Computer Networking for Home Users and Small Businesses

A Network is a collection of components that are able to communicate with each other. The Internet is essentially a very large network and your home network is a very small one.

Today many of the components (hardware and protocols) that make up the Internet are also found in small home networks.

In order to setup, configure and maintain a small home/office network you will need a basic understanding of these components, what they do, and how they interact with each other.

The main things you need to understand are:

Terminology
Internet and Networking Components
Computer/Network Addressing

Networking Terminology or Common Terms

The main ones are:

Connection Media
Connection Technology or Connection access Mechanism
Networking Protocols

Connection Media

This basically means how the computers are physically connected. The most common being Unshielded twisted pair, and wireless.

Connection Technology or Connection access Mechanism

This is the way that data is packaged together for transmission over the media. The most common access mechanisms are Ethernet and WI-FI.

Networking Protocols

This is how the data is packaged for transmission between multiple computers. The most common and the only one used today in office and home networks and on the Internet is TCP/IP.

Internet and Networking Components

DSL Modem- converts digital signals into analogue signals suitable for sending over a telephone line.

DSL/Broadband Filter- Used to filter out DSL signals from telephone signals so that you can access the internet and use the telephone simultaneously.

Hub - Connects two or more computers together being replaced today by the switch. See Hubs and switches.

Switch- Connects two or more computers together used today in preference to a hub.

ICS (Internet Connection Sharing)- Allows you to share an Internet connection with other computers on a Local/home Network. It requires that one computer be designated as the sharing computer (the computer with the Internet connection). This computer functions effectively as a NAT Router and must be left switched on for the other computers to access the Internet.

NAT Router - In home/SOHO networks (as opposed to large corporation networks) the router uses NAT (Network Address Translation). NAT effectively isolates your home network from the Internet in a backwards direction. You don't have to worry about this as it is built into your DSL/cable router.

Firewall -functions like a router, and generally what you use is firewall/NAT router combination in which a single device acts as a NAT router and firewall. With a firewall you have an extra level of control as you can also control what device/computers are allowed to connect to the Internet and what applications are allowed to connect as well. In small networks this is usually implemented in software on the client machines. Windows XP has a built in software firewall which provides an extra level of protection when used with a Cable/DSL router. However if you are using a dial up type connection then the firewall provides the only protection and must be enabled at all times.

Wireless Access Point-Connects wireless devices to an Ethernet network and to each other. Effectively does the same job as a hub/switch but for wireless devices.

Wireless Router- Connects wireless devices to each other and the Internet. Wireless routers also provide NAT services. See Wireless Internet.

TCP/IP- The protocol that allows devices to communicate. The most important part is the addressing mechanism which is used to identify each network component and is covered in computer addressing.

Computer/ Network Addressing

Every device on a network has an address. All modern networks use the TCP/IP protocol and with it IP (Internet Protocol) addresses. Having a basic understanding of computer and network device addressing is fundamental if you are to setup and configure an network and is covered in the Home/Small Business Network IP Address Guide article.

Related articles and resources:

Home Network of the Future

Understanding Computer Names and Addresses

Windows Workgroups on Home/Small Business Networks

Understanding Hubs and Switches

Finding IP Address-How to Find the IP Address of a windows Computer

Setup Windows XP Computer on a Wireless Network - How to setup windows XP computer to access a Wireless Network.

How to Setup A Secure Wireless Network-Wireless networks are by their nature not very secure .Here we look at how to Setup A Secure a Wireless Network.

Internet and Networking Components- Internet and Networking Components for connecting to the Internet.

Home Network Planning and Setup - How to plan and setup a Home Network with home networking case studies

MAC Addresses and How to Find a MAC Address.- You will see the term often. But what is a MAC address and How do you Find the MAC Address of your computer/laptop etc.

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