How to check your computer’s connection with your router using a command prompt:

1. Click Start and Run. In the Open field, type cmd. Press the Enter key or click the OK button.
2. In the command prompt, type ping 192.168.1.1 (or replace 192.168.1.1 with the correct IP address of your router) and press the Enter key.

• If you get a reply, the computer is communicating with the Router.
• If you do NOT get a reply, check the cable, the switch in between the computer and the router, and make sure Obtain an IP address automatically is selected in the TCP/IP settings for your Ethernet adapter.

____________________________________________________

How to build a Home Network/Small-Office Home-Office (SOHO) Computer Network series:

Start of series: What is a Local Area Network (LAN)?

Previous topic: How to check your computer's TCP/IP settings:

Please visit http://www.netgies.com for a complete list of topics and the latest series.
____________________________________________________

How to check your computer’s TCP/IP settings:

1. Click Start and Control Panel.
2. Click the Network and Internet Connections icon and then the Network Connections
3. Right-click the Local Area Connection that is associated with the Ethernet adapter you are using, and select the Properties option.
4. In the This connection uses the following items box, highlight Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and click the Properties button. Make sure that Obtain an IP address automatically and Obtain DNS server address automatically are selected (in most cases, you don’t need to manually set the TCP/IP settings of your computer).
5. Click the OK button in the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties window, and click the OK button in the Local Area Connection Properties window.
6. Restart the computer if asked.

____________________________________________________

How to build a Home Network/Small-Office Home-Office (SOHO) Computer Network series:

Start of series: What is a Local Area Network (LAN)?

Next topic: How to check your computer's connection with your router using a command prompt:

Previous topic: How to troubleshoot an internet connection problem:

Please visit http://www.netgies.com for a complete list of topics and the latest series.
____________________________________________________

How to troubleshoot an internet connection problem:

1. Know how many computers are unable to browse the Web.
2. If only one computer is having problems connecting to the Internet, check the TCP/IP settings of that computer and its connection to the router.
3. If all your computers are affected, check your router’s configuration and its connection to the switch (if applicable) and modem.

____________________________________________________

How to build a Home Network/Small-Office Home-Office (SOHO) Computer Network series:

Start of series: What is a Local Area Network (LAN)?

Next topic: How to check your computer's TCP/IP settings:

Previous topic: How to configure a Linksys BEFSX41 router

Please visit http://www.netgies.com for a complete list of topics and the latest series.
____________________________________________________

How to configure a Linksys BEFSX41 router:

1. Open your favorite web browser. Enter http://192.168.1.1 in the web browser’s Address field, press Enter.
   
   
   
   
2. On the Enter Network Password window, leave the User Name field empty, and enter admin (in lowercase letters) in the Password field. Then, click the OK button.
   
   
   
   
3. The Router configuration screen will appear with the Setup tab selected. Your ISP may require the use of a Host Name and Domain Name. You will need the setup information from your ISP for you to correctly configure the WAN Connection Type and its associated values on the Router’s Setup tab. The most common connection types are Automatic Configuration, Static IP and PPPoE.
   
   
   
   
4. Under the Network Setup, you may leave the default values for the Router IP Address and Subnet Mask and DHCP Server Settings if you are not an advance user.
   
   
   
   
5. Click Save Settings to save your Setup settings. Close the web browser.
   
   
6. Reset the power on your cable or DSL modem.
7. Restart your computers so that they can obtain the Router’s new settings.

____________________________________________________

How to build a Home Network/Small-Office Home-Office (SOHO) Computer Network series:

Start of series: What is a Local Area Network (LAN)?

Next topic: How to troubleshoot an internet connection problem:

Previous topic: How to configure your Windows XP computer for Home or Small-Office networking using the Network Setup Wizard:

Please visit http://www.netgies.com for a complete list of topics and the latest series.
____________________________________________________

How to configure your Windows XP computer for home or small office networking using the Network Setup Wizard:

(How to configure your Windows XP computer to connect to the Internet through a router)

1. Log-on as a member of the Administrators group (if Windows XP is newly installed and you have not created new accounts yet, chances are you’re logged on as an administrator).
2. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
   
   
   
   
3. Click Network and Internet Connections.
   
   
   
   
4. Under or pick a Control icon, click Network Setup Wizard.
   
   
   
   
5. The Network Setup Wizard starts. On the Welcome page, click Next.
   
   
   
   
6. On the Before you continue page, click Next.
   
   
   
   
7. If the wizard informs you that it has found disconnected hardware, make sure your network adapter is connected. If you’re sure everything has already been properly connected, select Ignore disconnected network hardware. Otherwise, connect your network cables, and leave the check box cleared. Then click Next.
8. Since your computer is connected to a router, click This computer connects to the Internet through a residential gateway. Then click Next.
   
   
   
   
9. If the Select your Internet connection page appears, click Next.
10. On the Give this computer a description and name page, type a computer description (such as “Joe’s computer” or you can leave it blank) and computer name (such as “Joe” or “Computer1” - computer name must be unique in your network). Click Next.
    
    
    
    
11. On the Name your network page, type Workgroup. Then click Next.
    
    
    
    
12. If you have files or a printer that you want to share with other computers on your home network, select Turn on file and printer sharing. Otherwise, leave Turn off file and printer sharing selected. Then click Next.
    
    
    
    
13. On the Ready to apply network settings page, click Next.
14. The Network Setup Wizard sets up your computer. On the You’re almost done page, click Just finish the wizard. Then click Next.
    
    
    
    
15. On the Completing the Network Setup Wizard page, click Finish.
    
    
    
    
16. When prompted to restart your computer, save any open files, and then click Yes.
    
    
    
    
17. You may repeat the above steps to bring all computers in your Home or SOHO network.

____________________________________________________

How to build a Home Network/Small-Office Home-Office (SOHO) Computer Network series:

Start of series: What is a Local Area Network (LAN)?

Next topic: How to configure a Linksys BEFSX41 router

Previous topic: Examples of a simple wired LAN setup.

Please visit http://www.netgies.com for a complete list of topics and the latest series.
____________________________________________________

Examples of a wired LAN setup.

1. LAN setup # 1 – without internet connection

Click image to expand.

• You can attach all your computers to an Ethernet switch using straight-through Category 5e (Cat 5e) Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) cables.
• If you have a printer and wanted to print from any of your computers, first select a computer where you will install/attach your printer and then configure printer-sharing on your selected computer. This computer will serve as your print server. Alternatively, you may opt to use a dedicated device as your print server.
• You may install software applications/games on one of your computers that will serve as your application/game server. You can also “centralize” your files by enabling file-sharing on one of your computers that will serve as your file server.

2. LAN setup # 2 – connecting only two computers

Click image to expand.

• You can “network” two computers without an Ethernet switch by using a cross-over Cat 5e UTP cable. This simple wired network setup can be up to 100 meters apart.
• You can enable printer- and file-sharing on one or on both computers. Also, it/both can be configured as an application or game server.

3. LAN setup # 3 – with internet connection

Click image to expand.

• Same as LAN setup # 1 except for the addition of a router and a modem.
• Your Ethernet switch is connected to your router, your router is connected to your modem and your modem is connected to your phone line or cable all the way to your Internet Service Provider (ISP).
• You might not need an Ethernet switch because you may connect your computers and other devices directly to your router depending on the number of PCs and the number of LAN ports on your router.

____________________________________________________

How to build a Home Network/Small-Office Home-Office (SOHO) Computer Network series:

Start of series: What is a Local Area Network (LAN)?

Next topic: How to configure your Windows XP computer for Home or Small-Office networking using the Network Setup Wizard:

Previous topic: What are the basic components of a wired LAN?

Please visit http://www.netgies.com for a complete list of topics and the latest series.
____________________________________________________

What are the basic components of wired LAN?

1. More than one computer
2. Ethernet Switch
3. UTP cable
4. Software

Figure 1: Basic Components of a Wired LAN

Click image to expand.

The computer here may mean a PC, laptop, printer, IP camera, home entertainment system or any device that has a network card in it. The network card will allow a device to be connected to the LAN.

The network hub or switch will provide the central connection point for all the computers participating in the LAN.

The UTP cable will provide the path for the information to travel from one computer to another. Use straight-through cable to connect the computers to the switch. If you only need to connect two computers, you may use a cross-over cable to connect the two computers together.

The software, network adapter drivers and protocol suites, if installed properly will allow the computers to communicate with each other. Operating systems such as Windows XP, Vista, MAC OS X and Linux distributions already come with network interface card drivers and TCP/IP suite. All you have to do is configure it to work for your local area network.


____________________________________________________

How to build a Home Network/Small-Office Home-Office (SOHO) Computer Network series:

Next topic: Examples of a simple wired LAN setup.

Previous topic: What is a Local Area Network (LAN)?

Please visit http://www.netgies.com for a complete list of topics and the latest series.
____________________________________________________

What is a Local Area Network (LAN)?

Figure 1: Simple LAN

Click image to expand.

A local area network is a group of interconnected computers and peripheral equipment within a limited area, such as a home office or small group of buildings. The LAN allows computers to share resources and information with each other such as printer, internet connection, software application (network games) and computer files.


____________________________________________________

How to build a Home Network/Small-Office Home-Office (SOHO) Computer Network series:

Next topic: What are the basic components of a wired LAN?

Please visit http://www.netgies.com for a complete list of topics and the latest series.
____________________________________________________