Set up a home network with a router wired or wireless
If you want to connect to multiple computers in your house,
set up a home network. You can share files, internet with out
ever
having to swap a flash disk. Personally I like to change the firmware on my Linux router, your can learn more at
linksys router setup.
There are several different ways you can set up a home
network. For this
guide we will be using a router in both
setups. It also doesn't rely on a computer to be on 100% of
the time
for the rest of the computers in your network to have internet access,
like internet connection sharing in Windows does. It also is
really
easy to add additional devices in the future, and makes sharing internet access fairly very easy.
To understand which cables connect to what we need to
understand what the various devices in a network do.
- Router - Connects to your internet, and
passes this information onto computers in your network. It
also
connects the computers together allowing you to share files between
users. Below, you can see the back of a router.
- Switch - Connects network devices to
more network devices. This is connected to the router and
then to
additional network devices. Think of this as used when you
run out of
plugs on the router, or when the speed of the switch is faster than the
speed of the router. Below, you can see the rear connections
on a switch.
All the information here is based on this network
diagram. You can browse this picture to get an
understanding
of information flow in the network.
Wired Network
To set up a home network that is wired, you will need to have
a network card in each computer, a router, and enough cables
to connect them all. You will also need the documentation
that came
with your router.
- Step 1 - Connect the cable from your
internet modem to the port on the router labeled either uplink, or
internet in most cases.
- Step 2 - Connect the first computer to
anyone of the other ports.
- Step 3 - Log into your router refer to
the information that came with your router. This is usually
done by
entering 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1 into your address bar.
Your
documentation will tell you which one.
- Step 4 - Enter the username and password
that is instructed by your router documentation.
- Step 5 - You should now be in the router
setup. Enter all the information for internet, you will need
the
protocol, PPPoE in this case, the username and password from your
internet service provider. Click on Save when done.
- Step 6 - If your router supports
wireless, click on the tab. Disable it, and save
changes. This way you
don't have any unwanted eyes.
- Step 7 - Click on administration or
something along those lines and change your default router
password. Save changes.
If you need to add a switch simply connect a wire to it from
the router. Then the additional wires can go to additional
computers. No setup is required.
Wireless Network
To set up a home network that is wireless, you will need a
router, and a wireless device installed into each computer and device
you plan on using the wireless network on. You will also need
the
documentation that came with your router.
- Step 1 - Connect your internet modem to
the port labeled either uplink or internet on your router.
- Step 2 - Log into your router refer to
the information that came with your router. This is usually
done by
entering 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1 into your address bar.
Your
documentation will tell you which one.
- Step 3 - Enter the username and password
that is instructed by your router documentation.
- Step 4 - You should now be in the router
setup. Enter all the information for internet, you will need
the
protocol, PPPoE in this case, the username and password from your
internet service provider. Click on Save when done.
- Step 5 - Click on administration or
something along those lines and change your default router
password. Save changes.
- Step 6 - Set
up your wireless security if you choose to do so.
That's it you're all done, enjoy your new network.