This section contains everything you need to make home network setup easy

A network multiplies the power and usefulness of your computer

Wikipedia says that a computer network is a group of interconnected computers. The network can be small and consist of only 2 or 3 computers or it may be huge and global in scale. The internet is really just a huge global network. A home network fits the definition of a LAN (local area network).

Benefits of a Nework

The following benefits are provided:

• connection to the Internet. Modern LAN's provide this connection and share it with all the computers in the network
• access to a world of information, shopping and interaction with government offices and businesses
• sharing of data. Computers can read and write each other's data depending on permissions
• sharing of computer equipment. Printers, disk storage and many other devices can be used without having to get hardware for each computer
• centralized protection against hackers

Network Requirements

Since the heart of networking is communication, computers and systems need a way to reach you. You need a network address. The network address that is currently used is based on the tcp/ip system and is called an ip (internet protocol) address. It is simply a series of 4 numbers such as 95.2.33.122 that uniquely identifies your network, computer or device.

This system allows for 4,294,967,296 adresses since each number of the set of 4 has a value between 0 and 255. The internet has developed a system of routing which allows any one of these addresses to be found quickly and efficiently.

Your network needs a physical connection to the internet which is provided by an ISP (Internet Service Provider) and is delivered in a form that your network can use. The connection may be though cable or DSL using a device called a broadband modem or through your phone line via dial up.

Within your network you need an electronic connection between each of your computers or devices using either network cable that looks something like telephone wiring or a wireless connection where data is sent by radio waves or both types of connections.

Your operating system and software needs to provide software to allow for sharing of data and hardware. It also needs to control this sharing so that only the users that need to have access or the ability to change information are allowed.

Security software and systems are needed to prevent people from attacking your system, stealing bandwidth (network connection strength), and from spying on your system and stealing identity information.

Main Topics

In this section we will cover:

• computer network components
• LAN definition - typical home network systems
• how to set up a network with simple directions for wired and wireless networks
• network security including network data encryption
• network troubleshooting

Easy Home Network Roadmap

• You are here Easy Home Network Setup and Maintenance
• Computer Network Components
• What does a router do? - It's the Heart of Your Network
• A home network fits the LAN definition (local area network). Typical home setups
• Set Up Your Computer Network - Simple Steps to Get You Up in no Time
• Computer Network Security Advice - What You Must Do and What's a Waste of Time
• Computer Network Problems - Detailed Instructions for Repair