| Setting up Your Home NetworkAs society and | | | | must still be shared so that other computers can |
| technology change, it's becoming common for homes | | | | access them. If you are running Windows XP or |
| to have more than one computer. When an existing | | | | MacOS X, all you have to do is connect your |
| computer is a few years old, parents will often take | | | | computers and high-speed modem to the router, and |
| advantage of today's lower prices, purchase a new | | | | Internet connection sharing should just work like magic. |
| computer, and pass the old one down to the | | | | If not, restart the cable modem, router, and the |
| kids.Suddenly, there's a need for a home network, so | | | | computers (in that order) and see if that does the trick. |
| all computers in the house can share an files, printers | | | | If you can't access the Internet from one or more |
| and an Internet connection. Fortunately, setting up a | | | | computers on the network, consult the manual that |
| basic home network is not rocket science. To start, | | | | came with your router.One nice side benefit of having |
| you'll need a router which becomes the central point of | | | | a router is that they have firewalls built in to the |
| your network. Most office and electronics stores offer | | | | hardware. Firewalls protect you by hiding your |
| home networking kits with a router, ethernet (network) | | | | computers from network attacks, but still allow you to |
| adapters and CAT-5 networking cable.If your | | | | surf the web and handle email. So after installing a |
| computer was assembled in the past five years, it | | | | router, you can turn OFF the Windows firewall and |
| probably already has an ethernet adapter. Check the | | | | any other software-based firewalls you may have |
| back of the system unit for a port that looks like a | | | | running.Sharing Files and PrintersSharing files and |
| telephone jack, but slightly bigger.If you don't have an | | | | printers on a Windows network is also pretty painless. |
| ethernet adapter, you can purchase one (about $20) | | | | To share a printer, go into the Printers section of the |
| and install it yourself. You can also use a special | | | | Control Panel, right-click the icon for the printer that |
| ethernet adapter that plugs into a USB port, if you can't | | | | needs to be shared, and choose Sharing from the |
| stand the thought of opening your system unit to install | | | | resulting menu. By assigning a name to the shared |
| an ethernet adapter.Wired or Wireless | | | | printer, the owner allows other computers on the |
| Networking?You'll need to connect each of your | | | | network to access the printer by browsing using their |
| computers to the router with a cable, or go wireless. If | | | | Network Neighborhood (or My Network Places) icons. |
| you want to use wireless connections, you'll need a | | | | Access can be restricted to only some computers or |
| wireless router and a wireless adapter for each | | | | users through the use of the Security or Permissions |
| computer. Most laptops have a wireless adapter built | | | | options on the Sharing screen.The same concept |
| in, most desktop models do not. If you need a wireless | | | | applies for shared file and folders on a network. For |
| adapter, you can purchase one that installs inside the | | | | example, if you want to share a collection of MP3 files |
| system unit, or get a USB-style adapter.Having a | | | | on a home network, just browse to the folder using |
| wireless network eliminates the need to string unsightly | | | | the My Computer icon, right-click the folder name and |
| cables all around the house, but it can also create a | | | | choose Sharing. After assigning a name to the shared |
| security risk. Wireless networks are often configured | | | | resource and setting Permissions other computers on |
| by default to allow access to any computer that | | | | the network can access that resource via Network |
| attempts to connect. So an Evil Hacker driving by with | | | | Neighborhood or My Network Places.BOB RANKIN... is |
| a laptop (or even your neighbor) might be able to tap | | | | a tech writer and computer programmer who enjoys |
| into your Internet connection or poke around your hard | | | | exploring the Internet and sharing the fruit of his |
| disk.Fortunately, wireless security encryption is easy to | | | | experience with others. His work has appeared in |
| set up. See my article Wireless Security for | | | | ComputerWorld, NetGuide, and NY Newsday. Bob is |
| step-by-step instructions.Network | | | | publisher of the Internet TOURBUS newsletter, author |
| ConfigurationWhether the network signals travel | | | | of several computer books, and creator of the |
| through wires or through the air, network resources | | | | website. |