Home Networking
- Overview
- Helpful Hints and Explanation of Terms
- Using a Hub
- Using Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)
- Using a Hub with DHCP built in
- Wireless, USB, and other network "Kits"
Overview
There are several options available for connecting two or more computers together and sharing access to the Internet. Those we list here vary in cost and simplicity, as well as the ability to accommodate more computers in the future. Networking can get complicated, but setting up a simple home network is not difficult.
Hubs
The simplest setup is to connect the computers together using a hub. Each computer needs to have a network card (NIC) installed. CAT-5 cable connects each network card to the hub. If you have DSL, you will plug the DSL (external) modem directly into the hub. With an internal modem, (DSL or analog 56K, 33.6, ISDN etc.) you will need to use a set up that includes Internet Connection Sharing (ICS).
Internet Connection Sharing
Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) is more complicated than simply using a hub. The benefits are that it requires less hardware and you will not need extra IP addresses for each computer on your network. What you will need is software that allows connection sharing. Windows 98 SE (Second Edition) and Millemium Edition have ICS built in. You can also use programs such as Wingate and Sygate. The basic setup with ICS includes one main computer that is actually connected to your Internet provider, and one or more other computers that are connected to this one using network cable. The main computer will run the ICS software and will have a network card installed that is used to connect to another computer, or to a hub. In this setup, the computer running ICS assigns an address to each computer that you connect to it.
Hub with DHCP built in
The third relatively simple option is to purchase a device that acts as a combination Hub/DHCP server. (such as that one by Linksys???) This device connects to the network like a regular hub, but it also assigns each computer an address. When you plug your DSL modem into a regular hub, you must get an (IP) address from Worldlink for each computer on the network. The Hub/DHCP Server allows you to add computers without purchasing additional IP addresses. The only drawback is that the Hub/DHCP server costs more than a regular hub.
Networking Kits
There are also many "Home Networking Kits" available from leading computer manufacturers. Some are wireless, some use your home telephone lines, some use your computer's USB port, and some are simply packages that include all of the hardware necessary to link several computers to one another. While you are welcome to use any of these kits with your Worldlink Internet service, free technical support for these products is very limited due to the inherent complications with supporting all of them.
Helpful Hints and Explanation of Terms
Networking can get complicated fast. You're much better off keeping your setup simple and easy to understand. If you build a more complicated or lower quality network to save money, the trade off will be lower reliability and more time spent dealing with failures. This applies whether you build it yourself or have someone do it for you. Network consultants typically charge upwards of $65 per hour.
- Network Interface Cards (NIC)
Installs inside your computer and usually has an RJ-45 female connector for use with CAT-5 networking cable. NIC's are also known as Ethernet cards if they have RJ-45 jacks. With some home networking kits, the network cards that you will use are NOT ethernet cards. Instead, they may use some proprietary connector, or just regular phone cords. Older network cards may use a BNC connector. Unless you're experienced with 2BaseT networking, you'll probably want to avoid using these. You may find ethernet adapters that plug into your USB port. These are relatively new and may not be as reliable as a NIC. If you are hooking up a laptop computer to your network, it will need a PCMCIA NIC.
- Cable
Usually CAT-5 w/ RJ-45 connectors (Male). Can be purchased in lengths from 2' to over 300'. CAT-5 cable is also known as Ethernet cable. A Crossover Cable is used to connect two NIC cards directly, or from the DSL modem to the NIC. It will not work between the hub and NIC. The cable you received with your DSL modem is a Crossover Cable. Likewise, a standard ethernet cable won't work in place of the crossover cable that came with your DSL modem.
- (Ethernet) Hubs
The hub has multiple ports to plug in ethernet cables. The smallest hubs available are usually 4-port hubs. Three ports are used for computers, and the fourth is used for plugging in the DSL modem. Usually it does not matter which port you use for which device. Home networking hubs are usually available in two speeds 10BaseT or 100BaseT, or as a multi-speed hub (10/100) that allows both speeds. 10BaseT transfers data up to 10Mbps, or about 40 times as fast as a 256Kbps DSL line. 100BaseT allows up to 100Mbps, which is useful if you need to move large files between computers quickly, or if you have a larger number of computers on the network (at least 5). Most home users don't need to spend the extra money on a 100BaseT hub. Note that if you have both 10BaseT NIC's and 100BaseT NIC's in your machines, you need to pick a hub that works with both.
- IP Addresses
Each computer on your network has to have an address. Whether this is an IP address assigned by Worldlink or an internal network address assigned by a machine on your network is up to you. Worldlink DSL provides either Dynamic IP addresses or Static IP addresses. Static addresses don't change. Dynamic addresses are assigned to the computer every couple of hours or each time the computer is turned on. If you plan to use Worldlink IP's on your computers, you may need to purchase additional addresses if you have already used the ones that came with your account.
- Your network OS (operating system)
It is generally possible to share internet connections between computers using different operating systems. However, not every method of connecting different operating systems will work. If you plan on using vastly different machines, like Macs, Windows and Linux, you should probably choose a simpler network setup. Note that the ability to share files between your machines is largely a function of the OS you are using. While it is common for professionals to set up a network that allows file access between different OS's, this becomes complicated quickly, and is well outside the realm of your internet service provider.