Linking computers to create a network greatly expands their capacity and can even save you money. Networking two or more computers allows you to:

• Share a single Internet connection: Windows 98 SE & above have a feature called Internet Connection Sharing (ICS). Using ICS, one computer, called the ICS host, shares its Internet connection with the rest of the computers on the network. This can save you money on fees to an Internet service provider (ISP).

• Share a printer, scanner, and other hardware: This can save you the cost of buying peripheral devices for each computer.

• Share files and folders: This makes it easier to share information and collaborate with other people on the network.

• Play multi-computer games: By networking and sharing an Internet connection at home, family members can play games on separate computers with each other or on the Internet.
  Windows 98 SE & Above makes setting up a small network easy enough to accomplish without hiring a professional. First you must link your computers together by installing appropriate hardware in each and by joining the computers with wires or by means of wireless technology. This article explains the process from start to finish. You'll learn how to choose the right network technology, the right hardware components to obtain, and how to install and connect them properly. A final section explains how to protect your network from outside hackers by creating a secure barrier called a firewall.

Network Types

While there are several different network types, this article explains the three most popular types for small networks:

• Ethernet: The current standard technology and the one used by most businesses; links computers via special cable and a device called a hub.

• HPNA (home phoneline network adapter): Links computers via existing household telephone wiring.

• Wireless: Links computers without wiring, by using radio signals. The following table lists other properties, advantages and disadvantages of each network type:

May need an access point, a piece of hardware that acts as a central transmitter of radio signals between computers. Using an access point allows networking between any two computers on the system and expands the area radio signals are sent.

Currently the fastest, most reliable, least costly network technology. Most DSL and cable modems use Ethernet connections.

Easy installation; computers simply plug into ordinary phone jacks.

Mobile; you can move your laptop or desktop computer from room to room while remaining connected to the network.

All networked computers must be within a specified distance to communicate with each other. Currently, wireless networks lack some of the capability of networks using physical connections. The cost of an access point is an additional expense to setting up the system.

Network Adapters

All computers on a network require a hardware device called a network adapter. The easiest and fastest network adapters to install are external; that is, they connect to a computer via the USB port on the outside of the machine.
Internal network adapters must be installed inside the computer, requiring you to open or remove the computer housing. It is recommended that a qualified technician install an internal network adapter.

10Base2, also known as Coaxial BNC
To implement this particular network, all you need is enough coaxial cable to daisy chain all of the computers together. Each computer is connected to the cable with through a simple T-connector (one end goes to the network card, the others to the incoming and outgoing cables). To create a daisy chain, simply use cable to connect one computer to another. The first and last computers on the chain still require T-connectors, and an additional end-piece called a 50-ohm terminator. To add another computer to the network, just connect the computer to one end of the chain, making sure that the first and last computers have terminators attached.

10BaseT, 100BaseT also known as RJ45 twisted pair
10BaseT is a more efficient, yet generally a more expensive and less scaleable solution than 10Base2, especially in regards to a simple in-house LAN. Basically, each computer on the network runs a length of cable to a central hub, which functions to pass the network traffic through each computer. Using 10BaseT, there is no need to string every computer to another system, and removing a computer from the network is easy, since there's no chain to break.

Fast Ethernet (100BaseT) is the current popular standard. It has a fat 100Mbps pipe, ten times faster that plain vanilla Ethernet. The extra speed isn't necessary for gaming, but it does come in handy. On a regular Ethernet network, a single computer can saturate the entire network with something as simple as a large file transfer. On 100BaseT, no single computer can fill the entire 100Mbps (10MB/s) bandwidth, while you copy files off of another friend's computer.

Fast Ethernet only supports RJ45 Twisted Pair networks. Setting up a 100BaseT network is exactly like setting up a 10BaseT network. The only difference is that the hub and network cards have to support the 100Mbps speed. Many Fast Ethernet hubs also support Ethernet connections that allow 10Mbps network cards to communicate with 100Mbps cards. If you plan on implementing an RJ45/hub based network, we recommend Fast Ethernet over normal Ethernet because it's faster, just as easy to install, can be compatible with 10BaseT network cards, and is only slightly more expensive, if at all.
Basically, this leaves you with three networking options: 10Base2, 10BaseT, and 100BaseT. Unless you already own a 10BaseT hub, Fast Ethernet is a better option than standard Ethernet. That makes it a choice between Ethernet w/coax or Fast Ethernet. 10Base2 Ethernet is cheap and simple, but it only runs at 10Mbps, and removing or adding computers to the chain will disrupt network operations. Fast Ethernet is more complicated and more expensive, but it's ten times faster and can offer compatibility with 10Mbps network cards.

LANS
Local Area Network (LAN) is a data communications network spanning a limited geographical area, a few miles at most. A LAN allows users to share information and computer resources, including mass storage devices, backup facilities, applications software, data files, printers, plotters, and processors.

A LAN is made up of network interface cards that fit inside the connected computers, cable (or an equivalent wireless connection) to connect these computers together, protocol software to move data from computer to computer, user interface software to connect the user and the network, and operating system software to actually service users' needs for resources like files and printers. Finally, a LAN runs end-user applications.