Home Networking

by David Jackson
Topics covered
 What is Home Networking?
The reasons for setting up a Home Network.
 Types of Home Networks and choosing your
technology.
 Buying and installing the hardware.
 Configure the system and get the hardware
talking to each other.
 Address any security issues to keep your
Network safe.
Home Networking
The technology that connects computers and
other electronic devices that allow you to:

 Share a single printer between computers.

 Share a single Internet connection with all
the computers in your house.
 Access shared files on any computer in your
house (Pictures, MP3s, Documents & Data).
 Play games that allow multiple users at
different computers.
 Send the output of a device such as a DVD
player or Webcam to your other computer(s)
Types of Home Networking
 Sneaker Net – The use of Diskettes, CD-
R/CD-RW and USB thumb drives.
Inexpensive, but inconvenient especially
when the computers are not on the same
floor.
 Link computers through the phone lines.
 Link computers through the power lines.
 Link computers wirelessly by WIFI.
 Link computers through wires by Ethernet
HomePNA networking
 HomePNA 2.0 or
Phone Line Networking

HPNA, PhoneLine or HomePNA networking

operate over the existing copper telephone wires in
your home without interfering with voice or DSL
communications.
Typical speeds of 10Mbps can be achieved.
HomePNA 3.0 will push the speed up to 100Mbps
when it is released.
 HomePNA networking
HomePNA has several distinct advantages:
• Inexpensive.
• Easy to install.
• Standardized.
• Reliable.
• Operates at a constant 10 Mbps, even when the
phone is in use. Fast enough for bandwidth -
intensive applications, such as video.
… Continued on next slide
HomePNA networking
Advantages (Continued):

• Requires no additional networking equipment

(such as hubs or routers).
• Supports up to 25 devices.
• Compatible with other networking technologies.
• Works on Macs and older PCs as well as
Windows systems.
HomePNA networking
HomePNA does have some drawbacks, though.
• Requires a phone jack close to each computer.
• Even though it operates at a very reasonable 10 Mbps, it
is still 10 times slower than fast Ethernet (100 Mbps)
• A physical limit of 1,000 feet (304.8 m) of wiring between
devices
• The overall area of coverage should not exceed 10,000
square feet (929 m2).
• Occasionally, HomePNA will not work on the existing
wiring. Reports of voices sounding "funny" or of a lot of
noise on the phone once HomePNA is installed.
Power Line Networking
 Power Line Networking
Based on the concept of "no new wires”.

Convenient. There will always be an electrical outlet

near a computer. Not every room has a phone jack.

Computers connect to one another through any power

outlet in the building.
Cheapest method of connecting computers in different
rooms, because it requires no new wiring, and the
network adds no cost to your electric bill.
 Power Line Networking
There are two competing power-line
technologies:
• The original technology is called PassPort,
by a company named Intelogis.
• A new technology called PowerPacket,
developed by Intellon, has been chosen by the
HomePlug Alliance as the standard for
power-line networking.
Power Line Networking
The new PowerPacket technology is faster than
the older PassPort system.
It is rated at 14 megabits per second (Mbps).
This speed allows new applications, such as
audio and video streaming, to be available
throughout the house.
 Power Line Networking
Advantages of a power-line network:
• Inexpensive. $50 US for a complete Intelogis' PassPort kit
to connect two computers.
• Uses existing electrical wiring.
• Every room of a typical house has several electrical
outlets.
• Easy to install.
• A printer, or any other device that doesn't need to be
directly connected to a computer, doesn't have to be
physically near any of the computers in the network.
Power Line Networking
Doesn't require a card to be installed in the computer,
although there are companies working on
PCI-based systems.

PCI card
 Power Line Networking
There are some disadvantages to connecting through
power-lines when using the older PassPort technology:
• Connection is rather slow -- 50 Kbps to 350 Kbps.
• Performance can be impacted by home power usage.
• Can limit the features of your printer.
• Only works with Windows-based computers.
• Uses large plug-in devices that cover the entire electrical
outlet.
• Can only use 110V standard lines.
• Requires that all data be encrypted for a secure network.
• Older wiring can affect performance.
Power Line Networking
Power Line Networking
According to Intellon, PowerPacket technology
eliminates many of these concerns, citing the
following advantages:
• Rated at 14 Mbps.
• Works independent of line voltage and frequency of current.
This "avoids" disruptions in the power-line, maintaining the
network's connections and speeds.
• Does not limit the features of your printer.
• Can be compatible with other operating systems
(depending on driver availability).
• Can have the necessary circuitry embedded within the device,
necessitating only a standard power cord to access an outlet.
• Includes encryption.
• In tests, shows no signal degradation due to older wiring.
WiFi Networking
 WiFi Networking

WiFi is the wireless way to handle networking.

It is also known as 802.11 networking, or
wireless networking.
The big advantage of WiFi is its simplicity:
you connect computers anywhere in your home or
office without wires.
The computers connect to the network using radio
signals, and can be up to 100 feet apart.
WiFi Networking

The radios used in WiFi are similar to the

radios used in $5 walkie-talkies, with the
ability to transmit and receive.

They convert the digital 1s and 0s into radio

waves and back into 1s and 0s.
WiFi Networking
There are currently three different WiFi systems:

 The 802.11b and 802.11g standards transmit at

2.4 GHz, while the 802.11a standard transmits at
5 GHz. The higher frequency allows higher data
rates.
WiFi Networking

There are two coding techniques:

 The 802.11a and 802.11g, known as orthogonal

frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM), provide
higher data rates

 The 802.11b, which is called Complementary Code

Keying (CCK).
WiFi Networking

WiFi has the ability to change frequencies:

 802.11b cards transmit directly on any of three bands.

 The 802.11a and 802.11g split the available radio

bandwidth into dozens of channels and frequency
hop rapidly between them.
The advantage of frequency hopping is that it is much
more immune to interference and allows dozens of
WiFi cards to talk simultaneously without interfering
with each other.
WiFi Networking
 802.11b can handle up to 11 megabits per second,
although 7 megabits per second is more typical, and
may fall back as low as 1 or 2 megabits per second
if there is a lot of interference.

 802.11a and 802.11g can handle up to 54 megabits

per second, although 30 megabits per second is
more typical.
Ethernet Networking
Ethernet Networking
Ethernet is the most common networking system.

The equipment needed for an Ethernet-based network

can be as simple as two network interface cards (NIC)
and a cable, or as complex as multiple routers, bridges
and hubs.

It is this versatility that makes it so useful to businesses.

We will focus on the basics for creating a home network
using this method.

For this demonstration, a typical four-port Router with a

WAN (wide area network) for a Cable or DSL modem will
be used.
Ethernet Networking
Ethernet has many advantages:

 Fastest home-networking technology (100 Mbps).

 Can be inexpensive if the computers are close to one
another.
 Extremely reliable.
 Easy to maintain after it is set up.
 Virtually unlimited number of devices that can be
connected.
 A great deal of technical support available.
Ethernet Networking
Disadvantages:

• If you have more than two computers, you'll need

additional equipment.

• Can be expensive if wiring and jacks need to be

installed.

• Set-up and configuration can be difficult.

•Technical jargon and the number of options can be

confusing.
Ethernet Networking
Buying and installing the hardware.

Ethernet is available in two speeds:

10 Mbps and 100 Mbps.
Most NICs are capable of operating at either speed, but
you should check to be sure before purchasing.
Get cards capable of the 100 Mbps data rate.
You will need a NIC card for each computer.
Ethernet Networking
Buying and installing the hardware.

There are two different ways to connect Ethernet

cards:
Coax and Cat 5 cabling.
Coax was once the more popular of the two, but today just
about everyone uses Cat 5 because it is easier to
configure.
Cat 5 has a cable that looks a lot like a telephone cable.
You run one cable from the router to each computer.
Ethernet Networking
Buying and installing the hardware.

The hub or router

takes the signal
from each computer
and sends it to all of
the other computers
and devices in your
home.
Ethernet Networking
Buying and installing the hardware.

Follow the manufacturer’s installation guide for each

of the NIC cards and the Router
Because of the large number of possible
configurations in an Ethernet network, you likely will
not have any type of automated installation software.
This means that you may have to manually configure
all the options.
If you have problems, the best source of information
is probably the manufacturer of your NIC cards.
Ethernet Networking
Configuring the system
Easy Networking
There are several "home-networking kits" available,
and they often include an installation CD that makes
configuration very easy.

Windows XP comes with a "Network Setup Wizard" that

helps with network configuration.

There are also contractors who will set up a network in

your home for a fee.

The software or contractor will take you through each step

of naming the computer, sharing files, sharing printers and
sharing an Internet connection.
Ethernet Networking
Configuring the system
Easy Networking
However, if you have problems, or if your kit does not include
a configuration program, you'll need to know how to set your
network up manually.
You also need to understand a manual setup if you plan to
do-it-yourself.
To assist you with setting up your network, we'll discuss the
following tasks:
• Naming the PC
• Sharing files
• Sharing printers
• Security
• Sharing an Internet connection
Ethernet Networking
Configuring the system
Naming the PC

Once you have the hardware installed, you are ready to

configure your network.

The first configuration step is naming the PCs in the

network. Before your computer can become part of a
network, it has to have a name and a workgroup.

Each computer in your home network needs to have a

different name, and they all need to be in the same
workgroup.
Ethernet Networking
Configuring the system
Naming the PC
Here's how you can name your PC and create a workgroup:
1. In Windows XP, click the Start button (bottom left hand
corner) and select the Control Panel.
2. If not already in the "Classic view", select the Classic view
option (upper left corner of the window - you can switch
between the classic view and the category view).
3. Click on the "System" icon.
4. Select the "Computer Name" tab.
5. You will see that the computer has a "Full Computer Name"
and a "Workgroup". Click the "Change" button to change them.
6. In the first box, enter the name you wish to give the computer.
You can name it anything, but each computer in your home
must have a its own unique name.
7. In the second box, enter the name you plan to use for the
workgroup -- make sure all of the computers have the same
workgroup name. You may want to write it down to make sure
that you enter the exact same workgroup name on each
computer in your home network
Ethernet Networking
Configuring the system
Naming the PC

1. In Windows 98/ME, move the mouse

pointer over the Network Neighbourhood
icon on the desktop and click the right
mouse button once.
2. Select Properties from the menu. The
Network Properties window will pop up,
listing information about the network
adapter(s) and protocols installed on that
computer.
Easy Networking
Naming the PC
Windows 98/ME

3. When the window

opens, click the
Identification tab. You
will see three boxes.

4. In the first box, enter

the name you wish to
give the computer. You
can name it anything,
but each computer in
your home must have
a its own unique name.
Easy Networking
Naming the PC
Windows 98/ME

In the second box, enter

the name you plan to
use for the workgroup
-- make sure all of the
computers have the
same workgroup
name. You may want
to write it down to
make sure that you
enter the exact same
workgroup name on
each computer in your
network.
 File Sharing
Windows XP
Microsoft recognized the growing popularity of home
networks and first implemented Internet Connection Sharing
(ICS) in Windows 98. This feature (much improved) is also
available in Windows XP.

ICS lets you connect one computer to the Internet by

whatever means (modem, DSL, ISDN or cable) and share
that connection with any other Windows 98/ME computer on
the network. Though simple in theory, the first implementation
of ICS proved problematic for many users. Windows 98 v.2
improved ICS, and Windows XP makes it even simpler.
File Sharing
Windows XP
1. In Windows XP, click the Start button (bottom left hand
corner) and select the Control Panel.
2. If not already in the "Classic view", select the Classic view
option (upper left corner of the window - you can switch
between the classic view and the category view).
3. Click on the "Network Connections" icon.
4. Right click on the icon under the "LAN or High Speed
Networking" option. Select Properties from the menu that
appears.
5. You will see that the computer has a "Full Computer Name"
and a "Workgroup". Click the "Change" button to change
them.
6. Select the "Advanced" tab.
7. Click on the "Allow other network users to connect..." option.
8. Follow the directions in the dialog that appears.
 File Sharing By default, the ICS components are
not installed on your computer. You
Windows 98 only run ICS on the computer that is
actually connected to the Internet:
1. Go to the Control Panel and double-click Add/Remove Programs.
2. Select the Windows Setup tab and open the Internet Tools option.
3. Enable the Internet Connection Sharing component by clicking on the
box next to it and then clicking on OK.
4. Once the ICS components are installed, the ICS wizard will pop up.
Follow the prompts and keep clicking Next. If your Internet connection
is not already configured on this computer, the wizard will open the
Internet Connection Wizard (don't get these two wizards confused!) so
that you can set up an Internet connection. Simply follow the prompts.
When you're done, you'll be returned to the ICS wizard.
5. The ICS wizard will gather some information and prompt you to insert a
3.5-inch diskette. This diskette will then be used to configure the other
Windows 98/ME computers on your network for Internet access.
File Sharing
Windows 98

4. Once the ICS components are installed, the ICS wizard will pop up.
Follow the prompts and keep clicking Next. If your Internet connection
is not already configured on this computer, the wizard will open the
Internet Connection Wizard (don't get these two wizards confused!) so
that you can set up an Internet connection. Simply follow the prompts.
When you're done, you'll be returned to the ICS wizard.

5. The ICS wizard will gather some information and prompt you to insert
a 3.5-inch diskette. This diskette will then be used to configure the
other Windows 98/ME computers on your network for Internet access.
File Sharing
Windows 98

While file and printer sharing are still relatively easy on

either operating system, Internet-connection sharing
using only software can be a good deal trickier.

In most cases, if you are sharing a high-speed

connection with several computers in your home (and
especially if you are doing it wirelessly) it is easier to
purchase a wireless hub/router and let it do the
connection sharing for you. Lynksys' or Netgear's
wireless hubs/routers are inexpensive, very easy to set
up and also have the added benefit of providing a
hardware firewall to protect your network.
The Demonstration