Network Guide

For a growing number of people computers are a lot like potato chips - it's hard to have just one. Chances are that you own or hope to own more than one computer, so why not connect them together in your home? Home LANs (Local Area Networks) are becoming increasingly popular for several reasons. A network lets you share files, peripherals and internet access which is not only convenient but economical as well.


There are several different network technologies available and many choices for hardware. This gives you the flexibility to configure a LAN to best suit your needs and your home. The two main options for networks are wired and wireless. Wired LANs use dedicated cables whereas wireless networks use radio waves or the pre-existing wiring in your home.

Network Architecture
Virtually all home networks use a peer-to-peer architecture as opposed to the client/server model that's used in corporate networks. In peer-to-peer networks, computers connect to each other directly without a server as an intermediary. In client/server architecture, all computers connect to a central server which provides services like internet access, applications and file sharing. Many more computers can connect in a client/server network than a peer-to-peer one.

Wired Networks
Wired networks are the original type of LAN and usually the least expensive option. The most basic way to connect two PCs is with a parallel cable or serial port null modem cable. Using the Direct Cable Connection software that comes with Windows, you'll be able to share files and a printer. This quick and dirty method is slow, around 40-70 Kbps (KB/s), but you can buy the cable cheap and the software is free. It was designed for users to connect their laptops to their desktop systems for occasional file transfers.

USB
Another method for connecting two computers is via their USB (Universal Serial Bus) ports. If you have two machines running USB compliant versions of Windows (Win 95 OSR2 or later), you can use a USB network kit that includes a cable, installation software and internet sharing software. The cable length is 4-6 m (12-20 ft) and the maximum transfer speed is only about 4 Mbps. With no network card to install, this is a simple way to hook up two computers in the same room or quickly connect a laptop to a desktop. Kits are about $100.