Unlike in a medium or large-scale computer network environment, Home Computer Networking is very simple that might consist of two or three computers in common. Networking Home Computers doesn’t require you to develop such kind of business continuity and disaster recovery plan as you should do in an enterprise network.
For mostly people with less networking knowledge, a FAQ how to build a Home computer networking frequently raised. Basically networking home computers is a simple task to do particularly if the networking devices such as a modem-router and or wireless router are used. This is a typical home computer networking that is used to share a single broadband internet connection with several computers at home.
So where to start to build a home computer networking? Let’s start with simple networking home computers by connecting two computers with a single network cable back to back.
Networking Two Computers
Have a look at the figure below – the simple home networking diagram. You can connect two computers back-to-back by using cross-type UTP cable. The idea of cross cable is connecting the transmit pin in PC-A to the receive pin in PC-B and vice verse. For a complete Cross cable pin assignment configuration can be found in the LAN Cable article here. However, you don’t need to create the cable and the connector with cross configuration, just buy the cross-cable in computer accessory store near you.
Networking Two Computers
Networking Two Computers can also use the switch LAN (with 8 or 12 ports). Connect the two computers with UTP straight-through cable to the Switch. See also LAN network diagram.
Assigning the IP address
The next step in Networking Two Computers is assigning the unique IP address and the subnet mask to each of the computers. Which IP address to use? In the last article discussing about finding the IP address, you can take some IP address in the range of class C private IP address. For example we can assign:
- Computer A IP address: 192.168.100.3 subnet mask 255.255.255.0
- Computer B IP address: 192.168.100.5 subnet mask 255.255.255.0
For Class C, default subnet mask is 255.255.255.0, for a complete discussion about subnet mask check here. Now we need to configure the IP address to each of the computers.
In windows XP PC, open the network connection folder, follow the steps below:
- Click Start => point to My Network Places => right click => select Property
- In the Network Connections window, right click the LAN Connection icon and select Property
- In a LAN connection windows, select the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and then click the Property
- Check the Use the following IP Address => and then type in the IP address with (for PC-A) 192.168.100.3 and subnet mask 255.255.255.0
- Leave the Default gateway empty, and also the Preferred DNS server and Alternate DNS server
- Click Ok
- Do the same thing to PC-B but with different unique IP address say 192.168.100.5, and the same subnet mask.
Assigning the IP address and Subnet mask
Now, networking two computers completes.
Assigning the Workgroup and Computer name
The next step, you need to make sure that both computers are at the same workgroup name and with different computer name. Having the computers at the same workgroup name would help the networking efficient to share each other.
Click Start => point the mouse to My Computer and then right-click => select the Property => point to the Computer Name tab.
Changing the computer name and the workgroup name
Make sure to provide the simple computer name for example JOE-PC. Please notice the workgroup name, typically the default workgroup name is WORKGROUP. You can change the workgroup name by clicking the Change button. When you change the computer name and the workgroup name, the computer will ask you to reboot the system. Just reboot the computer to allow the changes take effect.
With the unique IP address, the unique computer name, and the same workgroup name, your computers are ready for networking.
This is a basic guideline in Networking home computers, connecting two computers in a home computer networking.
Share the Internet connection
The common reason of having the home computer networking is to share the broadband internet connection. You can use the modem (depends on what broadband internet connection you subscribe) and the wireless router such as D-Link wireless routers or WRT-610N Linksys. Or you can also use the all-in-one function modem-router – the wireless router with the built-in modem such as SurfBoard SBG900 for Cable or DIR-2640 for DSL.
The separate article will discuss about this, check this Simple computer network at home for more detail discussion about sharing the internet connection. For a deep knowledge about sharing the internet connection click here.
Other advanced reading:
- Configuring Cisco router the basic initialization of Cisco router
- Layer 3 Switching – high performance layer 3 Switching
- Router connection – basic knowledge of connecting router
- Slow internet connection – a common issues regarding slow internet connection
- Virtual LAN – a basic knowledge about inter-VLAN communication
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