Network computer devices that originate, route and terminate the data are called network nodes. Nodes can include hosts such as personal computers, phones, servers as well as networking hardware. Two such devices are said to be networked together when one device is able to exchange information with the other device, whether or not they have a direct connection to each other.
Computer networks differ in the transmission media used to carry their signals, the communications protocols to organize network traffic, the network's size, topology and organizational intent. In most cases, communications protocols are layered on (i.e. work using) other more specific or more general communications protocols, except for the physical layer that directly deals with the transmission media.
Networks are used to:
- Facilitate communication via email, video conferencing, instant messaging, etc.
- Enable multiple users to share a single hardware device like a printer or scanner
- Enable file sharing across the network
- Allow for the sharing of software or operating programs on remote systems
- Make information easier to access and maintain among network users
There are many types of networks, including:
- Local Area Networks (LAN)
- Personal Area Networks (PAN)
- Home Area Networks (HAN)
- Wide Area Networks (WAN)
- Campus Networks
- Metropolitan Area Networks (MAN)
- Enterprise Private Networks
- Internetworks
- Backbone Networks (BBN)
- Global Area Networks (GAN)
- The Internet
A home/office level wireless networking is not difficult to setup. Your solution is to share out your
GSM internet connection to multiple PC’s. This is possible across (and between) systems running Windows, Apple OS X and Linux.
REQUIREMENT
- Two or more Windows PCs to network
- A GSM internet SIM and modem
- A wireless router and its documentation.
- Wireless cards for ach PC
- A GSM internet account settings, including installation software
It is assumed that your GSM internet connection is set and running; perhaps working for one PC in your home, office, hospital or café; then all you’ve got is a shakpod plug ‘n’ play coming out of one end of your computer USB normally in slots
Many wireless routers come with an in-built modem but that does not work with your GSM internet. If your router has an in-built modem, then the configuration is essentially the same, except that you’ll be doing all the configuration steps from one interface, and the phone cable that normally goes into your broadband modem will go into your modem/router instead.
SET-UP
It is assumed that your GSM internet connection is already configured and working through your GPRS modem
1. Install your wireless network cards. Read manufacture’s instruction before use. This requires
physically inserting the wireless adaptor (be it PC card, PCI or USB) and installing a driver which should be provided.
2. Once all of your wireless adaptors are in place, shut down your PC and disconnect your shalpod modem.
Most routers, also, usually come with a single length of Ethernet cable. This needs to be connected between the router and your PC. On the back of the router should be a number of sockets –4 is usual, but configurations vary—individually numbered. Plug the Ethernet cable into any of them, and the other end into the router and finally our PC.
When your PC has finished booting, it may pop-up a few new information balloons from system letting you know that a Local Area Network (LAN) connection is made. It may warn that connection has limited or no internet connectivity; don’t panic. It may also pop-up a help balloon letting you know that one or more wireless networks are nearby. Ignore this for now while you connect wirelessly, direct to your router now. It’s a lot easier to do this step with a wired connection. If
for physical reasons you cannot have your PC and router in the same location- or can’t run a length of
Ethrnet between them, or don’t have a network card in your PC- you can just use thw wireless connection.
But, you’ll have to do so a lot of re-connecting to the network and may find it difficult when things go wrong. If the connection warnings don’t pop-up, you an check these details by clicking through
Start>Control Panel>Network Connections.
You should see entries for a wireless network connection (not connected) and a Local Area Connection, which should come up as connected
CONFIGURATION
Now, you’ll need to check the documentation that came with the router to determine the IP address it uses for web configuration. This is a small string of numerical digits separated by periods, in the style of xxx.xxx.x.x. Many of them use the same address range. However, this varies, depending on the model. Find that detail and enter it into your web browser. You should then be met with a password screen- and the username and password should also provided in the documentation. Change the default username and password as soon as you can. The quickest way to an insecure wireless network is to leave any security settings at their default.
Configuration pages for routers can vary a bit, . You need to set up a connection under the heading of Wide Area Network (WAN) Enter your username and password.
For the most part , you should be able to leave other settings. Go to the status (or administration) panel of the router interface, and check the WAN connection; if there’s a button for ‘connection’ here, click it.
Within a minute or two, it should report back as connected, with a string of numbers underneath it-
this is the IP address assigned to your router by your ISP, indicting that you’ve successfully connected your router to the internet. If it doesn’t connect, check with your ISP; they may use slightly different settings or proffer advice on how to revive your connection at the router level.
Now you’ve got your router talking to the shakpod modem, and out to the internet, and you just need to get your individual PCs(or other wireless compatible devices) talking to the router. You could just connect up immediately
If you can’t connect to the router itself at all and can detect no nearby wireless networks, try moving
the PCs closer to the rout ( if practical- easy with notebooks. Hernia-inducing for desktops) to see if you can detect the router. I f you can, then you may need to invest in an additional wireless access points or a more powerful wireless antenna to further propagate your signal. If you’re in an area with heavy heavy wireless competition, you may need to change the channel you are using to broadcast your signal on. This can have a profound effect on signal strength.
If for whatever reason, you end up with a router that just won’t talk to anything and you have totally messed up the settings, you an in must cases, reset the router back to its factory settings/defaults. On most routers, there should a small pinhole button- your product manual should direct you- for resetting router. A small press will just reboot, but holding the button down for 5-10 seconds will normally reset all the router settings at this point you can start all over again