Saturday, October 8, 2011

Software



In most cases, when you buy a network kit you get drivers, installation software and internet sharing utilities. Single network adapters tend to come with less software than a kit. When buying a kit, look for an automatic installer or wizard that will guide you step-by-step through the set-up and configuration process, unless you have previous network experience.

When you buy a NIC ensure it comes with the appropriate drivers. These programs act as translators between the software that runs a device and the machine language of the device. Drivers are platform specific so your NIC should have drivers for your version of Windows or the Mac OS.

Not all kits provide bundled internet sharing software. If this is one of the main reasons you are networking, be sure the software is included or you'll have to buy it separately which can be costly. If you plan on building a mixed PC and Mac network, ensure you're getting software that enables cross-platform file and printer sharing like PC MacLAN or DAVE.