Networking of Computers

Networking of computers have today become a very essential element of working styles and sharing files.Home and small office networks can be set up in a variety of configurations. The factors that can affect the ultimate network configuration vary with the needs and circumstances.In many cases, the financial support to connect a set of machines together in a network to share files.

Consider the costs of acquiring and installing network adapters, hubs, other network devices such as residential gateways, and cabling. The network configuration can also be limited by the available options for connecting to the Internet. While standard modems and dial up access is available to nearly everyone and requires little additional investment, higher bandwidth needs might require a broadband link such as Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) or cable.

PCMCIA or PC Card network adapters installed in PC Card slots commonly found on laptop or notebook computers USB network adapters connected to either a USB port typically found on the back of a computer or a USB port on a USB hub.An important consideration here is the physical installation of the adapter. With PCI adapters, for example, you must open the computer and insert the adapter in an empty PCI slot. USB attached network adapters may be a better solution when simplicity is a requirement. Laptop computers will likely use PCMCIA or PC Card adapters.

A hub is required when you are using twisted pair cabling and connecting more than two 10BaseT or 100BaseT computers together. While Ethernet adapters are generally low cost, the cabling and hub needs add to the complexity and cost. Ethernet can operate at speeds of 10 megabits per second (Mbps) or 100 Mbps. To get 100 Mbps, you must use 100 Mbps Ethernet adapters, Category 5 twisted pair cabling, and connect to 100 Mbps port on an Ethernet hub. Used mostly in home and small office networks, phoneline uses telephone wiring as its medium for communication and operates at speeds up to 10 Mbps.

This can be done using a combination of translation and firewall technologies. The network configuration is invariably influenced by the knowledge, experience, and personal preferences of the person installing the network components. To provide connectivity between all the computers in your home or small office, the computers of the internal network must be either directly or indirectly connected to each other. To connect home or small office computers together, each computer must have a network adapter or device that connects the computer to the network.Network adapter choices include the following: Internal network adapters using a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) slot of your computer.

Organization or large business wireless networks are more likely to be using IEEE 802.11. If your home or small network is also based on IEEE 802.11, you can use the same network adapter to access both work and home or small office networks. IEEE 802.11b can operate at a speed of 11 Mbps. Wireless equipment consists of a wireless adapter installed in each computer. In contrast to the many ways that organizations and large businesses connect to the Internet, the small or home office typically connects to the Internet using individual internet connections for each computer, using residential gateways or using a host computer.