Computer networks have existed for more than thirty years, but only more recently have they become popular in homes. In 1999, only a few hundred thousand households in the United States possessed a home network, although many more "expressed interest" in having one.
Today, many millions of households in the U.S. and worldwide have adopted home networking. Millions more have yet to build their home network. Even those who've previously taken the plunge are now beginning to revamp their networks for wireless, a new wave of technology for home networking.
This page serves as your starting point for learning about the world of home networking, step by step. We assume no prior knowledge of network technology, and we will teach all of the basics of home network planning, installation, and troubleshooting.
Depending on your current goals and past experience, varying types of information may be relevant to your situation.
Use the outline below as a comprehensive guide to your personal research.
Deciding On a Home Network
Some of you likely share files between computers using floppy disks or USB keys. A home network allows you to share these files much faster and more conveniently simply by utilizing the available network connections between computers. Home networks allow sharing of other things, too, like a printer or an Internet connection. Finally, home networks create the possibility to use new applications like multiplayer online games.
Before diving into the details of building and installing your home network, make sure you will have a use for it.
Before purchasing and installing equipment, determine your needs. The location of your computer(s), printer(s) and other devices you want to connect can affect your network design. Some systems may already contain built-in networking capability while others may not.
Those devices that need network capability added, probably support only certain kinds of network gear. Take care to buy compatible gear.
If you desire shared Internet access, be sure to factor this into your design. Other important factors in network design include reach and speed.
Finally, consider both present and future needs in your plan. How many computers will your network have in the next year or two? A network with just two computers can involve a very different design than a network with five, for example.
Use our interactive network advisor tool to walk you through the factors to consider when designing your home network
|
|
