Nowadays, keeping up with advances in computer technology is a difficult task due to the sheer speed that improvements are being made at. Just a few years ago, having your own home computer network would have been an expensive and time consuming thing to set up, though with the evolution of computer hardware and software, and its plug and play integration into modern operating systems, anybody with a basic understanding of the fundamentals of computing is able to set up their own home network without any real difficulty.
Due to this evolution of operating system software, integrating plug and play systems that allow us to be taken through the steps of setting up a network by our computers, the biggest challenge we are likely to face in this process is actually buying the right equipment in the first place. If you are considering setting up your own home computer network, the main hardware components you will need are listed below.
The first thing you need to decide on is whether you would like a wired or wireless home network. Wireless home networks are all the rage nowadays and can be easily set up with very few components; though they are susceptible to hacking if you do not install capable security measures. Wired home networks are much more stable and can not be hacked into, but who wants cables running all over the house?
With a wired network, the basic hardware components you need are network cards for each computer you wish to connect to your network, a network hub such as a router, and sufficient Cat 5 ethernet cables in order to connect all of your components up to the router. Wireless networks require a wireless router (the main hub of the network), and wireless network cards for each piece of hardware you wish to network. It is important to be sure that the wireless network cards you buy are compatible with your wireless router.
Although most modern routers are manufactured as router modems, some older specification routers and routers that are designed for larger networks may not have the ability to work as a modem, so you may need to purchase a separate modem to access the internet. Additionally, if you are installing a wireless network, you should employ some form of security measure such as WPA or WPA2 to prevent unwanted access from other parties.
Once all components are installed, most operating systems will be able to automatically detect the network and set-up the basic configurations for you, walking you through the process of other user defined settings. In some circumstances, you may need to refer to the user's manual of your router to obtain set-up information or default passwords. If you are having trouble setting up your home network, you can either contact the manufacturer of your router for assistance or have a brief search on the internet for information.
Due to this evolution of operating system software, integrating plug and play systems that allow us to be taken through the steps of setting up a network by our computers, the biggest challenge we are likely to face in this process is actually buying the right equipment in the first place. If you are considering setting up your own home computer network, the main hardware components you will need are listed below.
The first thing you need to decide on is whether you would like a wired or wireless home network. Wireless home networks are all the rage nowadays and can be easily set up with very few components; though they are susceptible to hacking if you do not install capable security measures. Wired home networks are much more stable and can not be hacked into, but who wants cables running all over the house?
With a wired network, the basic hardware components you need are network cards for each computer you wish to connect to your network, a network hub such as a router, and sufficient Cat 5 ethernet cables in order to connect all of your components up to the router. Wireless networks require a wireless router (the main hub of the network), and wireless network cards for each piece of hardware you wish to network. It is important to be sure that the wireless network cards you buy are compatible with your wireless router.
Although most modern routers are manufactured as router modems, some older specification routers and routers that are designed for larger networks may not have the ability to work as a modem, so you may need to purchase a separate modem to access the internet. Additionally, if you are installing a wireless network, you should employ some form of security measure such as WPA or WPA2 to prevent unwanted access from other parties.
Once all components are installed, most operating systems will be able to automatically detect the network and set-up the basic configurations for you, walking you through the process of other user defined settings. In some circumstances, you may need to refer to the user's manual of your router to obtain set-up information or default passwords. If you are having trouble setting up your home network, you can either contact the manufacturer of your router for assistance or have a brief search on the internet for information.
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