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Setting up a Network

Domestic

For domestic and Home networking this will normally start with a PC being connected to the Internet. This connection will be via a modem usually supplied by the ISP (internet Service Provider) and will be connected tot he PC by a USB cable. In this case the PC has to be the main internet connection for the network and will have to be left on for all other PCs to gain access to the network. To make it the master then (XP) go to start control panel and network connections. Click the setup home network connections and follow the instructions. When you get a choice of setup options use the First choice (This computer connects directly to the internet and other computers connect through this computer). When you set up other computers on this network use the second option for them.

If your modem connects to the PC via a RJ45 (LAN connector) then you can use the above option but connecting other computers becomes fun so I would suggest that you put a router between the Modem and the computer. This will allow multiple computers to connect to the router and the first PC doesn't have to be left on for the others to have access to the Internet. In this case all computers need to have the second option chosen when setting up the home office network.

Sharing disks and printers

Windows makes sharing of things easy. Since you connection to the internet is now either through a router of one description or another there is no need to have a firewall on the PCs unless they are the one that directly connects to the Internet. With No firewall then all computers should be able to see each other and you can go to the My network places from the start box. Click the view workgroup computers and you should see all the computers on the network. By clicking each computer you can see what they have shared.

Sharing

To change what a computer is sharing you need to be at that computer and lets say the computer has two hard disks C: and D:. To share the second disk go to start my computer and then you will see all the disks. The D: disk if it is not shared then it will appear without a hand under it. Right click the icon and you will see the line sharing and security, click this and then click the line underlined "if you understand the risk......". Now go to the network sharing section and click the share this folder on the network and also the allow other to change my files if you wish. After you apply this the computer will spend a minute or so with disk activity and then finish. Go to another computer and see if you can see the disk, it could take a minute to propagate for the first time so be patient.

The process is very similar for sharing a printer. To have access tot he printer or the second disk the computer must be switched on but not necessarily logged in.



 
Simple wired network