Step1
To set up a network using a hub without internet access (Make sure all computers are off)
Take one end of the power adapter and plug it into the AC connector on the hub and the other end to the electrical outlet.
Step2
Turn on your computers.
Take one end of a straight-through network cable and plug into one of the numbered ports on the hub. Take the other end and plug it into the computer’s network jack. If you did it right, green lights should come on. Repeat steps above for the remaining computers.
Step3
To set up a network using a hub with router for internet access(Make sure all computers are off)
Take one end of the power adapter and plug into the AC connector on the hub and the other end to the electrical outlet.
Step4
Take one end of a straight-through network cable and plug into the uplink port on the hub. Take the other end and of the cable and plug it into the uplink port on the router. If it only has one port, use the LAN port and set the switch to crossover located on the back of the router.
Step5
Turn on your computers.
Take one end of a straight-through network cable and plug it into one of the numbered ports on the hub (except the uplink port). Take the other end and plug it into the network connector on the computer. If you did it right, green lights should come on, as you connect each computer.
Step6
Repeat the above steps for the remaining computers.
To configure Windows for the wired connection
Make sure everything is connected and turned on. Click on Start, All Programs, Accessories, Communications, then click Network
Setup Wizard. The Network Setup Wizard opens.
Step7
Click next and the select a connection method
If you get any message other than ‘select a connection method’, you must check and make sure that all the cables are connected correctly. It will also say this if you have a wireless ethernet connection already installed in your computer. If this is the case simply click on ‘ignore disconnected network hardware’ and click on next.
Step8
If you are using the internet click on ‘this computer connects through the internet through another computer on my network or through a residential gateway’
If you are not using the internet click on ‘this computer belongs to a network that does not have internet connection’
Step9
Click next. The message ‘your computer has multiple connections’ will appear if your computer has wired and wireless ethernet capabilities.
If it does select the ‘let me choose the connection to my network’
Click to select the Local Area Connection box, then click next.
Step10
Type a description of the computer in the computer description box
Type a computer name in the computer name box. Names must be 15 characters and can contain both numbers and letters. It will be used to identify your computer to other users on the network.
Step11
Click next and type a workgroup name in the workgroup name box. The name must be the same for all the computers on the network and the name must be different than any computer name on your network.
Step12
Click next to apply the network settings. Since you are setting up an ethernet network for the other computers, select Create a network disk so that you can use it on the other computers on your network.
Click on Finish. Each computer on your network must have a unique name but the same workgroup name.
Step13
To configure the TCP/IP protocol. This becomes the default when networking is set up Windows XP.
To enter the IP address and subnet mask in Windows XP, go to Start, Control Panel, Network and Internet Connections(in category view). Double click on network connections.
Step14
Right-click Local Area Connection, then click Properties. Check the Internet Protocol(TCP/IP) box under the ‘This connection uses the following items’. Click on properties, then the general tab ‘Obtain an IP address automatically’ assuming that your router automatically assigns IP addresses to computers on the network.
Step15
Click Ok to close the Internet Protocol box, Click ok to close the Local Area connection dialog box, Click x to close the Network Connections window.
Step16
Repeat this procedure for every computer on your network. After you have configured all your IP addresses now you must configure your router. Once you are connected to a wired ethernet network you can then share access to the internet, share information and share printers.
Comments
welch said
on 6/7/2008 5~stars, Great article1
pianistic said
on 5/28/2008 Great!
amylaine said
on 5/16/2008 Great article, very useful. 5 stars.
dsarokin said
on 5/12/2008 Thanks for this. I've put my network together through trial and error, and it's nice to see things explained clearly, for once. There's even some good links for equipment on the page, which I'll have to check out.