Information and communication are two of the most important strategic issues for the success of every enterprise. While today nearly every organization uses a substantial number of computers and communication tools (telephones, fax, personal handheld devices), they are often still isolated. While managers today are able to use the newest applications, many departments still do not communicate and much needed information cannot be readily accessed. So it is a huge scope to work. As the beginning it starts form small networking. This article contains the list with links of articles that describes the way to connect some computer to for data sharing in small extent.
This networking technique is applicable a home or small office network. But the theoretical knowledge was gathered from this work is very basic concept that essential to work in any larger network.
Any computer in a windows network workgroup can do share file and folder. File and printer sharing on a computer must be configured. This functionality was set up when the network card was installed. Therefore, already file or folders can be shared that has use on other computers. To share a file, these steps were followed:
1. Locate a folder on the computer.
2. Right-click the file that you want to share, and then click Sharing and Security to view additional settings.
3. The next two windows only appear when you are setting up your first shared item. Windows notifies you that sharing data presents a certain security risk. Therefore, remote access is turned off by default. Click the Security warning message, click Just enable file sharing, and then click OK
4. Now you can share data. Click Share this folder on the network, and then type a share name. You can use this name later to access the data. The share name and the folder name do not have to be the same.
5. Specify whether the data that is accessed over the network can be changed, and then click Ok.The icon for the shared folder appears with a picture of a hand
Accessing Shared Content:
To access the shared folder, click Start, click My Computer, and then click My Network Places. You can access the shared folder in the following ways:
Directly on the top level
Hierarchically on the computer level
When you open My Network Places, the shared resources for all the computers in your small network are listed next to each other. You can find the required folder under Share_name on Computer_name.
On a specific computer in the network, will see only the shared resources on this one computer. Click View workgroup computers, double-click the computer names (either as Computer_name or as Computer_description [Computer name]), and then explore for the name of the shared file.
By clicking Allow network users to change my files, let user view, copy, move, change and delete files in this folder on any computer in this network.
You can use the same method to share whole drives, including the following drives:
Hard disks or partitions
CD ROM drives
ZIP drives
To stop sharing, right-click the file that is shared, click Sharing and Security, and then clear the Share this folder on the network check box. When you do so, this resource no longer appears under this computer name. However, the folder link directly in the network environment remains. It is no longer available unless you set it up for sharing again. When a user tries to access the folder, they receive a "No access" message.
Diagram below shows the physical setup of network of two computers that is here expressed by peer-to-peer network.
Diagram below shows the physical setup of network of more than two computers that is here expressed by Local Area Network. A central device, switch is mandatory to make a star topology.
Connection should be provided as shown in the diagram above.
1. Click Start, click Control Panel, click Network and Internet Connections, and then click Network Connections.
2. Right-click the network connection that you want to configure, and then click Properties.
3. On the General tab, click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and then click Properties.
4. Enter IP address, Subnet Mask.
5. 5. Click on all Ok buttons.
IP - is responsible for moving packet of data from source computr to destination computer. IP forwards each packet based on a four byte destination address (the IP number). TCP/IP assigns a unique number to every computer. This "IP number" is a four byte value that, by convention, is expressed by converting each byte into a decimal number (0 to 255) and separating the bytes with a dot. A lot rules are in IP assigning that are not included in this article. But some example IPs for peer-to-peer and Local Area Network are following.
Computer 1
Computer 2
Computer 3
Computer n
192.168.0.1
192.168.0.2
192.168.0.3
192.168.0.n
192.168.1.1
192.168.1.2
192.168.1.3
192.168.1.n
Establishing Connection:
After applying the IP address connecting wires with RJ connector pluged into the port of each LAN card. As mentioned above, use crossover configuration for PC to PC connection and straight-thru for switch to PC connection. In case of only two computers no need to use a switch/hub it a crossover cable is manageable. But in case of more than two computers a central device usually called hub/switch is essential. The terminology of this technique is called “star topology”.
After establishing the physical connection it needs to be checked. To check connectivity ping command was used. If it replies, that means connection is ok. But if it shows any other massage that means something is wrong need to be fixed. Ping command syntax is given below.
At the command prompt, type ping IP address of the computer need to test, and then press Enter. Example – ping 192.168.0.2 –t . –t may not be used, it is used for unlimited ping.
On a small network, if you don't get a response in a second or two, the other computer is not recognized on the network. Make sure that it's turned on and that the network adapter is enabled and RJ jack is plugged in correctly.
While connection is ok it show message as below.
While connection is not ok it show message as below.
Change workgroup (or/and computer name):
For a good networking better is creating a custom workgroup. In the practical work default workgroup was left unchanged. But the work group can be changed on demand of custom workgroup. Steps to change group is given below-
1. Right click on the My Computer icon on the desktop
2. Select Properties
3. Click on the Computer Name tab
4. Click on the Change button
5. To change the computer name, workgroup name, enter the appropriate information.
6. Click ok.
7. Restart when requested.
This video can be helpful ... ...
Here media is the category 5 twisted-paired cable. To plug the cable in LAN card it has to be crimped in RJ45 connector. For pc to pc connection it require crossover configuration and for pc to hub/switch connection it require straight-thru configuration.
Crossover configuration technique:
1. Grab one end of the cable and, if necessary, snip it to get a straight cut.
2. Now need to strip off about one inch of jacket. If the crimper has a jacket stripper, simply shove the cable end into the stripper until it stops, squeeze the crimper gently, and twist the cable as the razors slice through the jacket. Remove the jacket and pop off the cut end.
3. With the jacket stripped, four twisted pairs of wires become visible. Each pair is representing by a solid color and a striped color each of brown, green, orange and blue. Separate these pairs so they are unbundled.
4. Using figure below, arrange the eight wires into the exact sequence represented in the wiring diagram labeled 568B. This wiring sequence known as 568B is the most common arrangement for Ethernet cable.
5. When the wires are in sequence, double check against the diagram in case one or two slipped out of position. Using the cutter on the crimper, or a pair of scissors, cut straight across the tips of the wires so they are clean and even.
6. Grab an RJ-45 plug, with the latch side facing down. Guide the wires into the plug, being careful not to let them slip out of sequence. As the cable enters the plug, each wire should slip into its own channel, allowing them to glide smoothly into the plug. Push the cable as far as it will go. Should have about 3/16 inch of cable jacket inside the back of the plug. The wire ends should reach as far as possible toward the front edge of the plug.
7. With the wires pushed into the plug, fit the plug into the crimping slot in the crimping tool. While holding the cable in place with one hand, use your other hand to squeeze the crimping tool with reasonable force. This will press the pins inside the plug into the wires and fasten the plug onto the cable.
8. For the other end, change the wiring sequence by swapping the green and orange pairs. This is called a 568A arrangement. Do as in figure below.
Straight-thru configuration technique:
Do everything same as in crossover but use same configuration at both ends. Straight-through cable can be made using either 568B or 568A, as long as both ends are the same. Mixing arrangements produces a crossover cable.
A network interface card, network adapter, network interface controller (NIC), or LAN adapter is a computer hardware component designed to allow computers to communicate over a computer network. It provides physical access to a networking medium and provides a low-level addressing system through the use of MAC addresses. It allows users to connect to each other either by using cables. words 'controller' and 'card' are used interchangeably when talking about networking because the most common NIC is the network interface card.
Now most PCs come complete with a network card and RJ port is on the back of casing as in the picture at right.
Any how if there no LAN card with the computer a LAN card need be installed. An USB LAN card is very easy to install just like a pen-drive, plug-n-play.
To install LAN card on main board first the casing was opened and an available PCI slot was located within the computer. Then the card was pushed into the slot until it snaps and holds place. Once the card is in the slot, place a screw into the top of the card to hold the card into position.
windows xp, vista, 7 and other recent linux versions and MAC Operating Systems can recognize LAN card automatically.
A network is a set of devices or nodes connected by communication links. A node can be a computer, printer or any other device capable of sending and/or receiving data generated by other nodes on the network. Depending on size major three types of network are popular. They are Local Area Network, Wide Area Network and Metropolitan Area Network.
A Local Area Network is usually privately owned and links the devices in a single office, building or campus.
A Wide Area Network provide long-distance transmission of data, image, audio and video information over large geographic areas that may comprise a country, a region etc.
A Metropolitan Area Network is a network with a size between a LAN and WAN. It normally covers the area inside a town or city. It is designed for customers who need a high-speed connectivity, normally to the internet and endpoints spread over a city or part of a city.
This work is to connect two or more computer in such a way, they can share files and folders, share internet, play games online, can send file and can communicate. Size of the network is not more than a building. There by it has been named as small networking. So Local Area Network (LAN) is enough in size. A LAN can cover several building, even a neighborhood. But that is larger estimate and I will discuss it in later posts.
For installing a Local Area Network 3 types of communication technology available in the market. They are 1. LAN card with twisted-paired-cable, 2. Bluetooth and 3. Wireless LAN card.
Table below shows the comparative advantage and constrains of LAN (with twisted-paired-cable), Bluetooth and Wireless LAN.
LAN (with twisted-paired-cable)
Bluetooth
(Class 1)
Wireless LAN
Cost of device
$3 or built-in
$3 or built-in
$10
Cost of media
$0.25/meter
0
0
Cost of switch
$5
-
$40
Transfer rate
5 -10 MBPS
64 - 128 KBPS
1-7 MBPS
Range with/with out repeater/hub/switch
100 meter
10 meter
300 meter
Portability
Not portable
easy
easy
In a Local Area Network people need to transfer gigabytes of data such as application software, movie, game, documents. Distance between computers is more than 10 meter because star or cascading star is the only way. For a network in developing country like Bangladesh hardware must be as cheap as people can afford. Thereby LAN card with twisted-paired-cable is the proper technology to apply for small networking. But for developed countries like USA, JAPAN, EUROPE and middle-east reliability and comfort is the main issue. In this case wireless LAN is preferable. because it is easy to install, no pain of loose weir or jack plug unplug and portable within the range of device.
