Windows Networking · Article

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** Simple Windows Networking **
** By Gizmo **
** March 06, 2002 **
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** Preface **
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This text is wrote with the thought that you have at least SOME
understanding of computers. It will cover both networking and
connection sharing.

Section 1: What you will need
Section 2: Getting started
Section 3: Adding network devices
Section 4: Linking network devices
Section 5: Connection sharing
Section 6: Troubleshooting

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** Section 1 **
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What you will need:
2+ Computers (only two if using a cross over cable).
1 Hub (or cross over cable, please note you can use more than
one hub, this will be discussed at end of article).
Some CAT5 cable (1 per computer plus 1 extra for server if connection
sharing on a broadband connection).
2+ Net Cards (1 per computer, if connection sharing on broadband
connection your server will need two).
1 Windows CD This is needed for the drivers on disk.
1 Firewall This is to keep unwanted users from your network.
Windows networking will open NetBIOS on your computer
so you will need to close it from outside access while
still leaving it open for internal access.
1 Connection This is for connection sharing.
1 Internet This is a program that lets computers on your network
Router connect to the internet through the server running the
program. We recommend Sygate Home Networking
(http://www.sygate.com).

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** Section 2 **
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Here you will need to setup your windows computers. To install the
protocols needed for networking and connection sharing you will need
to start here. Steps (so anyone can do it) are included here:

1. Look at your desktop.
2. Right click Network Neighborhood.
3. Choose properties.
4. Click the identification tab and enter in a computer name (MUST BE
DIFFERENT ON EVERY COMPUTER IN THE NETWORK). If you are on a
broadband computer your servers name will need to be your id name
assigned to you by your provider.
5. Enter your workgroup name (such as @home if your broadband
connection is @home on your server).
6. Enter a description of computer (this is so that you can remember
which computer besides the name, such as "this is moms computer"
for description.
7. Click on the Configuration tab.
8. Click ADD.
9. You will need to add the following: (Type --> Make --> Protocol)
Client --> Microsoft --> Client for Microsoft Networks
Protocol --> Microsoft --> IPX/SPX-compatible Protocol
Protocol --> Microsoft --> TCP/IP
Service --> File and printer sharing for Microsoft Networks
(use ipx/spx only if you want to use it for internal
gaming, which is about the only reason that I can
find to use it. It is not required for your network).
10. Click the Primary Network Logon drop box and change it to:
Client for Microsoft Networks.
11. Click the File and Print Sharing button and be sure both are
selected.
12. Click ok and then reboot.
13. repeat on all computers to be on network.

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** Section 3 **
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A network device is a drive or printer on another computer in your
network that you would like to make available to other computers in
your network. These devices can be password protected if you wish.
Instructions on adding a device are below:

1. Look at your desktop.
2. Open My Computer.
3. Right click on the drive of your choice and choose Sharing.
To do a printer, open the printers folders and right click a
printer.
4. Click the Shared As selection button.
5. Type in name of device (example 20Gig C) (12 char max).
6. Type in comment of drive (can be blank if none).
7. Select the access Type you would like, your options are:
Read-Only
Full
Depends on password
8. If you want to password protect this device enter a password
in the Passwords section, you can leave this blank.
9. Click Apply then OK.

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** Section 4 **
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A linked device is when your on one computer of your network and you
are browsing the files on another. You can choose to Map this drive
to a drive letter on the present computer that you would like to.
These steps are:

1. Look at desktop.
2. Open Network Neighborhood (double left click).
3. Open the corresponding computer name of the drive you wish to map.
4. Right click on the device you wish to map.
5. Choose Map Network Drive.
6. Select which drive letter you wish to use.
7. If you want the mapped drive to stay linked every time you reboot
select Reconnect at Logon.
8. Select the OK button.
9. Verify it added by looking at your desktop, opening My Computer
You should now see your linked device in your list.

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**** WARNING WARNING WARNING ****
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At this point you should have installed your firewall on your MAIN
computer, this is the computer or computers that are accessible to the
internet.

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** Section 5 **
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Connection sharing makes it so that your computers on your network
can connect to the web, this shares IP costs for broadband
connections. To set this up look below:

1. Your server will need 2 network cards (If on a broadband
connection. Note that you CAN use a standard modem but its not
recommended).
2. You will need to assign an IP to each computer in your internal
network, to do this:
Look at your desktop.
Right click Network Neighborhood.
Choose Properties.
Double click TCP/IP for your network card (if on server use the
bottom of the two installed).
Choose the IP Address Tab.
Click the Specify an IP address button.
For IP Address enter: 90.0.0.2 (make your server 90.0.0.1)
Please note that each computer will go up from this
so the next would be 90.0.0.3+.
Enter a Subnet Mask as: 255.255.255.0
Choose the Gateway Tab.
In the New Gateway section enter: 90.0.0.1 and select add
Choose the DNS Configuration Tab.
Enter the following:
Host: UGN
Domain: undergroundnews.com
DNS: 90.0.0.1
Choose OK
3. Choose ok then reboot and repeat on other computers. For your
server's TOP network card you would enter your broadband info.
4. Install your connection software on your server. And follow the
instructions that come with it.

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** Section 6 **
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Q: I don't understand this
A: This article was wrote with the idea you'd be able to at least turn
your computer on. These are step by step instructions, if you can't follow you have no need for a network.
Posted By Gremelin Posted on August 17th, 2008 · Updated on December 31st, 2010

Gizmo

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