Does anyone know the steps and process of setting up a WAN(wide area network)?

Question

i need basic information on the steps, process and what type of equipment is needed. Thank You, Irene J.

This is going to used in a business. What I want is to be able to connect to a computer if I am out of the state. Also I want several computer to connect to one to get information. (like a server/ data information)

Answer 1

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All the same applies to LAN as WAN except for differences in permissions.
A Lan, is used for a small Network Local: Area Network.
A Wan is needed for a WIDE Area Network.

When you add the feature to allow users to connect REMOTELY to your Lan, then you can say it becomes a Wan.


You would only need a router or switch when you are connecting MORE THAN two computers at any one location.

1. Connect the incoming ISP signal to the modem.
2. Use a short regular ethernet cable to connect the modem to the first computer1.
3. For Just two computers in one location, you can Use a longer CROSSOVER cable to connect computer1 to computer2.

Look on the back of computer1 to see what kind of ports you have available.
The cable from the modem will probably be an RJ45 connector into the modem, and
the back of computer1 should have a RJ45 port

Now, to connect computer1 to computer2
the back of computer1 will need to have another RJ 45 port (recommended)
OR at least a USB port

The back of computer2 should have a Rj45 port also.

You will use these ports to connect the two computers, and your crossover cable will have to have corresponding connectors.
Look for these at WalMart or Radio Shack.

If computer1 does not have a port
you can install one. The port is from a NIC
Network Interface Card.

Actually, that's what is inside all the ports are connected to cards which are connected to the motherboard.

If you don't have a NIC, get one from Ebay, or other computer equipment resources.

When you install a NIC you'll just
open your computer,
knock out one of the blank slots on the back of the computer.
and plug the NIC into the motherboard
and close the computer

(remember to destatic yourself/ touch metal when touching things inside your computer).

Computer1 will need to be turned on
for computer2 to access the internet.

4. If you have more than two computers in a location, you will need a router to connect 3 or more.

The regular ethernet cable will run from the modem to the ROUTER first port >
and then computer 1 will plug into the next port inline, and then the other computers into the additonal ports on the router.

5. Then you need to run the Networking Set Up Wizard.
Have a floppy ready to copy set up information (during the set up) to the other computers.

6. For a WAN during set up you want to allow "remote" users.
IMPORTANT: Select Do NOT allow users over the Internet with EXCEPTIONS...then
in "Exceptions" designate the members of your WAN.

7. You will also need to map the computers drives, each getting a unique drive letter for access. (NOT A, B, C D or E).
Start backwards with Z or other letters


8.You'll need to create a Shared Docs on each computer mapped drive in MyNetwork Neighborhood.
....and for files and folders you want to share, you will RIGHT-click/ hold down r-mouse button/ drop / let go mouse button /select "copy here" each into Shared Docs in MyNetwork Neighborhood
You will need the name of each computer.
You will need access to all of the computers

9. If you need more specifics go to
R-click START > L-click Explore
at top tool bar click HELP >
INDEX > type in Networking

10. Also Right click this link > then click Open in New Window
http://support.microsoft.com/default.asp...
h2h

Answer 2

The second post above was useless. Don't waste your time on it.

There are many ways to setup a WAN. It can very considerably depending on bandwidth requirements, distance between site, and the options for making a connection (Internet/VPN, T1, Frame Relay, long range wireless, fiber optics, etc) available at each location. I can't cover all options, so instead I will cover a fairly common senario.

For most people, a VPN (Virtual Private Network over the Internet) is adaquate. It provides reasonable speeds at a realatively low cost. For this type of WAN, you need a broadband (usually DSL) connection at both sites. You also need a router capable of creating a site-to-site VPN. Linksys makes some economical equipment that provide everything you need in one unit (a firewall, router, and VPN end point). You can visit www.linksys.com or call them for a recommendation on which model to use. I personally prefer SonicWall equipment such as a TZ170, which may cost a little more since it is a little higher up the quality and feature scale.

It is important to mention that the IP range (subnet) used at each location should be different. For example, of site A is using the 192.168.1.x range, then site B needs to use something else, like 192.168.2.x or 10.0.0.x. If your IP ranges are the same in the first three numbers, then change one of the networks.

The router is installed between your network (switch/hub) and your broadband Internet connection (DSL, cable modem, T1, etc). Each computer is configured to use the router as the TCP/IP default gateway. Once you have the router setup at each location, the VPN setup is fairly easy and covered well in the documentation. Once the VPN connection is established, you should be able to ping ip addresses at the other location.

The next thing you will probably need is name resolution. If there is a DNS server at each location, then setup secondary zones that point to the other network's DNS server. If you have no DNS server (may be the case for a small network) then you can edit the hosts file located (on XP) in C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\Etc\Hosts. Open it in notepad and at the bottom of the file add an IP address followed by a single tab then a computer name in order to associate IP address to host names. With one of these methods you should be able to ping computers at the other location by using their host name.

There are tons more I could go over about how to access resources (files/printers) at the other location, but I've already overstepped and gone beyond basics somewhat. Hopefully this will get you started. You can always add additional detail to your question to give us more specifics of what you want to know.

Answer 3

in the event that they are in a position to all see the internet then you definately do no longer could desire to run the community wizard. pass into your community Connections and below the residences of your connection make helpful that report and Printer sharing is on. then you definately can pass to any folder and suited click and hit proportion. this could make it viewed by different desktops on the community. you're able to do an identical for the printer to boot. you could suited click on the printer in the Printers area of administration panel and mark it proportion. this could preserve you issues I could think of. good success.

Answer 4

for home use or like business use?. If you want it fast everything should be 1000 mbps. But usually WAN is only for internet type companies.