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.

follow step by step here....

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.

4 Tips for Outdoor Wireless Installations

You know you want it the ability to sit by the pool while pretending you’re at work...? To do that, you’ll want to locate a wireless access point (WAP) outside of the home.

A WAP allows wireless devices such as printers, cameras and computers to connect to a network, usually via WiFi (802.11). Doesn’t a wireless router do that...? Indeed, wireless routers have WAPs built in, but you can spread additional WAPs throughout the house to extend the network’s reach. A WAP typically connects to the network via Ethernet cable.

Nick Phillips of Pakedge, which makes outdoor networking devices (and has a great logo!), provides these tips :
• Try not to mount the WAP on exterior walls, as chicken wire and other wall materials can degrade the signal.
• Using a WAP with power over Ethernet (POE) means you don’t have to run an extra wire for power. But you may not get the same range of products powered the old fashioned way.
• It may seem appealing to mount a WAP on your roof, but you might have a tough time getting to the reset button if you need it.
• The IP (International Protection) Rating, tells you how weatherproof your outdoor product really is. Phillips recommends a rating of 67 for exposed WAPs.
•
What happens to a wireless link when it rains...?
According to Cisco, nothing happens.

It is a common misconception that environmental factors such as rain, sleet, or snow can bring down a wireless link. Even at torrential rainfall rates experienced in the stormiest of locations, the wireless signal is negligibly degraded at the frequencies where 802.11 wireless devices operate.

Router Setup

Your primary router can be any brand of router whatever you already have, for example. The DD-WRT firmware with wireless bridge mode need only be installed on the secondary router you're turning into a client adapter (we'll call it the "client router").

This tutorial assumes that your primary router is, like most routers, assigning IP addresses by DHCP. Without DHCP enabled, your bridged peripherals may not be able to get onto the network.

Take note of any wireless security currently enabled on your primary router. If you are using WEP, note your passphrase and key length (64-bit, 128-bit, etc.). If using WPA or WPA2, note your passphrase. Later, you’ll need to input these on the secondary router.

You will need to access the administration interface of the secondary router, your DD-WRT router. Obviously, you can’t launch a web browser from your printer. For temporary setup purposes, you need to connect a wired PC to the secondary router. The easiest way is to grab a laptop computer, temporarily disable any wireless network it has, and connect it via Ethernet cable to one of the LAN ports on the secondary router. Do not connect it to the WAN, sometimes labeled “Internet” port, which can remain empty.

Step By Step
Assuming your DD-WRT is set to factory defaults, its IP address is 192.168.1.1. We are going to disable its DHCP server, so you should manually configure an IP address for your temporary PC. A good choice would be 192.168.1.2.

Step 1
To manually configure your IP address in Windows XP, click to Control Panel/Network Connections/Local Area Connection/Properties. Scroll down to Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and click Properties. Now click Use the Following IP Address and enter 192.168.1.2 as the IP, 255.255.255.0 as the Subnet Mask, and 192.168.1.1 as the Default Gateway.


On Mac OS X, click on Apple Menu/System Preferences/Network. In the Network Preferences pane, be sure that “Show” is set to Built-In Ethernet. Click the “TCP/IP” tab and set “Configure IPv4” to Manually.

As for Windows, enter the IP address 192.168.1.1, Subnet Mask 255.255.255.0, and Router 192.168.1.1. Click “Apply Now” to save the changes.

Step 2
Open a browser on your PC and connect to the DD-WRT router its default address is http://192.168.1.1. The default login is root and password is admin. Of course, you should change these. You probably won’t, but our lawyers require us to say that.

Step 3
Click Setup/Basic Setup. Scroll down to Network Address Server Settings (DHCP). Click to disable DHCP. This will prevent the bridged router from assigning addresses, which will be the job of your primary router.


Step 4
Click Wireless/Basic Settings. For Wireless Mode select "Client Bridge". Set Wireless Network Mode to match your primary router “mixed” is the safe default, unless your primary router is set exclusively to b or g mode.


Step 5
Click Wireless/Wireless Security. For Security Mode, select the appropriate choice that matches your primary router either none, WEP, WPA or WPA2. In this example, our primary router uses WPA security. The algorithm is set to "TKIP" on both routers, and we’ve entered our shared key.


Step 6
Click Status/Wireless. Scroll down to the bottom of the page, and you’ll see a button labeled “Site Survey.” You now need to associate this router to your primary router to create the bridge.


Click the Site Survey button, and a window pops up showing available wireless networks.


In our setup, one wireless network with SSID bordella is available. That is our primary router. Click the Join button to create the association.

DD-WRT will let you know that you’ve successfully joined the network.

Step 7
You’ve now completed the bridge.

To test it, you need to receive an IP address from your primary router. Revisit Step 1 and set your IP address back to automatic assignment. Unplug the network cable from your temporary PC, whistle a few times, and reconnect.

Your temporary PC should receive an IP address assigned by your primary router. You can test this by opening a browser and connecting to an Internet web site.

Success......................................?
Hopefully, your temporary PC has connected to the Internet. Your bridge is working! You can now disconnect the temporary PC and connect the DD-WRT router to your intended peripheral(s), such as your printer or Xbox.

Failure........................................!
If your temporary PC is not receiving an IP address from your primary router and can’t connect to the Internet, the bridge is not working.

Is wireless security enabled on your primary router? If so, try to disable it, even if temporarily. Revisit the configuration of the secondary router and disable wireless security there, too. Be sure to repeat Step 6 after making any changes to your secondary router.

If the bridge works without security, double-check your settings, particularly your passphrase. If you use WPA2 security on your primary router, try WPA instead. WPA2 may not work over the wireless bridge.

Also check whether your primary router is configured to use MAC address filtering as a secondary form of security. Sometimes people forget they’ve set this. You may need to disable MAC filtering to complete your wireless bridge.

That's it. Enjoy your new wireless

Faster Wireless Web

Transfers of large amounts of data across the Internet to wireless devices suffer from a key problem The Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) used to send and receive that data can be unnecessarily slow.

A company called Aspera has now announced an alternative protocol designed to accelerate wireless transfer speeds. Called fasp AIR, it includes new proprietary approaches to addressing problems of data transfer that are unique to wireless communications. The original fasp protocol is already used to boost regular Internet transfers. It was used, for instance, to speed up the transfer of files from New Zealand to the U.S. during production of the movie Avatar.

The main problem with the TCP protocol, which was designed before wireless connections to the Internet were commonplace, is that it doesn't know the difference between packets of data that are lost because of network congestion and those that are lost because of a weak wireless signal. TCP automatically throttles the speed of data transfer when it sees dropped packets, so that congestion doesn't overwhelm the network. That's fine when packets are lost because of congestion, but when the problem is a weak signal, it causes an unnecessary drop in transfer speeds that can bring downloads and uploads to a crawl.

For some applications, like streaming video and Internet telephony, it's possible to use an alternative like the User Datagram Protocol (UDP), which doesn't bother to confirm that all data has arrived intact. The price of UDP's speed is dropped packets of data a result familiar to anyone who has endured the degraded quality of a video stream or telephone conversation when at the limits of a wireless network's range.

Fasp-AIR achieves faster speeds than TCP but doesn't result in any dropped packets, making it suitable for transferring data that must arrive complete and intact. "The drop-off in performance we see with fasp AIR is almost linear, says Aspera CEO Michelle Munson. So a 10 percent loss in the available bandwidth means we're still getting transfer rates that are 90 percent of what's specified.

At first, fasp AIR will be available as an iPhone app that can be used to access enabled servers. Fasp-AIR requires that both the client and the server are running software developed by Aspera. In the future, Aspera hopes that developers will incorporate fasp-AIR into their applications directly. Aspera licensees currently include Amazon and several other large Internet companies.

Fasp AIR certainly isn't the only novel approach being used to speed up transfers of wireless data. Jon Crowcroft, Marconi Professor of Communications Systems at the University of Cambridge, says that some wireless carriers use a proxy server between the wireless and the wired networks to intelligently adapt to changing network conditions. This gets around the problem of whether or not a TCP alternative like FaspAIR is hogging bandwidth on a congested network.

Wi-fi Heatmapper

Analyze Wi-Fi signal strengths and make necessary adjustments to enhance network coverage. This free tool will display the best location for your WLAN router.

Some of us who connect via a router often face problems such as slow data transmissions and connection disruptions. All these problems point towards a badly situated router. With the Ekahau HeatMapper you can find the best installation locations to cover all rooms with radio signals in the best possible manner. The software also shows the security settings of all access points within the range making it ideal to trace unsafe and new networks.

A laptop is compulsory when using the tool since the tool itself requires you to be mobile to be able to measure signal strengths in different parts of the room. Also, it is recommended to import the blueprints or layout of the building into the program in order to simplify the measurement. The HeatMapper alternatively shows the measurement results and router location on a grid. CHIP tells you how to optimize your WLAN using this software. But before we start you will need to download this free utility from www.ekahau.com. You will find this tool under the products section.

STEP 1

Install the software on your laptop or netbook. Start the tool and select “I have a map image”. Now select the layout of your building and load it in HeatMapper.

Now if you don’t have an image or map of your apartment simply select
“I don’t have a map image”. The software should now show a grid layout with the centre point being your router access point.

Step 2

Place your router possibly at a place from where you often access your WLAN such as the living room or bedroom. Now connect the router to the socket; an internet connection need not be established as of now. It is best to start testing along with the laptop in the corner of the house or apartment. Click on the map where you are currently standing in-order to start the measurement.

Now walk slowly into the next corner of the building. Keep clicking on your current location continuously while walking. Walk to all rooms so as to draw a continuous line on the layout. End the walk by right clicking on the point you are currently standing on. You can undo the last step using the ‘Undo Survey” tab in case you misclicked.

HeatMapper will now position the found routers with details like names, SSID, channel number or encryption on the map and show where the reception of devices is the strongest with the help of color gradations from green to red. The device currently having the best connection with the Laptop is marked green. Once you are done marking the signal strengths around your house save the overview map by clicking “Take Screenshot”.

Step 3

You can now optimize the location of your router with the help of the reception map. The map basically helps you analyze the signals and setup access points wherever you find the signals to be weak. The red areas on the map show where the reception is bad. You can improve on the reception by moving the router around till you get a green bar.