home networks taught by gary gabris. home networks what is a home network what good is having one -...

Home Networks

Taught by

Gary Gabris

Home Networks

• What is a home network

• What good is having one - neat things you can do with one

• General network info

• How to set one up

• Q & A

What is a home network?


• According to Wikipedia: a network is “a collection of hardware components and computers interconnected by communication channels that allow sharing of resources and information”.



• Plain English: computers, etc. connected together so you can share stuff between them



• Plain English: computers, etc. connected together so you can share stuff between them

• If you use the internet, you use a network

What good is a home network?


All your computers can share:

• A high speed internet connection




• One (or more) printers





• External disk drive(s) for backup






• Scanner(s)






• Scanner(s)

• Files and folders on each computer






• Scanner(s)

• Files and folders on each computer

• Other network devices (cameras, etc)

General network info

Each device on a network needsa unique address (IP address)


• Like houses on a street:State, Town/City, Street name,Individual house numbers



• Network addresses are 4 numbers separated by periods.




• All devices on your network must have the first 3 numbers the same, and the last number different




• All devices on your network must have the first 3 numbers the same, and the last number different

• Most home networks are 192.168.1.x or 192.168.0.x

Types of network addresses


2 types – dynamic and static


2 types – dynamic and staticStatic:• Address stays the same - may need this for some

devices (printers, etc)



devices (printers, etc)• A little harder to set up



devices (printers, etc)• A little harder to set up• Think of it like a house




Dynamic:• Easiest to set up - a piece of equipment called a “router”

takes care of addresses (this is called DHCP).





takes care of addresses (this is called DHCP).• Address could change





takes care of addresses (this is called DHCP).• Address could change• Like renting a space at a campground for a camper

Equipment you need

Equipment you need

• Router

This handles the addressing, etc.

Equipment you need

• Router


• Network connection for your computer

(wired or wireless – more info later)

Equipment you need

• Router




• Network connection for anything else (printer, scanner, etc.)

Equipment you need

• Router




• Network connection for anything else (printer, scanner, etc.)

• For internet: modem and high speed service. Router may be part of modem.

Block diagram of a network

Modem(for internet) Router

Computer Other stuffPrinterComputer

This can be a wired or wireless connection

All data connections are bi-directional (data goes both ways)

Wired connection

Wired connection

• Most secure

Wired connection

• Most secure

• Fairly easy – just run a network cable to each device

Wired connection

• Most secure


• Generally faster than wireless (100 Mb/S)

Wired connection

• Most secure


• Generally faster than wireless (100 Mb/S)

• Difficult to have devices in different rooms (must run network cable through walls, etc)

Wireless connection (WiFi)


• No wires needed – can use it in different rooms



• More difficult to set up – highly recommended to use some type of password protection (more on this later)




• Generally slower than wired




• Generally slower than wired

• Can have interference problems

Wireless connectiontypes/speeds

3 different commonly used types/speeds: B, G, N


3 different commonly used types/speeds: B, G, N• B – earliest, slowest (11 MB/s)• G – newer, faster (54 Mb/S max, mid 20s

typical), reasonably priced• N – newest, fastest (150 max), most expensive


3 different commonly used types/speeds: B, G, N• B – earliest, slowest (11 MB/s)• G – newer, faster (54 Mb/S max, mid 20s

typical), reasonably priced• N – newest, fastest (150 max), most expensive

Later versions of routers are compatible with earlier devices, later versions of devices may not be compatible with earlier routers.

Wireless connectionpassword protection

3 different types

• WEP – not very secure

• WPA1 – more secure

• WPA2 – most secure – use this

Sharing a printer

Sharing a printer

• Use a device called a “print server”

Sharing a printer


• Use manufacturer’s instructions and/or installation disk

Sharing a printer



• Use a static IP address

Sharing a printer



• Use a static IP address

• Set up each computer to use the printer

• Set up a network

• Q & A

home networks taught by gary gabris. home networks what is a home network what good is having one -...

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