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Network Guide
For a growing number of people computers are a lot like
potato chips - it's hard to have just one. Chances are that
you own or hope to own more than one computer, so why not
connect them together in your home? Home LANs (Local Area
Networks) are becoming increasingly popular for several
reasons. A network lets you share files, peripherals and
internet access which is not only convenient but economical
as well.
There are several different network technologies available
and many choices for hardware. This gives you the
flexibility to configure a LAN to best suit your needs and
your home. The two main options for networks are wired and
wireless. Wired LANs use dedicated cables whereas wireless
networks use radio waves or the pre-existing wiring in your
home.
Network Architecture
Virtually all home networks use a peer-to-peer architecture
as opposed to the client/server model that's used in
corporate networks. In peer-to-peer networks, computers
connect to each other directly without a server as an
intermediary. In client/server architecture, all computers
connect to a central server which provides services like
internet access, applications and file sharing. Many more
computers can connect in a client/server network than a
peer-to-peer one.
Wired Networks
Wired networks are the original type of LAN and usually the
least expensive option. The most basic way to connect two
PCs is with a parallel cable or serial port null modem
cable. Using the Direct Cable Connection software that comes
with Windows, you'll be able to share files and a printer.
This quick and dirty method is slow, around 40-70 Kbps
(KB/s), but you can buy the cable cheap and the software is
free. It was designed for users to connect their laptops to
their desktop systems for occasional file transfers.
USB
Another method for connecting two computers is via their USB
(Universal Serial Bus) ports. If you have two machines
running USB compliant versions of Windows (Win 95 OSR2 or
later), you can use a USB network kit that includes a cable,
installation software and internet sharing software. The
cable length is 4-6 m (12-20 ft) and the maximum transfer
speed is only about 4 Mbps. With no network card to install,
this is a simple way to hook up two computers in the same
room or quickly connect a laptop to a desktop. Kits are
about $100.
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