only? To share printers is simple in most OS. Just access the properties and tick "share". Yes, you will need to specify the rights in some OS, but if you using home edition of Microsoft, the sharing is much simplified. You best set the IP addressing on auto and let the DHCP share the IP addressing. I suggest to connect the router to the switch and all your computers from switch. Wish you luck. Let us know how you go.

[Clint1]

I've never messed with anything wireless (heard of too many interference problems). What I did was simply hookup my modem (DSL) to a router, then put CAT5 cable through my attic to each PC. The router remembers your ISP login and you never have to login to the net on any of the PC's. (As to sharing, others covered that, which I don't do).

[abdullah84]

I wish I can give you 5 simple steps and bingo. You have network. It takes many years of study to do networking successfully. Depending on OS and selected security you can spend many frustrating hours if not days. List all you operating systems you like to connect. This is the most difficult part to get different OS to share. Are you just using many workstations your self or are you sharing with others? What are you willing to share and what you keep for your eyes only? To share printers is simple in most OS. Just access the properties and tick "share". Yes, you will need to specify the rights in some OS, but if you using home edition of Microsoft, the sharing is much simplified. You best set the IP addressing on auto and let the DHCP share the IP addressing. I suggest to connect the router to the switch and all your computers from switch. Wish you luck. Let us know how you go.


Thanks for your valuable answer, Sir.

1st thing I don't have any router with me. So is it possible to share internet among PC's ? And the
2nd thing is can I make DHCP (Dynamic) IPs to static IP ?

[Clint1]

Thanks for your valuable answer, Sir.

1st thing I don't have any router with me. So is it possible to share internet among PC's ? And the
2nd thing is can I make DHCP (Dynamic) IPs to static IP?
Are you sure the switch isn't actually a router? Sometimes they are confused. I've never used a "switch", only a router, and that's what the router is for; sharing the internet between PC's. I 'think' it can be done with a switch but it's more complicated and more is involved. You can get a router for less than 30 bucks.

I don't know the 2nd question, I think that may be left up to your ISP, but you never mentioned what kind of service you have. Is it dial-up, cable, or DSL? Give up if it's dial-up. 'Usually', broadband is static IP's, but that depends on the ISP. I have DSL on BellSouth and it used to be dynamic, but they changed to static when I changed to 6Mb. If it's cable, note that anytime you share cable you lose bandwidth, which doesn't happen with DSL.

[deepsand]

What networking interfaces do each of the 4 Desktop PCs, 2 Laptops, and one printer presently have?

Will any of the machines be sufficiently close together and in fixed positions so as to make wired connections feasible?

Which computers will need access to the printer?

What operating systems are on each of the 6 computers.

I am going off-line shortly. Will check back in 12-14 hours.

@abdullah84

You've yet to answer any of these questions

The issue re. operating system(s) is crucial.

[alphaomega]

Thanks for your valuable answer, Sir.

1st thing I don't have any router with me. So is it possible to share internet among PC's ? And the
2nd thing is can I make DHCP (Dynamic) IPs to static IP ?
Router will issue IP addressing to each computer. This is what DHCP does. If you don't have router, you can assign IP address to each computer. You need to make sure you use different IP for each computer. There are addressing rangers for LAN networks, one starting with 192.168.0.0 all the way to 192.168.0.254
or you can use 10.0.0.0 The subnet mask for this one is 255.0.0.0
The 192.168.0.1 subnet mask is 255.255.255.0
Depending on Operating system there are different ways to assign the IP addressing. Right click (and Properties) on the Network icon will get you started.

[Clint1]

Router will issue IP addressing to each computer. This is what DHCP does. If you don't have router, you can assign IP address to each computer. You need to make sure you use different IP for each computer. There are addressing rangers for LAN networks, one starting with 192.168.0.0 all the way to 192.168.0.254
or you can use 10.0.0.0 The subnet mask for this one is 255.0.0.0
The 192.168.0.1 subnet mask is 255.255.255.0
In a manner of speaking the router sort of "assigns" an IP address, but you still have the (static) IP your ISP gave you. This of course may depend on the ISP. Like most on a router, my "IP" is 192.168.**** but my real IP (74.******) still shows in sent email headers, and at any site that can record and display an IP. But in my case I didn't have to enter any of this IP info on XP. Once the router was hooked up, nothing had to be done, it was all setup automatically.

But until the OP shows up again with (much) requested info, I don't see the point in continuing further. :confused: ;)

[abdullah84]

Are you sure the switch isn't actually a router? Sometimes they are confused. I've never used a "switch", only a router, and that's what the router is for; sharing the internet between PC's. I 'think' it can be done with a switch but it's more complicated and more is involved. You can get a router for less than 30 bucks.

I don't know the 2nd question, I think that may be left up to your ISP, but you never mentioned what kind of service you have. Is it dial-up, cable, or DSL? Give up if it's dial-up. 'Usually', broadband is static IP's, but that depends on the ISP. I have DSL on BellSouth and it used to be dynamic, but they changed to static when I changed to 6Mb. If it's cable, note that anytime you share cable you lose bandwidth, which doesn't happen with DSL.

Without using a router internet connection can be shared by using two LANs. At that time your PC will be act like a router, got that?
And I am using a dial up USB modem but it needs not to be connect every time when I start my PC if I always plug in the USB modem. This ISP provides me two series of dynamic IPs. One 172.xxx.xxx.xxx and 180.xxx.xxx.xxx

[deepsand]

Without using a router internet connection can be shared by using two LANs. At that time your PC will be act like a router, got that?
And I am using a dial up USB modem but it needs not to be connect every time when I start my PC if I always plug in the USB modem. This ISP provides me two series of dynamic IPs. One 172.xxx.xxx.xxx and 180.xxx.xxx.xxx
We still need these questions answered:

What networking interfaces do each of the 4 Desktop PCs, 2 Laptops, and one printer presently have?
Will any of the machines be sufficiently close together and in fixed positions so as to make wired connections feasible?
Which computers will need access to the printer?
What operating systems are on each of the 6 computers.

As for I'net connectivity, you are not going to be able to have access from all machines using a single dial-up line without adding a multiplexer between them and the modem.