Network Setup

If you are a multiple-computer household, now’s the time to get those computers hitched. Doing so has a lot of benefits. You can:

• Share printers, CD-ROM drives and other removeable drives between the computers.
• Eliminate SneakerNet (passing files around on floppy or CD) and share files directly between PCs.
• Share a single Internet connection between computers (provided your agreement with your ISP allows this type of sharing).
• Play multiplayer games.
• Store only a single copy of large files, saving space on the other PCs’ hard drives.

You can network computers that run different operating systems, but the ideal networking setup for a small home network is with Windows XP running on your most powerful machine(s) and either Windows 98 or Windows Me running on the other computers.

I don’t recommend trying to include computers running Windows 95.

Micro Mechanics recommends networking desktop PC using Ethernet Unshielded Twisted Pair
Inexpensive cabling and networking equipment
Very high performance
Very high reliability

Wireless networking can be used where cabling is not practical or where portability is desired.

Network 2 PCs
Ethernet Network adapter for each PC
Ethernet UTP Crossover cable

Network more than 2 PCs
Ethernet Switch
Ethernet Network adapter for each PC
Ethernet UTP cable for each PC

Share Internet Access using dial-up
Network each PC
Install proxying software on the hosting PC
Optionally install Firewall software on the hosting PC

Share Secure Internet Access using Broadband
Hardware Firewall/Router

$50/hour