Networking

1 Overview

1.1 Setting up a network is easy. This subsection shows you:

• What a network consists of
• How different types of networks operate
• What sort of network you can create using this CD

2 What is a network?

2.1 A computer network is a collection of PCs and other devices connected together with cables.

This allows them to communicate with each other and share information and resources.

Networks vary in size; they could be contained in a single office or span the globe.

A network that is connected over a limited area is called a Local Area Network (LAN). A LAN is often contained in a single location. A Wide Area Network (WAN) is a group of devices or LANs that are connected over a larger geographical area, often by telephone lines or other wiring, such as a high speed leased line, fiber, or satellite link. One of the largest examples of a WAN is the Internet itself.

2.2 There are various LAN technologies, the most common being Ethernet and Fast Ethernet. A network can be made up of one or more of these technologies.

Ethernet and Fast Ethernet networks operate in a similar way, the main difference being the speed at which they transfer information.

Ethernet operates at 10 Megabits per second (or Mbps) and Fast Ethernet operates at 100 Mbps.

2.3 Devices on a network communicate by transmitting information to each other in groups of small electrical pulses (known as packets).

Each packet contains the address of the transmitting device (the source address) and that of the recipient (the destination address).

This information is used by PCs and other equipment in the network to help the packet reach its destination.

• You can share expensive peripherals, such as printers. In a network, all the computers can access the same printer.
• You can pass data between users without using floppy disks. Transferring files over the network eliminates time wasted copying files onto a floppy disk and then onto another PC. Also, there is less restriction on the size of file that can be transferred over a network.
• You can centralize key computer programs, such as finance and accounting. Often users need to access the same program so they can work on it simultaneously. One example would be a ticket booking office system where it would important to prevent a ticket being sold twice.
• You can institute automatic file backup. A computer program can be used to back up key files automatically, saving time and ensuring that all your work is safe.

• You can send and receive e-mail from all over the world, communicating messages and announcements to many people, in many different areas, quickly and inexpensively.
• You can transfer files to and from colleagues in other locations, or access the company network from home.
• You can access the vast resources of the Internet and the World Wide Web.

You can use a print server to allow a printer to be shared by other clients or PCs on the network and accept print jobs from any node on the network. Print servers eliminate the need to attach the printer via a PC or file server, resulting in a faster, more flexible printing.

4 What kind of network can I create?

4.1 The installation sections of this CD (Setting Up a PC, Installing a Device, Adding a Printer and Using Your Network) describe how to set up a small peer-to-peer Local Area Network (LAN) and describe the structure of a Wide Area Network (WAN) and how to access the Internet.

OfficeConnect devices are very flexible and can be used in many different types of network. This CD is ideal for guiding you through the installation of a simple Windows 95 or Windows 98 peer-to-peer network.

4.2 After creating the network, you can use the installation steps in Using Your Network to set up: