Introduction to Client/Server Network Setup

roduction of Networks

rview

omputer network consists of two or more computers intended to share resources:

ient/server network is a system where one or more computers called clients connect to a central
mputer named a server to share or use resources. Each client computer must use an operating
em that allows it to be identified to participate in the network.

nt/Server Networking

omputer network is referred to as client/server if (at least) one of the computers is used to
ve" other computers referred to as "clients". Besides the computers, other types of devices can

:: Note

You can use an existing comp

a server

part of the network:

a client/server environment, each computer still holds (or can still hold) its (or some) resources
files. Other computers can also access the resources stored in a computer, as in a peer-to-peer
nario. One of the particularities of a client/server network is that the files and resources are
tralized. This means that a computer, the server, can hold them and other computers can access
m. Since the server is always ON, the client machines can access the files and resources without
ng whether a certain computer is ON.

of the consequences of a client/server network is that, if the server is turned OFF, its resources
sometimes most of the resources on the network are not available. In fact, one way to set up a
nt/server network is to have more than one server. In this case, each server can play a different
.

ther big advantage of a client/server network is that security is created, managed, and can highly
enforced. To access the network, a person, called a user must provide some credentials, such as
sername and a password. If the credentials are not valid, the user is prevented from accessing
network.

client/server type of network also provides many other advantages such as centralized backup,
anet capability, Internet monitoring, etc. In a small network, all these services can be handled by
server:

medium to large network, there can be many servers with each performing a different task:

hese series of lessons, we will build a Microsoft Windows network (I love Linux and Apple but at
time of this writing, I want to make lessons simple by dealing with only a simple network;
mally, you can connect a Linux workstation, such as Novell SUSE Linux, to a Microsoft Windows
work; this is extremely easy to do; based on my experience, there is nothing significant to do;
e the network is setup and you connect the Linux workstation to the network, the Linux computer
find everything on the network; the Linux OS is so intelligent it would take care of everything).

ent Operating Systems

oduction

ou purchase new computers in a store or from a web store, the computers will most likely have
operating system. At the time of this writing, most computers sold in stores have Microsoft
dows 7 Home Premium. Some other computers, such as netbooks, run Microsoft Windows 7
rter.

our network, we will use Microsoft Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate, or Enterprise. Microsoft
dows 7 Home Premium cannot join a domain-based network (but it can participate in a peer-tor network). If the computer(s) you are planning to use for your network doesn't (don't) have the
osoft Windows 7 Professional, Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate, or Microsoft Windows 7 Enterprise
rating system, you must upgrade it. Among the ways you can acquire the upgrade, you can
chase it from a computer store or a web store. Another option is to get an MSDN subscription.

ou have built your own computer(s) or you acquired (a) "barebone" computer(s), once it's ready
h the necessary hardware parts, you must acquire and install the operating system.

w Client Operating System Installation

ew installation of operating system (OS) is suitable if:

You have a computer with no operating system at all
You have a computer with an operating system but you want to overwrite it
You have a computer with an operating system but it doesn't support an upgrade to the OS you
want to use

perform a new installation:

Turn the computer on. If you are using a computer without an operating system, if you receive
a message stating "Missing Operating System", or "Strike F1 to retry boot, F2 for setup utility",
don't worry about it at this time
On the (DVD) drive, push the buton to open the drive
Put the DVD that has the operating system in the drive
Restart the computer
A few seconds after the computer has started, a message may (should) ask you to press any
key to boot from CD or DVD (to install the operating system) (the message may display "Press

any key to boot from CD or DVD" or something like that). Press any key to continue. Otherwise:
o

If a message of pressing any key to install the operating system doesn't come up, you
should restart the computer. Then, as soon as the black screen of the computer
restarting appears, press a key such as F2 or F8 (this depends on your computer or the
manufacturer) to access the BIOS. Access the Boot Sequence and check the list. If the
(DVD) drive is not on top and if the instructions allow it, move the (DVD) drive to the top
of the sequence. If you cannot move the (DVD) drive to the top, then disable the drives,
such as the hard drive, that come above it. In some cases, you can select the drive and
press the Space bar to remove the check mark from the selected item. In this case,
make sure that only the (DVD) drive has a check mark next to it. After making changes
in the BIOS to make the computer boot from the (DVD) drive, save and exit the BIOS.
Then restart the computer and follow the instructions on the screen to install the
operating system

If a message of installation still doesn't come up, make sure the (DVD) drive is installed
appropriately (if you have access to the Internet, you can also check the following
site:http://www.bootdisk.com/ for a boot disks and options)

If the computer still doesn't boot from the DVD and if you have access to the Internet,
check the Support site from Microsoft: http://support.microsoft.com

The installation will stall copying files.

The next screen will ask you to select the language. Select one:

The next screen presents the language you selected:

Click Next
The next screen indicates that the installation is ready:

Click Install Now

The next screen allows you to select the version (32 bits or 64 bits):

Make your selection and click Next

The next screen shows the license agreement:

Read it. If you agree, click "I accept the license terms"
Click Next

. If the computer had an operating system already, the next screen allows you to upgrade or
perform a new installtion:

Click Custom (advanced)

The next screen allows you to specify the partition where to install the operating system.
After making your selection, click Next.
The installation will start copying files. This may take a while

When file copying is over, the computer would reboot.

When the computer comes back on, a screen will ask you to provide a user name. Type it and
press Tab.
You may be asked for a Product Key, which you must enter. After typing the product key, click
Next

You must also provide a name for the computer. Accept the default given name or change it
Click Next
The next screen asks you to optionally provide password. You can skip it for now (On a small
network, O personnally don#039;t provide that password). Otherwise, type the password, press
Tab, and type it again.
Click Next
The next screen asks you to protect your computer:

Click the first option

The next screen asks you to specify your Time Zone, the date and the time

After making your selections, click Next.

You should receive a welcome message that leads to the computer's desktop

rading the Client Operating System

he time of this writing, most computers sold in stores run Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium.
act, if you just go a computer store and decide to purchase computers for your network, that's
operating system the computer may have.

ou already have one (or more) computer(s) that you plan to use as workstation(s), it (they) may
running a previous operating system such as Microsoft Windows XP or Windows Vista. If you
chased a regular computer in a store, it may run Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium.

our network, we will use Microsoft Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate, or Enterprise. Microsoft
dows 7 Home Premium cannot join a domain-based network (but it can participate in a peer-tor network). If the computer(s) you are planning to use for your network doesn't (don't) have one
hose operating systems, you should upgrade it. Among the ways you can acquire the upgrade,
can purchase it from a computer store or a web store. Another option is to get an MSDN
scription.

upgrade from Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium to Microsoft Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate,
nterprise:

Start the computer and access its desktop (if necessary, log in)
Open the DVD drive, insert the disc, and close the drive. A window titled AutoPlay should come
up

If this window doesn't come up, start Windows Explorer and access the DVD drive
Click Run Setup.exe (from the AutoPlay window) or double-click setup (from Windows Explorer)
A security dialog box titled User Account Control should come up, asking you whether you will
allow the installation to make changes to the computer. Read the text and click Yes.
A window will come up, asking you to select the language the computer will use (this
installation uses Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate)

Click the desired language. Another window will come up to confirm the language you selected:

Click Next. Another window comes up to indicate that the installation is ready to start:

Click Install Now. The next dialog box would ask you to check the updates

Click the option to check updates.

The next dialog box allows you to select the type of platform you want to use 32 bits or 64 bits:

Make your selection and click Next.

The next dialog box presents the license agreement:

Read it and, if you agree, click the bottom check box. Otherwise, stop the installation
If you agreed with the license, click Next.
The next dialog box deals with existing files, if any:

ver Operating System Installation

oduction

ient server network is a system where a computer named a server is used to provide resources
other computers named clients. A server is a computer that can participate in a client/server
work to hold resources and items that other computers would need:

y.

erver is primarily a regular computer. To create a client/server network, first identify the
mputer that you will use as the server. You can use an existing computer or purchase a new
. When planning the server, if you plan to use one of your (existing) computers as the server,
ck its hardware and make sure it meets the necessary hardware requirements.

ou have a computer with no operating system because either you got/built it ("barebone")