home networking?

Question

I just bought a dell with windows vista, my older computer is a compaq with window me. i have verizon dsl. I would like to still use the other computer , when the new one is in use. can this be done? if so, what is the cheapest way to do this, since the old computer would be used ocassionally. Is home networking hard to do? Thank you for the help!

Answer 1

You have several choices:

1) You can go to buy an Ethernet router, then set up a simple network. Your computer will need to have network adapter.

Ethernet Home Network Setup Tutorial
http://www.home-network-help.com/home-network.html

2) Buy a wireless router, then set up a simple wireless network. Your computer will need to have wireless adapter.

Wireless Network Setup Tutorial
http://www.home-network-help.com/wireless-network.html

3) Set up Internet Connection Sharing on that Vista computer to share Internet connection.

Internet Connection Sharing Setup Tutorial
http://www.home-network-help.com/internet-connection-sharing.html

Hope helps..

Answer 2

You could use VNC to remotely control the computer, and/or you could set up your network for file/printer sharing. just right click on the files you want to share and click on the sharing tab and rest should be obvious for the sharing files part lol. Then after you have all the files up that you want to share go to My network Places (or network connections)from control panel and click on "View workgroup computers"

Answer 3

Home networking is not really difficult, but if you haven't done it before it can seem overwhelming. However, if you take it step by step you can create a home network rather easily, if not inexpensively.

I will provide some resources via websites and a book I highly reccomend you purchase, but first I will give an overview of what is needed.

Now, it is absolutely possible to network your WinME, and WinVista computers together.

The first thing you need to know is that some ISPs use different Internet Connection resources for Vista then the older OSs. So, if your WinMe is hooked up to your Verizon DSL service, contact Verizon's technical department and ask if you need an update to your Internet Connection to allow you to run Vista along with Me. If you already have Vista hooked up to Verizon, then I believe the issue is resolved, but it may not hurt to call anyway and ensure you don't run into any issues with regards to how your ISP works with Vista and olders OSs.

You need a Router to connect your two computers together if you want each to access the Net without having to use Internet Connection Sharing.

Internet Connection Sharing was the first protocol for home networking which allowed multiple computers to use the same Internet Connection. Things have changed since then and newer and better options are available, but if you are low on finances ICS-Internet Connection Sharing is a viable way to hook the two computers into a network.

You need to note however that using ICS causes you to have to have the Server machiine turned on for the Client machine to access the Internet through it. The Server machine is the one which the other accesses and uses the Internet through, or the one sharing the connection.

Using a Router allows each computer to access the Internet Connection seperately, without having to have a Server machine turned on. This means each computer can access the Internet Connection while the other is turned off.

Here is some information on ICS:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310563

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306126

Here is my Search results at the Microsoft website which I got the two links above. You may find other articles valuable if you choose ICS:

http://search.microsoft.com/results.aspx?mkt=en-US&setlang=en-US&q=Internet+Connection+Sharing

Now, with ICS, the Server computer will require two adapters. Usually, Windows based OSs ship with ethernet adapters onboard. However, I am not sure that WinMe does, so you would need to check and make sure it has an ethernet adapter, not just a dialup modem.

It is not difficult to install an adapter. All you do is use an empty bus slot, put the adapter in, then run the software for the needed drivers and the network management utility. I will see if I can find an article outlining how to install an adapter. Look in your Vista User Manual, which should be accessible on your desktop, or in your Programs List and you can locate it by typing in User Manual, or Vista user manual, and then click on it. You can also go to your computer manufacturers website, go to the support area, put in your serial number or system identification and then download the User Manual for your system.

If you can afford to purchase a Router, get one with a Wireless Access Point. A Router is actually several peices of hardware combined into one unit. A Switch, a Router, an ethernet port(s) and a Wireless Access Point. Depending upon which protocol you choose for the WAC--Wireless Access Point or WiFi the price has a range.

Your choices for WiFi or 802.11x ethernet Wireless are:

802.11b
802.11g
802.11n

Each type is faster, with a larger wireless range than the next. 802.11b is the slowest with the shortest range, and 802.11n is the fastest with the largest range, and 802.11g is in the middle of these two.

The IEEE--Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers is the group which certifies these protocols, and as yet the 802.11n is not certified but it is still in wide range use and is the most expensive.

Whichever 802.11 protocol you choose, each system and node on your network, (a 'node' is any peice of hardware hooked up with your network, ie: computers, printers, file servers, Windows Home Server, game consoles, entertainment devices, etc) the Router must support the highest protocol you decide to use.

If you purchase a Router capable of running 802.11b, it won't be able to handle any nodes with adapters using 802.11g or n, but if you purchase a Router capable of running 802.11n it can run all the protocols under it. So, it can handle n, g, and b, adapters. If you purchase an 802.11g Router, it can also handle the 802.11b, but not the 802.11n. This information is very important when choosing a Router and WiFi protocol.

You also need to note that if you have a mix of protocols, your network is slowed to the lowest one. So, if you purchase an 802.11g Router, and run an adapter using 802.11b, the entire network is slowed to the speed of the 802.11b. Same is true with 802.11n, if you also use 802.11g, or b, it is slowed to the lowest protocol.

You need to know this so you don't waste money purchasing more Router than you can utilize. If you already have an adapter check out what protocol it runs, and then decide from there if you wish to upgrade it to a faster, longer ranged protocol, or if you need to save some money by sticking with what you already have. You can always change it out at a later date when you have more money to purchase all the hardware.

Now, you don't have to use Wireless technology if you don't wish to. However, when purchasing a Router a WAP-Wireless Access Point is usually a part of the router. There are still Routers without the WAP, but these units which include it are not much more expensive than those without, so you should go ahead and get one with it so to have it available when you wish to use the Wireless features, such as with a laptop, or if you have visitors who wish to use Wireless. Allowing visitors to hook up to your Internet Connection does not mean also allowing them access to your computers files, but hooking into a simple ethernet wired network does also allow them access to shared resources on your networked systems. For me, it is safer to just allow a Wireless hookup, for Internet Connection, than to have the hook up wired to my entire network. You can keep visitors out of your private files, so there is security to implement.

What you need for use of a Router, is of course a Router, and at least a single ethernet adapter for each system you wish to hook up into a network. If you use ICS, you need one adapter for each machine, and a second adapter for the machine you use as the ICS Server.

The first thing you do when designing a network is look at your physical hardware placement. If both computers are not in the same room, you may need to consider either running RJ45 ethernet wires down the wall, floor, or ceiling, which leaves them exposed, as most homes do not yet have ethernet jacks in each room.

So, if it is not feasible for you to stretch RJ45 wires to the Router, then you can consider using the Wireless Access Point for one system. It is a great option for networked systems located at a distance from the centrally located Router, where there is a lot of interference, such as concret floors, walls, cabnets, and other items, you can consider using a HPL connection. HPL--Home Powerline. This uses your existing power lines instead of the phone or cable lines. However, it creates two seperate networks which would require bridging. So, hopefully, you can use the Wired or Wireless ethernet options to connect the two system.

So, if your second machine is in a different location then the other, you may want to purchase a Wireless Adapter rather than a Wired Adapter. If they are both in the same room, then Wired is fine. Wired is still a bit faster than any of the Wireless options anyway.

Please note that the speed of your Adapters and Router is not the Internet Speed, but the speed of the connection between the networked computers. I confused this with my Internet Connection and it caused me headaches for a while, until I finally discovered it is how fast I can trasfer files from one computer to the other, inside my home network, and has nothing to do with the outside Internet Connection.

If or when you use Wireless, you also need to know how to configure the security of that connection. Most Routers ship with a hardware Firewall, MAC address control, (MAC--Media Access Control) which is a great way to create a secure Wireless Connection. Software and Hardware Firewalls are compatible with each other, so no worries there. While you can't run two software Firewalls, you can run one each software and hardware without incident. The hardware firewall is located in the Router, not your computers, and it protects your network from the Outside Internet.

The MAC address allow or disallow list is a great method of securing your wireless connection, and then you need to setup the Routers encryption method.

*note* About encryption: encryption is important even if you use MAC address security. Encryption encrypts you data packets as they leave your network and go out into the WWW, or World Wide Web. If you only use MAC address security, it does keep other systems out of your network, but it still allows for easy reading of your data packets as they leave your network. So, this means that those with the ability can read everything you send out from your systems, including your email, IM messages, and other data such as credit card numbers, social security numbers, and other personal information. Yes, people do go around looking for unencrypted systems so they can gather information which allows for identity theft.

You access your Routers configuration pages, where you setup all the security and other configuration items, by a browser connection. Depending upon which manufacturer you purchase your Router from, you would use an IP address to access the Routers configuration pages, such as:

192.168.1.1, for Linksys, and others, or 192.168.2.1 for Belkin. You can find your particular IP address in the Routers manual.

You setup your encryption last. This is due to the fact that once you set the password, or passprase, which are actually the same thing, a password for access to your Wireless Access Points connection, you will lose your Internet Connection for a short period until you run the Internet Connection Setup Wizard or the Wireless Network Setup Wizard, from all computers you wish to network together.

So, make sure you set all your other Router configurations before setting your encryption options. You have two choices for encryption security, WEP, and WPA. WEP is compatible with all nodes these days, while WPA may not be as yet because it is the newest protocol. If you are unsure which hardware and software, (software firewall to be exact) is compatible with WPA, which is the prefered option as it is more secure, use WEP, as it is far better than leaving your network wide open.

The main options on configuring your Router are:

1. Set an Admininstrator Password in the Router configuration pages. Routers ship with this blank, or use admin, and so it is important to change it as soon as you can, but don't forget it as you won't be able to get in if you do.

2. Set you SSID. An SSID is just the name of your Wireless Netowrk. Each SSID is usually the manufactuers name, plus unique numbers like a serial number at the end, like this:

Linksys-46b95u2

Change it to something meaningful to you, so you can protect your network from crackers, and keep out your neighbors, while being able to easily identify your own connection in the View Available Wireless Networks list. Then change it in your Network Connections folder to the same so you can identify if from other connections. Computers can have multiple connections, and they are usually listed as LAN-1, LAN-2 and so on and so forth. This gets confusing when attempting to locate a connection with issues. My Wireless SSID is BEAR, and so it is in my Network Connections folder, BEAR.

That is the name on the Connections Property sheets too, so it is simple to locate and configure the right one.

You also need to select the Connection Type, usually Dynamic, for DLS and Cable, unless you have a password for connecting to your Verizon DSL. If you do have a password given to your by Verizon, you need to use the PPPoE option. It states that if you have DSL you need to use PPPoE, but I have DSL and I use the Dynamic option in my Router but the PPPoA in my Modems configuration pages. Go figure. So, try Dynamic first. If you don't connect, and you can tell if you have a connection by a green Connected up in the top of the Routers configuration page. If it is red, there isn't a connection as yet, so try the other option.

The next thing you need to set is to enable the firewall, and just keep making sure you are still Connected. Once you have a viable connection you can then set up your encryption under Security. Each Router has a bit different way of doing these steps, so follow your manuals instructions and if you have any problems you can contact either your ISP for assistance, or your Routers technical support. Belkin has free technical support, and most others do as well. Read on the box and see if your technical assistance is free and easy to access, or if it is more difficult or has charges.

OK, I have written far too much here. I am going to provide the websites for assistance now, and give you the name of the book I used. Here are websites to get you going, just read up and take it step by step, and follow your Routers manual, and/or call your ISP.

One last thing, some ISPs only allow one connection with their Modem, so you may need to clone your MAC address of the currently hooked up computer. This is very easy. To find out what your MAC address is do this:

Start-Run, type in cmd, hit OK. A command prompt window opens. Now, type in ipconfig(space)/all, and hit Enter. Information about your connection scrolls down. look under the connections adapter name, if Intel, look for that name, and you will locate the Physical Address, which looks like this:

11:b7:79:04:c4

The MAC address of each hardware device is unique, no two has the same one, just as IP addresses are unique. It identifies your adapter and you clone this into your Router on the proper page. This allows you ISP to only see your initially hooked up computer, not any others behind the Router. The Router uses DHCP to assign Private IP addesses to each networked computer, but your actual IP address, the one your ISP gives you is shown to the Internet at the Rotuer. That is the only IP address viewable, all others are hidden behind the Router.

Here are the websites:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/default.mspx

The one above is a portal to a ton of information. Click on each section to access information on the three different steps. The first two is the most important at this time. Managing and trouble shooting comes later.

http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleid=1427&page=1

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/maintain/connections.mspx

The book is "Absolute Beginner's Guide to Home Networking" by Mark Edward Soper.

This book helped me get my network up and running. It uses the Linksys Router as an example, but it applies to any of them as all settings are the same, they just may be layed out differently in different configuation pages. This book has step by step instructions, information on Wired, Wireless, and Mixed, as well as how to hook up Xbox, other game consoles, and many other items. It also has information about the choices you have, how to run wires, what wire to use, and troubleshooting techniques, and tips.

Sorry this is so long, but it is difficult to keep it short. I wish you the best in learning how to do this.

As I said, this is NOT difficult, but can be over whelming when you have never done it before. However, it is fun to learn, and it feels good when you finally get it right. lol