How to Network 2 Computers

Build Your Own Computer NetworkFor

Home or Office

5th EDITION2008

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© MicroDIY 2003 to 2007

Section Description Page Introduction 3

Brief overview of a computer network,what they are and how they work

1 Quick Network Guide 4How to plan your network layout with

basic details of network wiring

2 Choosing Your Hardware 8Description of each component used

to build a peer-to-peer network using Hubs/Switches, NIC adaptors and CAT5 cable.

3 Putting it Together - Wired 18Detailed step-by-step instructions on

how to put your network together.

4 Setting-Up your Network (Wired) 28Setting up your network and how to configure

each computer.

5 Putting it Together - Wireless 38 Detailed step-by-step instructions on how to configure your wireless network

6 Firewall Settings 45Check your firewall settings to allow other

Computers to connect correctly

Appendices 47

There are a great many suppliers of networkinghardware. Dabs.com have an excellent range ofnetworking hardware which means everythingyou need is under one roof and you get greatafter sales service.

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IntroductionYou might already have given the idea of setting up a home computer network some thought, but never reallyhad the information or the know-how of where to start. So, before you go out and start spending that hardearned cash, spend a little time planning what you want the network to do and how the network functions.There are a great many books available on the subject of computer networks. Some are rather good, butfinding the right book which concentrates on putting a network together without all of the technical stuff isdifficult. So why is there a lot of technical jargon to go with a computer network?

To answer that we need to understand that the computer industry and companies that use networks to link allof their computers together need to have a lot of control over how the computers and their users can accessthe network. That level of control means that the network administrators who monitor and control networktraffic can do so with predictable results.

However, if you are using any of the windows operating systems, you can set up a home network right awayfor free with no extra costs involved other than the hardware. We do not need to get into the really technicalstuff to get a home network up and running which will give us the ability to share files and Internet etc quiteeasily. Even then, you may be surprised to learn that many of the latest motherboards already come equippedwith a network connection as standard. To set up a home network that can be used for sharing files; Internetaccess and printers or playing computer games that support the LAN function (play Command and Conquerwith dad either against each other or both of you against the computer is great fun), is easy if you build thenetwork based upon the peer-to–peer network.

This booklet explains in as simple terms as possible how to put together a computer network suitable for yourhome or small office. This means, that each computer will remain as an ordinary computer which will workeither by itself or can send and receive files with the other computers sharing the same network. I will try tokeep the technical stuff to a minimum and also use full colour illustrations throughout to show you what isrequired and how to put the parts together, where to find the bits that you may need and what to lookout for.

To help guide you to what type of network you require, various network layouts are illustrated along withcomponent requirements shown for each in the Appendices

Web Links.

http://www.cableuniverse.co.uk/ http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/home/

http://www.dabs.com/ http://www.rapidonline.com/

http://www.cclonline.com/ http://www.maplin.co.uk/

http://www.dabs.com/

http://www.cableuniverse.co.uk/

http://www.cclonline.com/

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/home/

http://www.rapidonline.com/

http://www.maplin.co.uk/

Section 1Quick Network Guide

3 Basic Steps - 1. Check room layout 2. Laying any cables 3. Plugging In

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Quick Network Guide

STEP 1Check room layoutPlanning your computer network before you buy all the necessary parts is a good idea, as this could save timeand money wasted on postage and having incompatible network hardware. First, you are best off using somegraph paper to do a scale diagram of where you plan to install your network. Using 1 centimetre to represent1 metre of actual size,you can then draw a layout of your home or small office to scale - accurately! This way,cable lengths can be easily determined. There is nothing worse than buying a quantity of cable only to findyou are a few metes short and then have to buy yet more cable (its easier to cut a bit off than trying to add abit on). For wireless networking you don’t need any cables, so it may only require plugging the parts together.

In this example shown below, we have two computers which are networked together using cable to share filesand play network games etc. No Internet connection is used for this simple basic network. To help you todecide what networking components you will need will depend upon the type of network layout you want, sohave a look at the typical network layouts to help you choose see Appendices 1.

This basic computer network is based on NETWORK LAYOUT 1. Please have a look at the other NetworkLayouts - see appendices 1- when planning your network. Choose the one which will meet your needs andmake a note of the equipment used. The following sections will give you detail network constructiontechniques and show you how to set up each computer to join a network.

This basic Layout requires the following network items:-

i One Network Switchii A length of CAT5e network cable (shown in green)iii 3 network patch cables (shown in blue)iv 2 Belkin or similar single outlet faceplates with 25mm deep Wall Boxes (shown in Red)v 2 RJ45 Keystone Jacksvi Both computer already have network adaptors fitted.

Bedroom 1

Bedroom 2

Computer B

Computer A

Network Switch

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STEP 2Laying network cablesThe long network cable that connects any remote computers to the network switch can be any thing up to 100metres long, so you have a lot of scope for the positioning of the computers. You can use the same networkingwall boxes as used by the professionals, but you will need some special tooling in order to do this see page17. This only leaves the problem of laying the cable; fitting the network wall boxes and connecting thenetwork RJ45 Jacks. You can obtain them from the suppliers I have listed As a guide each long network cablewill require a network wall box fitted at each end and you will need network patch leads for each wall box.

1. Lay the Network Cable under the carpet

2. Fix the Boxes to the wall.

+3. Assemble RJ45 Keystone Jack to

Faceplate&

secure network cable

Belkin Faceplate RJ45 Keystone Jack

NOTE! WallBoxes MUST be32mm deep for

professionalFaceplates!

Special tooling is used to pushwires into the terminals and cropsthe ends at the same time.

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STEP 3

Plugging all parts togetherThe great thing about a wired computer network, all the parts just simply plug together using the same RJ45patch leads with connectors fitted . The hardware sorts out which way the the data is sent so you don’t needto worry about which is the input or which is the output and you can choose which port to plug the computerinto. Today, we can enjoy the simple fact that all the technical complexity of how network data is sent andreceived has all been taken care of with these network switches and routers. Wireless seems more difficult byfar in comparison.

The above illustration is for Layout 1, but believe me, that a wired network is just a matter of plugging theparts together. The only hard part is configuring the computers to talk to each other and again, compared towireless, it really is not that difficult. Remember, a wireless network must be set up manually if you want asecure network which does require some technical reading first if you want to get it right. Every manufacturerof wireless network hardware uses default settings which expose the network to the outside world, in thisrespect, BT HomeHub does a better job of making the network secure compared to the other providers.

The following sections will deal with each part of a wired and wireless computer network and finish off withhow to configure your computers for both - so please read on.

RJ45 Patch Lead

RJ45 Patch Lead

Netgear GS608 Network switch

Power connector

Choosing Your HardwareHardware Explained - 1. Network Switch/Hub 2. Combined Routers 3. Network Adaptors (wired/wireless) 4. Wireless Access Points 5. Cables & Patch Leads 6. Network Wall Boxes & Faceplate 7. Tooling

Section 2

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Choosing Your Hardware1. Network Switch/HubHUBs - OBSOLETE for Home useThese the simplest of network devices. They collect the data from each of the computers and send the data toall of the other computers on the network - a bit like the HUB of a wheel. The data is radiated out from all theports. Therefore, data sent to port 1, will be sent to ALL of the ports at the same time. They are really meantfor joining computers together via each groups network switch. If there is a problem with your wiring then thehub will detect this and should turn off that particular part of the network. So, it is a type of electroniccontroller sending and receiving data. It requires no software or programming at all, just plug it in and awayit goes - the term used is unmanaged. If you are into games then you must invest in a high speed hub or betterinvest in a network switch. This is because gamers like instant action where each player's moves are displayedquickly on your screen – you do not want any delay when shooting your opponents! However, these type ofnetworking devices are now going out of favour for home users because of the much cheaper and betterperformance of the network switches.

Switches – operate differently to a hub. The main difference is that a switch transfers data only to specificports. It reads the MAC address of your computers network adaptor and stores it in a table to keep track ofwhere data is sent & received. A good network switch also has an internal memory for storing each networkpacket in a buffer for when a computer is busy, enabling all the other computers connected to the switch tocontinue sending and receiving data via the switch. A good network switch will have more memory to storelarger MAC address tables and network buffers to improve the overall network performance. Like the Hub,they do not require any programming.

4 port HUB

8 port Switch

GigabitSwitches

5 port Switch - NET6013 38DRWS 64190 A18GB

8 port Switch - NET6014 38DSWS 64191 A19GB

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2. Combined RoutersMany of the broadband providers are now providing equipment which can haveeverything incorporated into one box.

These are:- a- ADSL Modem b- Router c - 1 to 2 port Network Switch d - Wireless Access Point

Some of course only have the first three items which are the basic componentsneeded for a typical home/small office network wanting to share Internet access.The Modem for connecting to the Internet; the Switch for connecting computers to each other and for sharedaccess, which leaves the router. A Router is a mini-computer which does a special job of acting as a gatekeeperto the Internet. The Router listens to the network waiting for a computer to join the network, when it discoversa computer it sends information to the computer which contains details of how it can connect to the Internet.This way, all the computers are invisible to the Internet from the outside. Only when you request a web pagedoes your computer send and receive data from the Internet via the router, otherwise, all internal networktraffic is kept secure from the Internet by the Router. If a wireless access point is incorporated, then the sameapplies,. Your wireless enabled computer will connect to the other computers via the internal switch andaccess the Internet via the Router acting as a gateway. This does of course mean that anyone that can find yourwireless signal can get access to the Internet for FREE AND your computers - dangerous if not set up correctly.

More details on how network protocols work will be discussed later.

3. Network Adaptors (wired)These adaptors come in a lot of different types from cheap to expensive. The pricedepends upon the features available. Remember that these are also used in thenetwork servers found in the big companies networks or school & colleges. Allwe require are the basic functions to get a really good peer-to-peer network. Soyou can pick them up for as little as £6 . This is where the planning comes in. Doyou need a really fast network for gamers or normal speed found in a small office?The network adaptor shown is a NETGEAR FA311 card. This type of adaptor canbe used for standard networks with speeds of 100Mbits/s. This is the speed commonly found today which isgood for both gamers and office applications. Gamers like the faster network adaptors providing a networkspeed measured in Gigabits from adaptors such as the Netgear GA311.

Wake-On-Lan Network AdaptorsYou can use special network adaptors that can ‘Power-Up’ a computer (providedthe computer is still plugged in and power is ‘ON’). This is very useful forsomething like a computer acting as a server or Firewall - see Smoothwall project.These network adaptors act like the On/Off switch on the front of the computercase. You also need to have a motherboard that supports ‘WOL’ (Wake-On-Lan).This allows the motherboard to accept the signal produced by the network cardwhen it detects network activity on the LAN cable. You may have guessed that the power must still beswitched on at the wall socket, as the computer will need to draw a small amount of current to power thenetwork card electronics.

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Fitting a network adaptor - Check if you need one FIRST!Select an empty PCI slot on your mother board, this also applies to the Athlon64 motherboards. Make sure your computers power is turned off and secure thenetwork adaptor in place. If you are using a network adaptor which has WOL(Wake On Lan), locate the 3 pin socket and secure in place. You will need to go into the BIOS and ensure thatWOL is ENABLED for this function to work.

Before you go out and buy your hardware it would be advisable to first check if you already have these fittedto your computer. To check if your computer already has a network adapter already fitted, use ‘DeviceManager’ within Windows XP to see if one is listed. Or, remove the computers side panel and look for adevices look like the one shown below which is a NETGEAR FA312 network card or your motherboard mayalready have one fitted - Check It Out!

WOL - activated by PCI deviceas shown here on an ASUS AV7motherboard.

Code: NET1010

PCI Slot

Fig.8 Network Adaptor typeNETGEAR FA312

This is the network card fitted into a Desk Top PC

Tip!You don’t Need an

expensiveNetwork adaptor toget a really good

network!

Code: NET1010

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Check Your Computer First!- Does it have a network port?

Wireless Networks - see Layout 3One of the main reasons for considering a wireless network is for easy access from any location within yourhome. You need to do a site survey first before you buy your kit as many people have discovered too late thatthere are problems with the wireless signal range with some types of buildings. The signal range quotedapplies to free open space without obstacles. A solid brick house will drop that signal down to a rangeconsisting of two floors (ground and 1st floor), with interference from microwave ovens and wirelesstelephones adding to the problems of wireless networks.

Network Adaptors (wireless)You can add a wireless network card to your desktop PC using a PCI wireless adaptor. These wireless networkcards are becoming cheap with good performance. However, not all makes of wireless adaptors will work withother manufacturers equipment.

4.Wireless Access PointsThese devices allow you to network your computers without having to drill holes in walls or lay cable undercarpets, which all sound great news. The down side is that they are easy to set up, so easy that your neighbourwill be able to receive your wireless signal and probably join your network and broadband connection as well.The most secure network is a cable network, as no one can hack into a wired network without cutting into yournetwork cable. They are also more expensive than a cabled network, considering that most computers soldtoday have a Lan port as standard, not a wireless card. So you will need to buy a wireless adaptor card foreach computer you intend to network using a wireless network.

Motherboard edge connectors with LAN port

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5. Network CablingWhen installing a computer network we have a choice of two types of cablespecification. It will not be obvious straight away which type of cable to go for and you may just decide tobuy the cable with the better specification. In order to be confident that you have selected the right cable forthe purpose you have in mind requires a set of rules. Therefore, if the rules are applied correctly, you shouldalways select the right cable. The rules which should be applied to cable selection is as follows:

Cost Data integrity Distance between computers

CostThe higher the specification of the cable the higher the price per metre. So, if you are buying a lot of cable,then the overall cost will be much higher. Therefore, if cost is important to you to keep cost down, you mayhave to sacrifice on the specification and accept a drop in overall performance. If the distance is small betweenthe computers then a cheaper cable will do just as good as the more expensive cable. Unfortunately, this iswhere experience plays an important factor.

Data IntegrityWhen networking servers to switches (network backbone), you must always use cable of the higherspecification as this part of the network must work at the highest speed and efficiency. Dropped packets ornetwork collisions here will harm periods of when computer begin back-ups or database queries etc.Normally, CAT5e will do for the majority of networking and for short network distance under 100 metreseven on 1000 Gbit networks. CAT6 is best described as for ‘Mission Critical’ applications or ‘future Proof’installations.

Distance between computersThe further away you are from a network switch the higher the cable specification required to maintainnetwork speed at 1000 Gbits. You are okay to use CAT5e for 1000 Gbits networking, when cable lengths areunder 100 metres.

Cable Terminology

CAT5e UTP CAT = category 5 = revision number (every time they introduce a better specification they go up a digit) e = enhanced

UTP = Unshielded Twisted Pair

CAT5e = for 10/100/1000 Gbits networks running at 100MHz

CAT6 = 10 100/1000 Gbit networks running up to 250MHz

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Network Cable Construction

Network cables are available from many of the on-line retailers, but some provide better guidance than others.Here are some of the retailers where you will find a good selection of network cables and in various lengthsranging from a few metres to industrial boxed. However, the best retailers to provide both selection and priceare shown below.

Please see on-line retailers web site for cable specification!

Patch LeadsThese are manufactured from flexible wire cores making them very flexibleand extremely durable when used in normal handling situations. They areessential when using laptops for connecting and disconnecting on a regulardaily basis. They come in many different colours and lengths. The ends of apatch lead are moulded on for extra strength and durability.

Quick FindCodesCAT5e 19-8156 CAB4039 2TSYWS 21267 CW45YCAT6 19-8160 - 2TT4WS - L82AX

5 mm

8 mm

Bend Radius18 mm

Bend Radius35 mm

Please Note - CAT6 cable will break if bend round tight corners!

CAT5e Cable

CAT6 CablePlastic Inner Core

Quick FindCodes1metre

Patch Leads19-8140 CAB4011 18L9WS 23862 RJ-601

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6. Network Wall Boxes & FaceplatesProfessional Faceplate with RJ45 Keystone JacksTYPE 1These Belkin Faceplates require individual Keystone jacks to fitted. They simply press-fit into the Faceplate- available in single or double gang.

ASSEMBLYStep 1 – Inserting the RJ45 JacksTo assemble your network wall box, does not require any tooling – they simplyclip together. On the underside of the Jack is a raised rib which slips inside ofthe wall box housing whilst hold the jack down at an angle. Then, holding thejack against the ridge – lift upwards to push the jack into the wall box – it is stiffbut will Snap into position.Step 2 – Inserting the wiresUse the punch down tool to push the wires into the slotted terminals which isthe same for all Keystone Jacks. You do not need to strip any of the insulationaway from the wires. To prepare the cable ready for assembly – cut approximately 25mm (1”) of the outersleeve from the cable. Arrange the wires into pairs and place into the slots following the correct coloursequence from the inside of the jack with the ends pointing outwards – see opposite.

Using the ‘Push Down Tool’ – complete the connection by pushing thewires all the way down into the slotted terminals and crop the ends ofthe wires with the cutter tool as shown. When testing of the wiring iscomplete, the cable can be secured in place using a cable tie.

+ =

Quick FindCodes

BELKIN

SingleGang

Faceplate

F4E417u 19-8566 CAB4041 2V30WS - contx-s-1utp

DoubleGang

Faceplate

F4E420uW 19-8568 CAB4040 2V31WS 26856 contx-s-2utp

KeystoneJack

R6D022-AB5

ContactRapid

CAB4034 2976WS 28551 IncludedWith above

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TYPE 2These are very similar to the ones shown above. They are modular in assembly and available in in a range ofsingle to multiple gang configuration. They are supplied pre assembled only from:

TYPE 3These come pre-assembled and are low-profile. They can be assembled into standard UK 25mm Back BoxHowever, the normal Back Box depth is 32mm to allow for the larger modular assemblies of the Connectixand Belkin Faceplates.

You may find other options available if you search the Internet - such as Mini5 also availa-ble from

Rapind Electronics

RJ45 Connectors (only required if you are going to make up your own patch cables)

The cable we will be using is CAT5/6, there are four twistedpairs making 8 wires in total. The connections to the plugsfollow the colour sequence - T568B for both ends.You can also obtain coloured boots to finish off the ends.

+ =

Single GangFaceplate

Double GangFaceplate

contx-s-1utp contx-s-2utp

Single Gang ONLY 24-0502

RJ45Connectors

10 Pack 24-0415individual

CAB4036 3TCWWS 28566 JT49D

http://www.cableuniverse.co.uk/catalog/

http://www.rapidonline.com

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7. Network ToolsYou will need some tools to put your wired network together. These are easilyobtained and are relatively cheap. Listed here are the main tools that are specialto networking other than screwdrivers etc.

Crimp tool for RJ45 connectorsIn order to make network patch leads that join all wired networkconnections together, you will need one of these crimp tools. Thistype of connection is called an RJ45 connection, which looks like abigger version of a telephone connector, it has 8 connections/wires.This tool cuts the cable; cuts & removes the outer sheath and crimpsthe RJ45 connector onto the network cable.

The cable is made up so that the connections are connected as shownappendices 3 (all wires go straight through(pin 1-to-pin 1;pin 2 -to-pin 2 and so on)

Punch-Down tool for RJ45 connectorsThis tool is required to push the network wires into the RJ45 keystone jackconnectors. They have a specially shaped end to fit the RJ45 connectors. Somehave dual ends: one for punching down and one for trimming the ends of thewires sticking out from the jack.available from Rapid Electronics

Tool can be reversed toEnable cable assemblyWithout cutting ends

RJ45 Network TesterThis is an essential tool required to test your network wiring to check if all connections are sound and in thecorrect position. It is battery operated and scans each connection to test if each wire is terminated correctly.

Quick FindCodes

Crimp Tool B-45c 86-0220 - -Punch Down

ToolPunch Down

Tool19-8300 - -

Network CableTester

- 19-8126 79221 2V36WS

Section 3 Putting it Together - Wired

Each STEP Explained - 1. Cable Colour Standards2. RJ45 Connectors

3. Making a Patch Lead 4. Laying the Cables 5. Mount Wall Boxes 6. Testing 7. Final Network Assembly

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Putting it Together - Wired1. Cable Colour Standards

The standard for connecting a computer network cable involves following an International cable colourscheme which is shown below. It is very important that the wiring is done following the T568B colouringsequence as shown below.

Many inexperienced network builders do not follow the colour scheme carefully enough and end up with anunder performing computer network with data transfer rates down by as much as 60%. This is less to do withthe type of network hardware used and more to do with poor network wiring. Where they go wrong isforgetting that data to be transmitted is on one pair and data received is on an other pair of wires.

12345678

TX Data +ve

TX Data -ve

Rec Data +veRec Data -ve

RJ45 Network AdaptorTX Data +veTX Data -ve

12345678

Rec Data +ve

Rec Data -ve

Computer

Note! - Cable colours are kept in their 'COLOUR PAIRS' for datatransmission in order to reduce electrical noise.Therefore, network cables have FOUR TWISTED PAIRS:- Orange wires twisted together- Blue " " " unused- Green " " "- Brown " " " unused

Data transmitted on connections 3 & 6 MUST BE ON THE SAME COLOUR PAIRED WIRES!

Network SwitchFirst Pair

Second Pair

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2. Wiring a RJ45 ConnectorHere you can see that pins 3 & 6 are placed upon the GREEN twisted pair of wires to ensure data is carriedwithout interference. You may be forgiven if you thought that you could simply dispense with the colour codeand wirer each connector with all the colours kept in sequence. This would result in the computers networkadaptors ‘Received. data’ connections being split across two twisted pairs ‘Blue and Green’. This wouldresult in the data sent to the computer would almost certainly be poor due to extreme interference. Whenreading the forums you’ll find many people complaining that they do not get very good results with such &such make of network adaptor card. Their poor network speed is more to do with bad wiring and less to dowith the make of network adaptor used.

Look carefully at this enlarged view of a RJ45 network connector and you’ll see why the colours are placedin this unique order to keep data flowing without loss of performance on the Orange & Green twisted cablepairs.

Orange Pair

Green Pair

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3. Making the Cable Connections

Making your own patch leads is really quite simple. It also enables you to make each patch lead the exactlength you require. The parts are easy to obtain from the suppliers listed and are reasonably cheap.To make your own patch leads you will need the following:

RJ45 8 - way connector (CCL Computers Pt No. - CAB4035 25 Pack) Cat5e network cable (CCL Computers Pt No. - CAB4039 - 76.2 Metre - 250 feet) Plastic boot (Rapid Electronics Pt. No. - 24-0730 Red)Network crimp tools (CCL Computers Pt. No - CAB4037)

Step 1 – Remove outer sheath from the CAT5e cable

You need to remove approximately 18 to 20mm of the plastic outersheath from the cable and then place a coloured boot onto the cables.Arrange the coloured twisted wires into pairs (they should match upas coloured pairs with solid and stripped matching colours). Onceyou can identify each of the wires colours, carefully arrange thewires so that they are placed in the correct order for T568B. Push theconnector onto the cable as shown. (lug face downwards)

1

2

3Quick Guide - Patch Lead Construction

Steps

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Step 2 – Crimp connector onto the cable

Check the connector carefully before you crimp it (you only have one go at it, it cannot be un-done). If youlook closely at the end of the connector you should be able to see if the wires have ALL been pushed fullyhome (the ends should be visible through the clear plastic end of the connector). The crimp tool applies thecorrect pressure to make the contacts grip the wires and clamp the cable.

Step 3 – Push the coloured Boot over the crimped connectorIt is advisable to use different coloured boots to cover the connectors as it makes identification of the networkcables much easier and gives that professional touch to your handy work.

Making your Own Cross-Over Cable - Simple!If you want to network your computers using just a cross-over network cable, this is simple. Using the abovetechniques you simply make your network cable with each end using the two cable colour standards likethis:

One End - T568B The other End - T568A

Now you have a cross-over network cable. This will join ONLY TWO computer together without using anetwork Hub or Network Switch. It is a very cheap way of getting a network set-up. However, this type ofnetwork setup is not very reliable.

CCL Computers - CAB4037

Maplin Electronics - Coloured Boots: CF96E

T568B T568A

12345678

36145278

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4. Laying the Network Cables

Once you have bought all your network parts or obtained them as a kit, youare ready to begin to build your network. Follow the steps below to get your home network up and running.Only two computers are shown here but you could have as many computers as there are network ports onyour Network Switch.

STEP 1 - PlanningUsing the plan of the room you made earlier, check you have all the network outlet boxes in each room nextto each computer.

STEP 2 - Lay CableLay the cable under the carpet or fasten to the skirting board if you prefer.

STEP 3 - Connecting Patch LeadsHave your patch cables ready or make them yourself. You will need screws and wall plugs ready to mount thewall boxes.Remember - Lay your cables first before you install the adaptor(s), because you will need to connect theadaptors to the Switch/Hub before you boot the computers to ensure they are correctly detected.

Layout 1

Network Patch Lead(ends fitted with RJ45 connectors)

Computer 1 Computer 2

Network Switch or Hub

ROOM A ROOM B

Wall Boxes withFaceplates & Keystone

Jacks

Bedroom 1

Bedroom 2

Computer B

Computer A

Network Switch

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5. Mounting the back-box to the wallStep 1 - Drill WallDrill the wall and plug each hole to mount the box or alternatively, you could simply use double sided tape tofix the the box to the wall.Make sure you feed the cable through the box before you begin to attach the cables to the RJ45 keystone jacks.

Step 2 – Insert the RJ45 Keystone jacks into FaceplateThis will depend upon which manufacturer you go for. However, they both assemble in similar manner. Youneed to clip the keystone jacks into the faceplate using spacers if required which will depend upon how manyjacks are to be inserted. Belkin Connectix

Step 3 – Insert the cable into the RJ45 Keystone JacksEach RJ45 jack will have the colour code adjacent to each of the terminals so there is no problems withidentifying which wire goes where. Using the specials Punch-Down tool, use the none clipping end to pushthe wires into the terminal. This will allow you to check the wiring BEFORE you trim the ends sticking out.Lay the wire so that they point outwards with the cable laying in the middle ready for a cable tie to clamp thecable in place.

Cable Colour Printedonto Keystone Jack

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6. Testing the Network cable connections

STEP 1 - Testing Cable WiringYou will need one of these network cable testers to check ALL your network wiring at each end of yournetwork cable including any patch leads that you make. The tester has two parts which allow a socket toconnect a short patch lead that can be inserted into each of your wall boxes as shown below.

MAKE SURE THAT THE CABLES ARE NOT ATTACHED TO ANY NETWORK SWITCHES ORADAPTORS AS DAMAGE WILL RESULT DURING TESTING.The LEDs should flash IN SEQUENCE 1 to 8 and continue repeating until switched off. Any fault would beindicated as an LED not lighting up (broken connection), or flashing out ofsequence (wirers connected to wrong terminal).

Room A Room B

Network Wall Boxes

Network Cablefrom room to room

Note - No other cables are attached!

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Step 2– Trim wire endsOnce all the testing is complete you can now finish off your wiring by trimming the wire ends. The Punchdown tools should have a reversible tool which has one end for trimming. Use this trimming cutter to cut offthe excess wire sticking out from the keystone jack.

Trimming Cutter Punch down end

A - Trim the wire ends

Place the trimming cutter facing outwards and push downwards totrim the ends flush with the keystone jack.

B- Clamp cable in place with a cable tieMake sure the cable is secured to the keystone jack as any movement could dislodge the wires from theconnectors. Remember, if you are expecting data speeds of 1Gigbits/sec cable and wire connection integrityis very important

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7. Final Network AssemblyInstall the network adaptors into each computer in turn (see Section 2 page 11).Do not switch anything on at this stage. Have a break (and come back to the job after a while and recheck allof your work against your plan). If you have used adaptors with WOL, make sure you have connected theWOL lead to the correct socket on your motherboard - check it now!

In Room 11st computer has network adaptor fitted in last PCI slot (or it may already be fitted – check it now!)patch lead is connected to port number one on the Network Switch and reaches the computers networkadaptor - check it now! – now inset the patch lead into the adaptor - okay2nd patch cable is connected to port number two on the Network Switch and reaches the wall box withthe long network wiring leading to the second computer - connect patch lead to this wall box.

In Room 22nd computer has adaptor fitted in last PCI slot (or it may already be fitted – check it now!)now insert the other patch cable into the wall box (room 2) and it reaches the adaptor of the secondcomputer – now insert the patch lead into the 2nd computers adaptor – (all network cables are nowconnected)

Power On & Testing!Switch on the Network Switch – only the power LED should light-up …. okay (a rapid flashing LEDusually indicates a fault, either incorrectly wired or bad connection - check all connections -particularly any patch leads you may have made) DO NOT proceed until all faults have been corrected.Leave the Network Switch switched on and Boot the first computer see Network set up -follow theon-screen wizard along with the manufacturers instruction that came with the adaptor to install thedriver …. okay

o the Network Switch should indicate that computer 1 is active with a green/Orange LED nextto port number 1 is ON - colour of the LED indicates the LAN speed (Green Max LAN speed:Orange Lower LAN speed).

Leave the first computer switched on and Boot the second computer. Follow the same as above andinstall the driver. The Network Switch should also indicate that the second computer is now active andindicate this with a green LED next to the port and may also indicate the speed.

That’s it, you have successfully built your home network. All that’s required now is to configure the network.Section 4 covers setting-up of your network.

Q. Why not just install the network adaptors into the computer before you start? Well, you must rememberthat the adaptor may not be activated correctly without a network signal from the Network Switch making thedriver installation more difficult, this was a problem unique to Windows 95/98, no problems should been-counted with Windows XP

Section 4Setting-Up your Network (Wired)

Network Settings - 1. Computer Network Settings 2. Computer Network Identification 3. IP address table 4. Network Protocols 5. Internet Sharing 6. Installing Broadband

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1. Setting-Up your Network (Wired)

When you have completed your computer network wiring, all that is requirednow is to set up each computer on the network so you can share; files; printers and broadband Internetconnection. The main problem that everyone encounters for the first time when installing a computer network,is they assume there is nothing else left to do other than switching on their computers. You would be forgivenif you thought that each computer can simply send data down the network cable and expect the othercomputers to receive the data. That is the problem, each computer will not be able to ‘see’ the other computersnor will they be able to share files or anything else without the correct network settings. You will not be ableto play network games either until you have made some important changes to these network settings. If youhave invested in a package such such as BT HomeHub, then skip this section as the Hub will do these settingsfor you.Computers need to be ‘informed’ how to connect to the other computers on the network. So, we need to beclear as to what we are actually trying to do, the following may help to illustrate this point:

Layout 1- shows two computers joined together and connected by a Network Switch using patch leads.We know they are joined electrically, so why can’t they ‘see’ each other?Well, the answer is, they both use very strict network rules by ‘default’ to ensure you only ‘see’ the computersyou are meant to see. So when the network rules are applied this is what happens:

1. Each computer will wait for approximately 11 minutes just listening to the network for signs of networktraffic from other computers (well actually, they are waiting for signs of a server telling them what to do) - sonothing happens. They both wait and neither hears anything.

2. When they both decide to activate their network connections after 11 minutes, they both use the defaultsettings provided by the operating system - which will be the same as they both use the same rules. This alsoapplies to ALL Windows operating systems. So now they will conflict with each other as they both have thesame network settings. When this happens they will both ‘turn off’ their network connections to preventfurther conflicts and record the ‘bad’ settings ready for the next attempt when they reboot. So, they both rebootand, again they both default to the next default setting which, again will be the same - and so we go on, neverreally getting the network to work correctly.

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So why is Layout 1 particular difficult to set up and to get working correctly?

Well, all operating systems use very similar rules. They all expect the network settings to be provided by anexternal source via the network from a server. This is why they listen for network traffic at the first boot. Thissystem of providing the network settings by a server is called - DHCP (Dynamic Host Control Protocol).All the correct setting are transferred to each computer automatically by a server. The server records eachcomputer on the network and controls how they communicate to each other.

If you are using network layout 2 such as BT HomeHub, this already incorporates a server. This is by defaultset with the DHCP turned - ON.

So, for Layout 1, we need to make these network settings ourselves.

If you wish to build a home network and make the settings yourself or wish to check your network, then weneed to know how to find and make those changes for ourselves.

Computer Network SettingsAll computers require the following network settings in order to communicate with each other; share files andconnect to the Internet.

Computer IdentificationEach computer MUST have a unique name. Choose a name that you will recognise when the network isworking so you can tell which computer is which. The default computer name is taken from the motherboardsBIOS.

Network NameChoose a name for your network. The default is WORKGROUP (Note! - All your networked computers musthave the same ‘workgroup’ name in order to ‘see’ each other. In other words, they ALL share the sameworkgroup name.

Network servicesChoose the services you required such as printer sharing etc

Network ProtocolsSelect which network protocols you require. The ones I would suggest are:

• TCP/IP Ver 6 • IPX/SPX/NetBIOS

When we set up a peer-to-peer network we must set ALL of the above ourselves.

Now lets look at how we make the above settings.

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The Important SettingsThe following are the most important settings to get a peer-to-peer network to work correctly

To get at those first important settings - first left click on ‘My Computer’.Then select - propertiesNow you should see this dialogue box.

Now select - Computer Name

You should now see this following dialogue box.

Here, you can place (click CHANGE to make any changes)

- The Name of the Computer

- The Name for your Network (GROUP)

Leave the network identification alone, this is really only forlarge company networks which have included a web andintranet Domain.

2. Computer Network IdentificationThis is where you type your ‘Computers name’ and ‘Networkname’ this is referred to as the ‘Workgroup’ name. You can callit anything you like such as ‘Home’ or ‘My Network’ will do justfine.Each computer needs to be unique. They each need a ‘word’name. This is so we can identify each computer by their name.Helps us humans!Check - they MUST all have the same ‘workgroup’ name.

The name alone is simply too basic for accurate data flowbetween each computer. Remember, each computer needs toaccess the Internet. The network standard to identify each com-puter uniquely on the network and over the Internet uses anumber address system based upon four, three digit numbers e.g.123.456.789.234.

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This numbering system is called an IP address (Internet Protocol). Its a bit like sending a letter with the preciseaddress of the recipient.

To get at those Network Properties, go to start and select:My Network Places

From here you will see something like this:

Select ‘View Network Connections’from the Menu and then left clickon the network icon and select‘properties’.

This will take you to this dialogue box.

From this dialogue box you get to make all those importantsettings. If you click onto Internet protocol (TCP/IP) andthen select properties, you will be taken to where you set theIP address.

You could also find these settings by using the control paneland selecting ‘Network and Internet Connections’ as shownhere.

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3. IP address table to help you choose a suitable address

The following table shows a range of IP address which are available for ‘public’ use. Some companies havereserved IP address tables so we must not use those addresses otherwise we will have problems when usingthe Internet. The most common IP address starts at block 3 (192.168.0.1). You may have noticed that thisaddress is used as the Windows default setting when each computer first boots with a network adaptor fitted.

You will see from this dialogue box, everything is set tomake your computers wait for those network settings byusing:-Obtain IP address automatically

Tick the box for Use the following IP address.

Now you can enter your own IP address.Use the table above to choose your IP address

I would go for something like;10.110.10.1

Just to be different and confuse any would be hackertrying to spoof your IP address. Yes they do try to gainaccess to your computer by using default IP addresses.Unless they know your IP address, they cannot get in!Set the Subnet Mask to; 255.255.255.0It’s a bit complicated to explain why we use a mask. Justthink of what we normally use a mask for - to hidesomething, Subnet, a term used to divide something up

into parts. So this mask hides any computers that are masked by the 255. In this particular set up, computersbeginning with 10.110.10 will be ignored or ‘hidden’. In other words, it allows us to further separate anetwork ‘workgroup’ with the last number in the IP address. Remember that this last number in the IP addresscan go from 1-to-255. Therefore, we can have 255 computers or split this range into a numbers into smallergroups of computers by using the mask.The ‘default Gateway’ is where we put the IP address of the device which connects your computers to theInternet (BT-HomeHub for example). If you are using an ADSL router, then you would put its’ IP address inhere.The DNS (Domain Name System) put the same IP Address used for the default gateway

BT HomeHube sets these automatically. It places its IP address in the Gateway and DNS entries.

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Network services

If you wish to share files and printers you will need to enable this option.You just need to tick the box ‘File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks’. If it is not listed, selectinstall and choose services. This will allow you to install this option and select it. You will see other servicesthat are available here too, however, for general use you do not need them.

4. Network ProtocolsYou will find all the network protocols listed here. If you wishto install other protocols which may be required by somesoftware or games, then simply select install and chooseprotocol from the menu.

To check which protocols you can install click ‘GENERAL’then install and you will be taken to the following dialoguebox.

We can now select which network protocols we need to haveeach computer working correctly as required by the softwareor game. We call this language the network ‘protocol’. Wecan use any of the following protocols (languages), however,

TCP/IP mustbe installed asa minimum.

TCP/IP - Transmission Control protocol / Internet Protocol IPX/SPX - Internet work Packet Exchange / Sequenced Packet Exchange

NetBIOS - Windows networking protocol used for transferring network control information

Now that you have installed your protocols, your network should now be working correctly.However, you will still not be able to see your othercomputers until your firewall has been set up correctly.See firewall set up

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5. Internet Sharing

NOTE - A good Broadband router should make these settings for you!Setting Up Your Wired Network with an ADSL connectionLayout 2 - Shared ADSL connection between all computersWith the computers switched on make the following changes to the network properties for each computerbefore you switch on the router! If you have ever had a ‘Dial-Up’ Internet account.

1. Removing the Dial-Up Account - First select control panel and navigate to the Internet properties.(Only necessary if you previously had a ‘Dial-Up’ Internet connection).Select Connection and remove dialler

There should be no dial-up shown here when you havecompleted the Remove command!

2. Changing the network Properties – Navigate to Network and Internet Options using the control panel.

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Select the Network connections option to find your network connection and select properties.

Right click on the icon which shows your network connection forthe computer. This will take you to the set up screen to allow youto make the network changesneeded for the router to workcorrectly.

Scroll down until you cansee the following Internet Protocol(TCP/IP), Highlight this and selectProperties

Now you can select from the General tab and set to:

- Obtain IP address automatically and- Obtain DNS server address automatically(DNS - Domain Name Server)

Once you have done the above – select Advanced option. Youshould then see the following dialogue box. Here you need tocheck if DHCP is enabled. The router will need this optionenabled to function correctly. DHCP allows the router todynamically allocate IP addresses for each computer on yournetwork.

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6. Installing Your Broadband

Now that your computers are set up to connect to your new router, we are nowready to start configuring your router to connect to the Internet.Chose a position as close to the ‘main’ master phone socket. Tests have shownthat mounting the router close to the master socket will keep any distortion tothe ADSL signal to a minimum, that way improving the final connectionspeed.(tests have shown a 15% speed increase when mounted next to themaster phone socket).

Now you can switch on your router and allow it to power up. The front LED’swill begin to flash as the router begins to synchronise with the ADSL signal.Once that has completed after approximately 1 minute (3 mins for BT Home-Hub), you can switch on one of your computers. Leave the other computersswitched off until you have completely configured the router. This is necessary

as the router will need to configure each ports IP address. To log onto your router read your manufacturersinstructions which will give you the ‘Log-On’ details, usually: http://bthomehub.home/ or http://www.routerlogin.com

This will take you to the ‘Basic’ configuration screen:

You will need to contact your Internet Provider for the preciselog-on details as these are not always straight forward. In thisscreen shot, logging onto the broadband server is accomplishedby completing the log-in details here: Bt HomeHub does thisautomatically - if by magic!

However, you may need to used the Dynamic DNS settingswithin the Advanced Options to put your log-on details.

These settings will be sent to you before your activation date, so don’t loosethem. You can check to see if your router has connected to the server by usingthe Gateway Status option. The termGateway refers to the modem actingas the gateway to the Internet, keepingyour local network separate from the

Internet for security. This should indicate that your router has success-fully logged onto the server and established your broadband connection.

Section 5Setting-Up your Wireless Network Wireless Networks - 1. Know the Problems 2. Site Surveys 3. Router Settings

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Putting it all togetherWireless (layout 3)

Wireless networking has been around for some time now and has seen a lot of changes over the last couple ofyears and prices have fallen making it a much more attractive proposition. This has led to a bit of a messysituation for anyone who intends to install a new wireless network. The main reason for the mess is thatmanufacturers have been busy developing the wireless technology to get the maximum possible performanceout of the wireless link in terms of the amount of data that can be transmitted. Very little attention has beenpaid to the problems that can occur as a result of these refinements to the wireless standards.

Q - So, what do we really need to know before we begin to install a wireless network?A – There is no simple straightforward answer – sorry! To avoid any possible problems you must check yourhome/office first. How and why is covered here.

People are buying the wireless networking option for the following reasons:No wires to lay around the houseNo holes to drill in wallsThe computers can be anywhere in or out of the houseSounds very easy to set-up

All of the above is very true and that is why it is leading to a great many problems for some people. They buythe equipment only to find the problems later.

So what are the problems and how do they arise in the first place? If we can get our heads around the possibleproblems first, we can then avoid them before we spend our cash!

1. The Problems!The wireless link used for most domestic/small office networks operates on the 802.11 frequency (2.4GHz).This is the same as your microwave oven, wireless land-line phones (DECT phones) and baby alarms. Yourhouse/office will absorb a lot of the radio energy transmitted from a network wireless access point. Thefigures quoted for indoor wireless range is approximately 35 to 100 metres. What they don’t tell you is howthey tested the equipment to get the above results – and this is the biggest problem – wireless signal range andinterference!

First interference – your home may produce a lot of interference and may also have other wireless links inoperation which will causes severe signal degradation of the wireless link or worse still – no link possible atall. So we must first check to see if there are problems in your home/office.Second is the range – because of the amount of radio energy absorbed by your home/office the range is limitedby the number and thickness of walls between the access point and your computer. Again – a simple test willhelp us plan. Netgear have produced a wireless access point which uses seven small antennas to improve rangeand reduce signal degradation.

Next - Security – poor. They designed the wireless link to be easy to set up – and it is. So easy that yourneighbour next door can connect to the wireless link given a few minutes to hours (depends upon how youconfigure the wireless's access point for security), using the default settings provided by the access point willallow anyone to connect to you network and access your network. Yes – it really is that simple regardless ofthe security used given a little time. All this is very well documented on the web and is easy to find. So makingmake life difficult for hackers is a must. Having said that, your neighbour will have to be determined beforethey get access. The first successful prosecution has taken place here in the UK of a person gaining access tosomeone else's wireless broadband. So we now know we can deter those wishing to get a free ride.

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2. Doing a Site Survey

STEP 1 - Using NetStumbler Do you really want a wireless network for every computer or is it possible to compromise and have a mix(wired and wireless). I would recommend the latter. The following diagram illustrates how you can have bothwired and wireless networks operating together, giving you much greater flexibility. In fact, most wirelessequipment will have at least one RJ45 network port built-in as standard. You can use this single port to connecta network switch giving you extra ports should you want them later on.

Once you have decided upon the type of equipment you want the next step is deciding if you are going to dothe site survey first or buy the equipment and use it for doing the site survey. If you can, I would suggest thatyou ask a friend with a laptop with a built in wireless card that you could borrow to do the site survey. Youwill need to install some software first which is free to download called ‘NetStumbler’. Using the laptop withthe software, check in different locations around the house to see if you can detect any wireless signals. Thesoftware will scan the wireless frequency channels looking for a signal from other access points. If there areother wireless devices operating within range you will see something that looks like this on your laptop screen:

You need to answer the following questions:

Is there a wireless network already in use Y/NAre there any DECT phones in use Y/NAre interference levels high shown in red Y/N

If you answer 'Yes' to any of the above can you:

Find a wireless channel that is not in use seeTry to move the source of the interference further away

Wireless Router withIntegrated switch and ADSL Modem


Phone Master Socket withADSL Microfilter

Patch Lead connectedTo WAN Port and Phone Master Socket

Computer 3

USB Wireless

http://www.netstumbler.com/downloads/

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STEP 2 - Wireless ChannelsThis at first glance may seem difficult or impossible – but what you are attempting to do here, is see if therewill be problems operating your wireless network equipment. You will save yourself from a lot of problemslater by checking now. The software will do the hard work for you by bringing to your attention what isalready happening within your own home/office in the way of wireless signals, either from your neighbour orfrom your own equipment. The software will help you to make some important decisions such as: - there is no other wireless equipment operating ‘great news’ - what signals have been found and on which channels ‘ pick a free channel’ - what interference is like from things like microwave ovens etc ‘try them and see’ Have a look at the following table.

It shows all the channels that can be selected for the 2.4GHz wirelessequipment – there are 13 channels to choose from (UK). However,for wireless access points to work efficiently there must not be anyother equipment operating within range of the equipment on anoverlapping channel as this will cause ‘network collisions' whichwill slowdown or stop the network.

So you have only three channels available to operate a wirelessaccess point and they are: - 1; 6 & 11. If your neighbour has awireless network on one of these channels you can set yours to oneof the other channels. If you can change your DECT phones to oneof the other ‘Sub-Channels’ that does not overlap your wirelesschannel, you will have cracked it – great! You can only determinethis with a site survey.

When a problem occurs most people try guessing what the problemis as they try to install a wireless network - why does my wireless network not work properly? Now you havethe answers before you start.

STEP 3 - Choosing Wireless EquipmentOnce you have completed your site survey you can now go ahead and buy your equipment such as the NetgearRangeMax™ range of wireless equipment WPN802 or the DG824M

Netgear has invested a lot of money researching their wireless equipmentfor the British market. This is because wireless network technology wasoriginally developed in America for the American market and the methodof their house construction. Our homes use different building materials thatgreatly affect the wireless signal. Now however, they have overcome this bydeveloping a more efficient method of wireless signal transmission usingmultiple antenna equipment called ‘RangeMax™’.Using Layout 3Wireless signal connecting all your computers with one port available for a wired network connection. Doyour site survey to find the best place to place your wireless access point. This needs to be somewhere centralto allow the signal to reach all the places you are likely to operate your computers and laptops. Once you havedone this I would recommend that you use a RJ45 patch lead wired with both ends following the T568B colourscheme and connect a laptop or computer to the single LAN port on the access point. This way you will beable to connect to the access point very easily while you set up your wireless network. You will be able toconfigure the access point by logging onto it using your computers web browser.

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3. Router Settings

To log onto the access point start your web browser and type in the details given by the manufacturer.

This will take you to the logon screen. You may haveto type admin for the user name followed by passwordfor the password.Remember that these are the default settings and assuch anyone will know these settings so will be able todo the same as you - YOU MUST CHANGE THESEBT HomeHub have these details printed on the side of the Hub

Once you have logged onto the access point you needto make changes to the following settings; - password - wireless channel - SSID Name (stands for Service Set Identifier) - Transmit SSID TURN OFF (Service Set Identifier) - enable WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) 128 bit - trusted PC’s only access using MAC address - IP address range

SSID - Choose a suitable name

Channel Number

WEP enabled

Trusted PC’s only

Password - choose a password made up of random Alpha numerical characters using upper and lower casewith at at least 11 characters long. DO NOT USE NORMAL WORDS

Wireless Channel - choose a free channel with no adjacent channels being used see wireless networkingbooklet for more information

WEP - This needs to be similar to the password but is used by the access point to Generate a KEY. This keycan be up to 26 characters long and in pairs separated by commas. You need to make a note of the key as youwill be required to enter this key into every computer that you intend to connect to the wireless access pointwirelessly. Note! - Wired Equivalent Privacy is a method of encryption used by the wireless link. Data isencrypted using the KEY and then transmitted. The receiving computer will used the KEY to de-crypt thedata.

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Set up each computerWhen you have installed the wireless adaptor into your computer, you will beable to see something like this:

The wireless adaptor will load some default settings andsave them using the name ‘Default’

Chose a new name and enter it here:

The ‘Mode of Operation’ needs to be changed to‘Infrastructure’. This will force the computer to connectonly to the wireless access point.If you set it to ‘Ad Hoc’ this will allow computers tonetwork with each other which is not very secure orreliable.

Enter your ‘SSID’ here

This only leaves the WEP encryption settings.

Enter your WEP key here. This is the alphanumerical key you noted earlier.You need to set the WEP to manually entry to do this and then select Apply(Note! The window will now appear blank, don’t worry as your data hasbeen accepted)

Note! - Some wireless adaptors allow you to do a site survey.

If you have entered everything correctly you will see yourwireless access point listed here meaning everything is workingokay. Most wireless network adaptors will try scanning all thechannels to find your wireless network signal. This is to allownetwork engineers to make adjustment to the wireless accesspoint remotely without having to go around adjusting everycomputer.

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Using Layout 4To set up a wireless network with wired and all sharing a broadband connection is almost the same as for‘Layout 3’. However, you will need to buy equipment which has everything in one unit:

- Network switch - ADSL Modem - Router acting as Internet gateway - Firewall - Network SwitchNetgear has as a range of equipment based upon price and of cause options available such as the Super G™Wireless Router – Security Edition part number WGT624SC

Just make sure that you place your router as close to the BT master phone socket as posible to help minimisethe risk of reduced broadband connection speed.You can wire some of your computers directly to the router which will save you some money and wirelessnetwork the rest.

To set up this type of network you will again need to log onto the routeronce you have completed the wiring and installed the wireless adaptors.

Log onto the router and enter the broadband ‘Log on details’ for yourbroadband connection to the Internet.

Next - set your IP address range

Set up the wireless access point and all computers linking to it asdescribed for ‘Layout 3’. You do not have to do anything else as therouter will transfer the DNS details automatically (Domain NameSystem).

Section 6Firewall Settings Windows XP

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Firewall Settings

You need to be careful how you configure your firewall. If you ‘OPEN UP’ your computers defences youwill compromise security, which is definitely a bad idea. However, you must be able to allow what softwareyou wish to connect to other computers such as when playing your favouritecomputer game. You can do this from within the firewall security settings.

Go to start and select control panel from your start menu to take you to thisscreen:

Select ‘Security Center’

From here you should now seethe following screen.

Select firewall to take you tothe firewall dialogue box asshown here

Select ‘Exceptions’ from the options panel.

Now you get to where you selectthose programs you wish to allowaccess to the network as shown below.

Scroll down the list until you find the program you wish to allow accessand then select ‘Add Program’.

Make sure the box is ‘ticked’ next to the program to turn on ‘allow access’. Do the same for the othercomputers on the network you wish to share access using this program.

Appendices 1Computer Network Layouts

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Computer Network Layouts

Layout 1 - Basic LayoutNote! - No Internet connection

Items RequiredAs you can see from the above illustration, that joining a computer to the network requires making sure thatevery network component is place accordingly in each room and that the cable making the connections is longenough to to reach the network switch. In the above illustration, Computer 1 in room A is able to reach thenetwork switch easily as the network switch is in the same room as the computer. However, Computer 2 inroom B is usually separated by a physical barrier, a wall. In order to join Computer 2 to the network we needa network cable long enough to reach from room B to room A. This is easily done using CAT5e network cable.This only leaves the problem of making the connections at each end of this cable. To allow for roomdecorating and rearranging of furniture etc, it is best done joining the cable by using network wall boxes fittedwith RJ45 Keystone Jacks at each end. Computer 2 is then joined to the network cable using network patchleads at each wall box, one to connect the computer to the wall box and one to connect the other wall box atthe other end to the network switch.

Quick FindCodes

NumberRequired

SingleFaceplate

2 2V30WS - CAB4041 contx-s-1utp

19-8566

KeystoneJack

2 - CAB4034 included -

CAT5eCable

Bulkmetres

2TSYWS - CAB4039 24p permetre

19-8156

Network 1 38DRWS 64190 NET6013 - -

CAT5ePatch Leads

3 18L9WS 23862 ERT-601 RJ-601 19-8140

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Layout 2 - With Shared Internet connection.

You can get a broadband hub from many of the Broadband providers, but I must admit that BT Option 3 takessome beating. First off, you get a FREE ‘BT Home Hub’ which has to be one of the easiest pieces of kit to setup that I have every come across. You quite literally just plug it in and IT does the rest - brilliant. Now whenit come to extending you network you will only find two network ports on the BT Home Hub, but this is nota problem, as ALL you need is a network switch such as the ones from Netgear work well with the BT HomeHub. The above layout has only two computers shown but by using one of the ports to connect a networkswitch you can connect as many computers as BT will permit.

So what is inside of most Broadband routers. Well. A good broadband router should have the following itemsbuilt-in but you will need to check this out for yourself when ordering from your chosen Internet provider:-

i An ADSL modemii A Network Switch with either 2 to 4 RJ45 network portsiii Wireless access pointiv Router

NOTE! - use one of the RJ45 portsto connect a network switch and youcan then add more computers to thenetwork!

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Layout 3 - Connection with Wireless Link included

A wireless access point gives you some flexibility to connect remotely provided there are no other wirelessaccess points operating in your local area. However, I must point out that these wireless networks arebecoming VERY problematic. This is due to their increased use causing ever greater interference withoverlapping wireless channels. BT’s Home Hub tries to over come this problem (as not many people are okaywith the in’s & out’s of wireless channel selection) by doing a quick scan during set up when switched on forthe first time and then selecting a channel not in use, which is good provided all the other wireless equipmentis switch on when the test is done so that the Hub can detect them and make the necessary channel selectionto avoid overlapping channels. So, if you are serious about having a high performance network which neverdrops a connections, then a wired network is by far the better option. My router is always switched on and hasNEVER lost its connection -YET!

Router withIntegrated switch and ADSL Modem



Patch Lead connectedTo WAN Port and Phone Master Socket

Computer 3

USB Wireless Dongle

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Layout 4 - Extending the Network using a Network Switch or Hub

Add a network switch to increase the number of computer sharing the Internet connection.

This is by far the most flexible computer network. You can connect as many computers together using aseperat network switch whch gives ALL the computers access to the Internet and you can activate the wirelessnetwork as and when you need it. I always switch my wireless network off when it is not being used to avoidanyone hacking in which is so easy to do with a wireless network.

Router withIntegrated switch and ADSL Modem



Patch Lead connectedTo WAN Port

Computer 3

NetworkSwitch/Hub

Patch Leads

Appendices 2Glossary of Networking Terms

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Hardware Terms

Firewall A firewall is a device which is programmed with a set of rules or policies. These rules orpolicies are then applied to the network information travelling through the firewall. Theinformation is in the form of packets which contain details, amongst other things, of thesender and receiver. The firewall checks the packet to see if this information conformsto the rules or policies set e.g. is this computer allowed sending or receiving – if not thenreject request!

Full-duplex

This term is used for devices that are able to send AND receive information at the sametime which makes them faster.

Half-duplex

These types of devices can only do one thing at a time either send or receive.

Hub A device which connects network computers (nodes) together. This type of physicallayout looks like a star – all the cables fan out to each computer from one fixed point –the Hub. Hubs receive network packets and then echo this information to all thecomputers connected to the Hub.

NIC Network interface card. A device that allows a computer to be connected to a networkusing cable connections – RJ-45.

Node A node is the term used to describe a network entity such as a computer. An entity willhave its own IP address.

Router These devices are much more intelligent than Hubs. They have their own IP address sotherefore appear as a node point – however, they check network information (packets)and send each packet to the appropriate node. They DO NOT echo information and aretherefore much faster at transferring information across a network. These devices formthe backbone of the internet or the bridge to the internet.

Switch A device which makes connections from one port to another. They DO NOT echoinformation but switch to create a connection between the sender and the requiredreceiver of the information. They are much faster at transferring network informationbecause no time is wasted by sending the information to every node connected to theswitch.

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Network Terms

Bandwidth Applies to a signals frequency that can be divided up into discrete sections. Eachsection may be each part of digital information or bit. Therefore, bandwidth for anetwork would be the number of binary bits that can be transferred over the network.The higher the frequency the greater the number of bits that can be transferred.

CGI Common Gateway Interface – This is a programming standard used on an internetserver that interacts with a browser. When someone visits an internet site – the serverwhich hosts the site will interact with the visitor's browser to give the visitor someinteraction with the web pages being hosted.

DHCP Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol – Used by servers to allocate networkaddresses to be used by computers on the network. The server is programmed with aset of network addresses (IP addresses), when a computer boots up, it will detect thenetwork and then request the server to assign it an IP address. Depending whichcomputer boots up first will get the first IP address, therefore making the IP addressdynamic as they keep changing every time you boot-up.

DMZ Demilitarised Zone – Allows your computer full-duplex communication with theinternet but acts as sub-network between your computer and the internet – like abuffer.

DNS Domain Name System – the process of converting a web address such aswww.microdiy.co.uk into its actual TCP/IP address.

FTP File Transfer Protocol/Program – used by a computer for transferring files over theinternet or between two computers.

HTTP Hyper Text Transfer Protocol – the process used to view or retrieve Web pages froma Web server

ITU International Telecommunications Union – It defines how the directory is used for thewhole of the internet.

LAN Local Area Network – the term used to describe a network within a building.Mbps Mega bits per second – the number of binary bits transferred in one second.MTU Maximum Transmission Unit – this is the measure of the largest amount of

information packed into a 'packet' of data that can be transmitted over the network.NAT Network Address Translation – process used by a firewall to check network data

(packets) for any unauthorised data or activity. Protects users from any one out sidefrom 'sniffing' packet data to obtain security data such as passwords etc.

Packet This is the term used to describe how information is assembled into a string of databefore it is transmitted over the network. Each packet will contain source IP address;destination address; error checking data; the actual information itself and other dataused for security etc.

Ping Packet Internet Groper - This term is used to describe a sound used for sonar but hasa similar use. A special program/utility sends a 'Packet' of data to a specified IPaddress and then waits for a reply. Time intervals etc help to determine problems oreven how many servers the packet passed through on its journey over the internet.Every time a packet is 'Routed' by a server, the contents of the packet record eachsenders and receivers address.

PPPoE Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet – used by broadband for connecting multipleusers on a single ADSL line.

PPTP Point-to-Point Tunnelling Protocol – method used to allow a VPN (virtual privatenetwork) to connect over the internet. Therefore, a VPN uses the PPTP protocol.

RJ-45 The type of connector standard used for cable networks.

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SMTP Simple Mail Transfer Protocol – the standard for transferring e-mail between computersand over the internet.

TCP/IP Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol – this is the standard which is appliedto information that is sent over the network or internet. All the data is processed by thenetwork operating system to conform to this standard. The data is organised to containinformation such as senders IP address; destination address; error check data and so on.This then forms a packet of data to be sent.

UPnP Universal Plug and Play – method to describe the devices ability to be connected to arange of other equipment other than computers.

URL Uniform Resource Locator – the address that is used to locate a resource on the internet.UTP Unshielded Twisted Pair – type of network cable. Wires contain within a plastic sheath

that are not shielded from electrical interference.VPN Virtual Private Network – used to describe a private network connection between

computers over the internet (e.g. employees who wish to access a company's data fromhome over the internet). It is secure between the computers that cannot be accessed byany other internet users.

WAN Wide Area Network – join several local area networks together – you have a WAN.You can use the internet connection to join the local area networks together.

Broadband TermsADSL Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line – method used to transmit data over the telephone

wires. High frequencies are used making it possible for large amounts of data to betransferred over the phone line. Asymmetric means that more data is being receivedthat sent.

DMZ Demilitarised Zone – Allows your computer full-duplex communication with theinternet but acts as sub-network between your computer and the internet – like abuffer.

DoS Denial of Service – a form of attack that disable users from using network resources. Ifthe device is under a DoS attack it may simply crash or overload the network makingconnections to the internet impossible.

DSL Digital Subscriber Line – This is the method used to transmit data over the telephonewires. High frequencies are used to carry the digital data instead of pulse tones. Thehigh frequency does not interfere with the voice frequencies therefore; voice calls canbe made whilst the data is being transmitted.

DSSS Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum – the method used to 'Modulate' the very highfrequency used for wireless networks.

ESSID Extended Service Set ID – this is the method used to identify the wireless networkname - Identification. Computers that are within range of a wireless network will tryand connect. To stop unauthorised access the ESSID gives users a unique ID. Onlythose with the correct ID can access the network.

MAC Medium Access Control – standard used for how data is assembled and disassembled.This protocol is used when data is transmitted over wireless networks or some Ethernetnetworks. It is also used for data transmission over broadband.

Micro-filter

This is a device used to filter out the high frequency signal used by ADSL. It plugs intothe phone socket to give two connection points – one for the phone and the other forthe ADSL line.

OFDM Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing - Wireless frequency modulation type.This is the better of modulation types available. Instead of transmitting on a singlefrequency the data is divided up and transmitted simultaneously using several sub-signals each at different frequencies.

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PPPoA Point-to-Point over ATM - very similar to PPPoE. However, when the ADSL modem isfitted to the computer the transmission is over the phone line rather than a networkcable.

Proxy This describes a device that allows a computer to connect to the internet. The computerdoes not connect directly but is connected via the proxy device, usually a router. Inother words the device is acting on behalf of the computer.

SPI Stateful Packet Inspection – A Firewall. It is a method used by the firewall to analyse alldata (packets) coming into the network and checks it in terms of a previous request orsession. If the packet is a valid reply to a previous request it is allowed to pass through,if it is not then access is denied.

WEP Wired Equivalent Privacy – Security method used by wireless networks. The best 100%secure network is a wired network. The only way to hack into a wired network is tophysically cut into the wires. However, a wireless network broadcast the networkinformation everywhere within a radius from the wireless access-point. A would-behacker could attempt to 'listen-in' if they had the correct access data. Therefore, data is'encrypted ' to make the wireless network as secure as 'Wired Equivalent' networks.

Appendices 3Network Cable Colours

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The cable colour scheme standard that has been adopted for all RJ45 computer networking: T568B

All connections; wall boxes; patch leads etc are wired following the T568B colour scheme.

Note! - To obtain a cross-over patch cable wiring then simply use:

T568A at one end of the cable and T568B for the other end.

Documents

How to Network 2 Computers