Share Two Computers

Many homes have more than one computer. Rather than leaving them as standalone PCs, it can make sense to set up a network. A network makes it easy not only to share files between computers but to share an internet connection and hardware, such as a printer. Although the idea of setting up a network can be daunting, it is actually an easy process.

We are going to take a look at how a combined broadband modem and router can be used to connect two or more computers to the internet. We will look at wired and wireless connections on Windows XP and Vista, and take crucial security measures into consideration.

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One of the first steps to take before starting the process of setting up a network is to check that any desktop computers that you want to connect have a network interface card, or NIC. Computers bought in the past few years are likely to have a network connection built in, but it’s also possible to buy network cards, such as the one pictured, separately if required. In the case of notebook PCs, it is usual for a network adapter to be built in by default. Wireless USB adapters are also available for times when cabling cannot be used or isn’t wanted for as little as £10.

If you have subscribed to an ADSL broadband service – and most

With the modem/router duly connected, all that is left to do is connect each of the computers to the network ports on the back of the device using standard networking cable, sometimes referred to as CAT5 or Ethernet cable. If you are using a separate modem and router, the modem will need to be connected to the uplink port of the router before connecting computers to the router’s network ports. Connect the power and check the activity lights on the front of the router to see if the connection indicator is lit.

There are now a couple of steps to take within Windows that will make it easier to establish and manage a network connection. The first is to display an icon in the Notification Area that makes it easy to keep an eye on network activities. To enable this icon in Windows XP, launch the Control panel from the Start menu and open the Network Connection section. Right-click on the icon representing your network connection and select Properties. On the General tab tick the box labelled ‘Show icon in Notification Area when connected’ and click on OK.

In Windows Vista the network activity icon should be enabled by default, but if this is not the case right-click on the Taskbar and select Properties. Move to the Notification Area tab and make sure that the Network option is ticked before clicking on OK. Vista displays different icons in the Notification Area depending on the type of connection that has been established. Two flashing monitors indicates that there is a network connection, while the addition of a globe icon indicates that an internet connection is also present.

To ensure that the computers on the network can communicate, it is vital to ensure they are part of the same workgroup. In Windows XP, click on the Start button and right-click on the entry for My Computer before selecting Properties from the menu that appears. Move to the Computer Name tab and click on the Change button. Enter a name for the computer and then one for the Workgroup before pressing Enter. Restart Windows if prompted to do so.

To configure the computer and Workgroup name in Windows Vista, click on the Start orb, right-click on the Computer entry and select Properties from the menu that appears. In the ‘Computer name, domain and workgroup settings’ section of the System window that appears, click on the Change settings link and then on Continue in the User Account Control dialogue. Click on the Change button, enter a name for the computer and select the Workgroup option. Enter the same workgroup name as for the other computers and click on OK.

So far we have concentrated on configuring computers to connect to a home network using network cabling, but computers can also be connected wirelessly. It is first necessary to enable and configure the wireless settings of the router or modem that is being used. On one of the computers wired into the network, open a web browser window and type the IP address of the router – usually 192.168.2.1 but check with the manufacturer for details – into the Address or Location bar. The required username and password should have been provided in the instruction booklet.

Section names will vary from one piece of equipment to another, but find the wireless section of the setup utility. Start by giving the wireless network a name (or SSID) and select a radio channel on which to broadcast. This setting may have to be adjusted later if you notice interference from a nearby network. To safeguard data, wireless security must be enabled, so select the type of encryption that should be used and then type a password before saving the new settings. WPA security is the safest option, and should be offered by all modern routers.

When it comes to connecting a computer to a network wirelessly, many notebook PCs include a built-in wireless card which makes things much easier. If wireless connectivity is not built into a laptop, it can be added by connecting a wireless USB adapter or a wireless PC Card device. If you want to connect a desktop PC wirelessly, you have a choice between installing a wireless USB adapter or a standard PCI network card with a built-in antenna. In both cases, USB adapters such as the one pictured are the easiest to get up and running.

The exact process of installing a wireless adapter will vary from one piece of equipment to another, but it should boil down to the same essential steps. Start by inserting the CD that came with the adapter and install any necessary drivers. Once this is complete, connect the adapter and wait for it to be detected by Windows. When the installation process has finished a message should soon appear indicating that wireless networks have been detected.

Click the message that is displayed or right-click on the wireless network icon in the notification area and select View Available Wireless Networks from the menu that appears. Windows will then display a list of all the wireless networks that have been detected in range. Select the entry that relates to your own network and click on the Connect button. As encryption has been enabled,you must provide the password that you chose earlier before a connection can be established.

To display the equivalent wireless network-detection screen in Windows Vista, click the Start button followed by the Control Panel entry and then open the Network And Sharing Center – this can also be accessed by clicking the Notification Area icon. In the Tasks list to the left of the window that appears, click on the ‘Connect to a network’ link. As with Windows XP, a list of available networks will be displayed and a connection can be established by entering the correct password. There are also tools on hand to diagnose connection problems.

In some cases a utility is provided with a wireless adapter and this must be used to detect and connect to networks rather than using Windows’ built-in options. However, it may be possible to choose which you would prefer to use. Most utilities work in similar ways and after selecting a network, all that needs to be done is to provide the relevant password. In this Workshop we have established wired and wireless connections that can be used to connect several computers to the internet.