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This is probably the hardest part of setting up a network. You can go two different ways for at home, Wired or Wireless. Most people are going with Wireless these days because it saves on the hassle of cables and it costs about the same price. So I will take you through both starting with wired.

Wired Network Setup

Items you need : DSL/Cable Modem (If you are sharing the internet), Wired router (Buy a “Switch” if you do not want to share internet), Cat5 ethernet cable (1 for each computer), Ethernet card (Each computer needs one, almost every computer comes with one. It looks like a larger phone jack on the back of your computer)

Setup : Do not plug in the power for anything yet. Leave the computers off. Plug in your ethernet cable from the back of your modem into the port on the router labeled “uplink or modem”. Plug in an ethernet cable into the back of your computer and run it into an open port on the router (any available port). Do the same with your other computers.
Now you should have an ethernet cable running from each computer into the router. You should also have your ethernet cable from your modem running to the router “modem” port. Plug in the AC power for your modem first. Wait 10 seconds. Plug in the power for your router. Make sure the green lights are lit up. Turn on your computers.

Wireless Network Setup

Wireless setup is going to work almost the same as the wired.

Items you need : Wireless router, Wireless PCI card for desktops (PCMCIA for laptops), Cable/DSL Modem, Ethernet cable (comes with router usually)

Setup : Once again make sure everything is powered off. Plug your ethernet cable from the modem into the router port labeled “uplink or modem”. Install your wireless card into your laptop or desktop and make sure your drives are installed from the CD. Plug in your AC power for your modem and wait 10 seconds. Plug in your router and make sure the lights are lit. Turn on your computer.

More details on routers & installing hardware on the other guides.

Sometimes when you are on a network and you are sharing some files with others, it is nice to share back. What I mean by this is making an “Upload” folder where users on the network can send you files. Now when you make a Shared folder it is not going to allow this by default. So here is what you do.

1. Navigate to your local drive
2. Create a folder called “Uploads” (Or whatever you like)
3. Right Click it
4. Click “Properties”
5. Click the Sharing tab at the top
6. Check mark the “Share this folder on network”
7. Check mark “Allow network users to change files”
8. Apply and wait
9. Now the users on the network will see the Upload folder which they can send you files through.

Checking your IP is easy.

1. Click “Start”
2. Click “Run”
3. Type “cmd” , hit Enter
4. Type in “ipconfig /all” , hit Enter
5. This will display your IP address and other information regarding your network

That’s it!

Sometimes when you are on a network and you are sharing some files with others, it is nice to share back. What I mean by this is making an “Upload” folder where users on the network can send you files. Now when you make a Shared folder it is not going to allow this by default. So here is what you do.