Networking basic

Reasons to start a network

Before you start a network

Setting up a wireless network

Adding wireless capability to
    existing network

Setting up a wired network

Introduction to Networking
1. Home/Small office Networking basic

Q. What is a Network
A. A network is simply one or more computers, laptops, printers, scanners or game consoles that are connected either by the existing wiring (phone lines, power lines) in your house, designated cables (Ethernet cables), or by radio waves for the purpose of communication and sharing.

2. Reasons to start a network

Q. Why Start a Network
A. It's All About Sharing  
Share your high-speed Internet access (cable/DSL)
Share your music, pictures, documents and other files
Share your printer and other peripherals
Play head to head game with others

If you have 2 or more computers, a home/small office network will let you share resources among them. Any shared printers allow you to print from any computers within the network in your house or office. And your computers can share all kinds of files such as music, photo pictures, documents and videos. You can also move, copy and organize your files and data from one computer to another to make it easier to find or create a backup on a different machine.

3. Before you start a network

Q. What kind of network should i choose?
A. In general, there are two kinds of networks commonly used today, wired and wirless. Wired networks communicate through data cables, and wireless networks use radio signals to communicate.

Advantages of using Wireless Network
Freedom - work anywhere
No cables required
Save cabling time and hassle
Quick and easy installation
Easy to expend

Advantages of using Wired Network
Lower cost
Faster speed
Longer range

After comparing wireless and wired networks, it's time to decide what kind of network best suits your networking needs.