Computer Networks

If you're interested in setting up a computer network, your first step is to identify its purpose. Are you setting up a database to keep track of your accounts and allow everybody in the office to add to it? Or do you want to bring over your buddy's computer and play Halo all night? The two options have two completely different solutions, one being significantly more expensive than the other.

If you only need a network for home use, it may be worth it to buy two extra network cards and a CAT5 cable. You can install a network card into each of the computers (the one connected to the internet should have two) and connect the two computers using the CAT5 cable. Afterwards, you can download free private network software and install it onto both computers. You should be able to access the Internet through both computers, but if the first computer shuts downs, the second computer (the one with only one network card) will not be able to access the Internet.

A business network requires more equipment and more interaction with your internet provider. First, you will need to buy an internet hub to connect all the computers you want on the network. Then you have to contact your internet provider and purchase IP Addresses for all of the computers on your network.

If you wish, you can purchase a network hub and IP Addresses for each computer at home. This is likely what your internet provider would actually prefer, and in the long run, it would be better since the computers would work independently of each other. However, this route is also more expensive and exposes all of the computers to hackers, while networks based on one computer's connection to the Internet exposes only that computer.