Workshop series for IT users in Science Faculty

Transcription

1 Workshop series for IT users in Science Faculty Week 2: Home Date: March 29, 2006 Abstract: Nowadays, many home users possess more than one PC at home. They required sharing of Internet connection, files and printers. They are always wired with Ethernet network. Recently, wireless Wi-Fi connection is becoming more common. This seminar/workshop will present how an efficient network (both wired and wireless) can be constructed at home. Storages and printers can be shared. Network technologies, regardless of wire or wireless, such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, IP over 1394, powerline will be introduced and compared. Topics: 1. How to setup a small network at home. 2. Sharing of Internet connection 3. Sharing files within network 4. Sharing printers and scanners within network 5. Wireless network, advantages and disadvantages 6. Comparison among different common technology 7. Security against outside hacking Comparison table of different network technologies: Technology Standard Frequency Speed Remarks Wi-Fi b,g 2.4GHz 11,22,54Mbps home, office Wi-Fi a 5GHz 54, 72Mbps evolving Ethernet over Copper Wire Ethernet 10/100/1000 1Gbps Backward compatible with fast Ethernet. Common in new motherboard Firewire IP over Mbps Short distance Bluetooth GHz 1.5Mbps (v1.0) 3.0Mbps (v2.0) Pointing device, mobile phones Powerline 14Mbps Home theatre

2 Brief note on home 1. How to setup a small network at home A typical small home network contains the following components: 1. an Ethernet switch/router (with or without wireless support) 2. more than 1 computers connecting the above switch/router with cables or without cables There are 2 scenarios. A. use a commodity network switch hub/routers as the router to handle ISP login and setup. B. use a computer with 2 network cards as the gateway. - For Internet sharing, an Ethernet router is needed. An Ethernet switch has no routing function and cannot share the Internet connection. - For file sharing, at least one computer shall have a big hard drive for storing files. - For printer sharing, at least one computer has to connect to a printer. Otherwise, Ethernet routers nowadays are commonly equipped with printer sharer so that individual PC connected to the network can send print to this printer connected to the printer port. Configuration varies with different brand name. Page 1

3 2. Sharing of Internet connection For scenario A: Ethernet switch has no routing functions. Therefore, to share Internet connection, one must equip with an Ethernet router. A typical SOHO router has 1 WAN port for connected to the cable modem provided by the ISP and several LAN ports for connecting to each of the PC clients in the network. Some SOHO routers support wireless WIFI connections for connecting PC with a wireless network card. Those wireless routers usually have a wireless antenna. 2.1 Hardware connection diagram Internet ISP cable modem - Internet service providers (ISP) will install a cable or DSL modem at your home. - the cable modem has one port to the phone line and one port connect to the WAN port of your Ethernet router (Network hub in the above diagram). - then all computers can be connected using network cables to the LAN ports of the router. 2.2 Router configurations - this varies from different brand name of router - usually the configuration can be done with IE/Netscape/Mozilla, your favourite Internet browsers by visiting the IP addresses of the router, usually x.1 where x varies with brandname - at the configuration pages of the router, first type in the authentication information to the ISP, namely, a pair of username and password for PPPOE connections or automatic IP for cable modem connections. A minority of ISP employ a fix/static IP without password for a dedicated connection. - then the private IP network has to be configured. - for the case of router supporting wireless network connections, at first, a SSID can be set to name the wireless router and for the search of other clients. Then the wireless security can be set to allow or disallow wireless connection with passwords. Page 2

4 2.3 Software configuration - after the router configuration has been done as above, there is no specific software configuration in Windows XP clients. 2.4 Wireless client configuration - at the wireless clients, browse and choose within the available wireless connections, type in passwords as needed. Then the clients will obtain correct IPs and the connections will be established. For scenario B: 2.5 Hardware configuration Internet ISP cable modem 2.6 Internet connection sharing in Windows XP - to save the cost of the wireless router, one can choose one computer to act as a gateway, install 2 network cards in it and configure Internet connection sharing (ICS) in Windows XP. - in the gateway computer, start the Network connection wizard Start All Programs Accessories Communication Network setup wizard - choose the first item, This computer connects to the Internet directly, then follow the procedure to select which internet connection will be shared. - finally, the gateway computer will become the ICS server. The internal network will be given the address x with the server address as for the other clients inside the network, start the Network connection wizard as above but choose the second item, This computer connect to the network through another computer on my network, then follow the procedure to configure the client automatically. 3. Sharing files within network Page 3

5 3.1 File sharing is needed in the following folds, 1. Many users from different computers wanted to access the same file simultaneously. 2. The storage space in the current using PC are not large enough to store the files. 3. A central storage area is needed to hold all the files. 3.2 Software configuration - Assume that all PCs are running with MS Windows XP service pack 2 - First check if all PCs are installed with Client for Microsoft Networks Start Control Panel Network LAN connection Property - Second check the file sharing mode to see if it is in simple file sharing mode - Third change the workgroup and computer name if necessary Start Control Panel System Computer Name Change 3.3 Sharing a folder in Windows XP - In Windows explorer, right click on any folder you want to do sharing, and choose sharing and security. In sharing tab, check network sharing and security and give it a label, then click OK. The folder icon will be changed to show its sharing status. 3.4 Browse the network for shared folder - operate another PC and browse the network to see if the sharing folder appeared My Network Place View all computers within the same workgroup My Network Place Add a network location browse 4. Sharing printers and scanners within network 4.1 Sharing printers - Similar to sharing a folder, on the computer connected and installed with a local/network printer, right click on the printer icon and choose sharing. In the sharing tab, check sharing this printer and give it a label. Then press OK. The printer icon will be changed to show its sharing status. 4.2 Browse the network for shared printer - Operate another PC within the network to add a printer which is already shared Printer and Fax Add a printer Network Printer browse Page 4

6 4.3 Sharing scanner and other peripherals - Scanner and other peripherals sharing may be done with specific brands of peripherals depends on whether the developers has written drivers and software. 5. Wireless network, advantages and disadvantages 5.1 Advantages of wireless network 1. The installation location of the network PC is flexible 2. More neat without cables 3. Number of connected PC can be varied 4. Good for mobile devices such as notebook PC and PDA 5.2 Disadvantages of wireless network 1. Short distances 2. vulnerable to obstacles 3. expensive 4. speed depends on weather 6. Comparison among different common technologies Technology Standard Frequency Speed Remarks Wi-Fi b,g 2.4GHz 11,22,54Mbps home, office Wi-Fi a 5GHz 54, 72Mbps evolving Ethernet over Copper Wire Ethernet 10/100/1000 1Gbps Backward compatible with fast Ethernet. Common in new motherboard Firewire IP over Mbps Short distance Bluetooth GHz 1.5Mbps (v1.0) 3.0Mbps (v2.0) Pointing device, mobile phones Powerline 14Mbps Home theatre Page 5

7 7. Security against outside hacking 7.1 Firewall enabled in the router level 7.2 Firewall setting in Windows XP 7.3 Disabling simple sharing mode 7.4 Frequent windows updates and virus protection software updates Page 6