COMPUTER NET WORKING FOR HOME/OFFICE

.....................(DO IT YOUR SELF)

By Mr. ADEEB RAZA

Computer networking can be defined to combine more than two computers together in a group to form a network of computers. Computer networking is useful technique for sharing information, data, files, hardware sharing like Printer, Modem, Internet connection etc. within network.

The computer networking is a very huge topic and not possible to explain everything here. But some people who know computer operation very well or some computer hobbyist wants to make their own network, for them it is very informative and good beginning. The computer networking can be categorized on the physical / geographical distance between computers in the network. The most common network is known as Local Area Network (LAN), the other network is known as Wide Area Network (WAN).

We are concerned here only with Local Area Network (LAN)to form a small networking for Home/Office use. In a computer networking a main computer which can control a group of other computers for sharing Information Data, File as well as hardware utilities like Printer Modem / Internet etc. known as a SERVER and the other computers of the network known as a CLIENT.

The most important parts of computer net working are Network Topology and Hardware. Network Topology means arrangement of networking like Ring, Star, Bus, Tree etc. and Hardware means Computer Networking Devices like LAN Card, Hub or Switch, Cable and Connectors. In the simple networking the Connection between Computers are formed through LAN Card, Hub or Switch and Cable cat-5 with both end RJ-45 Connector.

For long distance coverage of network in place of cat-5 cable other cables Like Co-axial Cable, Optic Fiber Cable, (OFC) or Glass Fiber Optical Cable Single Mode, Multi Mode, Repeater and Media Converter are used. This is not applicable for wireless networking because Wire less networking requires only wireless equipment’s like wireless Access point, wireless LAN card and Drivers. Wireless Networking is very easy but very costly. See details in the following.

Here we are concerned with only LAN Card, Switch and Cat-5 with RJ-45 for small home/office networking.  

Computer networking can be divided in to two parts

  1. Setting up Computers & Networking Hardware
  2. Installation of Operating System, Drivers and other Software

1.   HARDWARE PART: - This part covers setting up Computers CPU, VDU, Key Board, Mouse, Printer, Scanner, preparation of network cable for connecting server and clients through HUB/Switch LAN Card etc.

Hardware parts are given below

  1. Computer SERVER AND CLIENT
  2. LAN Card Hub / Switch
  3. Cable
  4. Connector
  5. Net work Connection

2.   SOFTWARE PART: - This part covers installation of operating system Installation device drivers and installation of other softwares etc. like Windows 98, Windows 2000 Server, Windows XP, Mother board Drivers, Office 98/2000/XP Making Server and Clients etc. After Installation of softwares administration of server, sharing of software, sharing of printer / files etc.

Software parts are given below

  1. Selection of Operating Software (OS) for SERVER
  2. Selection of Operating Software (OS) for CLIENT
  3. Installation of OS
  4. Installation of DEVICE DRIVERS for Computers
  5. Installation of LAN CARD DRIVE is must
  6. Sharing, Mapping and Administration of Net work

Here we assume that the computers are complete in all respect from hardware and software side. Only networking elements and Drivers or networking installation are required to form a small network.

Preparation

First of all we will prepare cables for connecting Server and Clients with them through Hub/Switch and LAN card. Hub and Switch are available in 4 port, 8 port and 16 ports etc. as per the size of network requirement.

NET WORK CABLING AND CONNECTIONS

Most computer and workstation network adapter cards have interface ports referred to as MDI ports."Uplink" ports on hubs have the same pin assignments. Most normal ports on hubs have MDI-X ports, which use pins 1 and 2 to Receive and pins 3 and 6 to Transmit. A straight cable (one that connects pin 1 to pin 1, pin 2 to pin 2, etc.) can be used to connect an MDI port (a computer) to and MDI-X port (a normal port on a hub). Obviously, to connect two MDI ports together, it is necessary to connect pin 1 to pin 3, pin 2 to pin 6, Cross over connection.

The most important part of computer networking is LAN CARD, HUB/SWITCH and Connection between computers using Cat- 5 cable and RJ-45 connector. RJ45 Connector is shown in (Fig.1).

RJ-45 connector & Clamping Tool

A Clamping Tool is required for the connection of RJ-45 connector with CAT-5 cable in two formats, Cross Over & straight through cables as explained below. Clamping tool is shown in fig –2

(Fig.1) RJ-45 Connector

 ..................................

(Fig-2) Clamping Tool

Wiring Diagrams of Cat5 with RJ45 for Crossover Cable

Fig-3 RJ-45 with CAT-5 Cable Color Code for CROSS OVER Connection

This cable can be used to connect two computers together without a hub / Switch, or to connect two hubs / switch together (without using an uplink port). This is also known as 10-Base-T Crossover Cable. It is necessary to connect pin 1 to pin 3, pin 2 to pin 6. The following figure shows the correct wiring for a 10Base-T crossover cable (assuming you're using RJ-45 connectors).

Wiring Diagrams of Cat5 with RJ45 for Straight Through cables

(Fig-4) RJ-45 with CAT-5 Cable Color Code for STRAIGHT Connection

Astraight cable (one that connects pin 1 to pin 1, pin 2 to pin 2, pin 3 to pin 3, pin 4 to pin 4, pin 5 to pin 5, pin 6 to pin 6, pin 7 to pin 7 & pin 8 to pin 8). This type of cable can be used to connect MDI port (a computer) to MDI-X port (a normal port)

LAN CARD & HUB / SWITCH

LAN Card and Hub or Switch is the main Elements of networking.

Every Computer required a LAN Card for connecting with each another through Hub/Switch with Server and clients of the local network.

LAN Card is shown in fig-4 & an 8 port 10/100Mhz Switch is shown in the fig-5

(Fig-4) Internal LAN Card............................. . (Fig-5) 8 port 10/100Mhz Switch

START NETWORKING CONNECTION AS GIVEN BELOW

Networking Connection means to connect all the computers containing LAN cards with them to a Hub/Switch through cat5 cable, with the both end of RJ45 connectors and connection as explained above for networking of required numbers of computers.

Note: -

  1. If LAN card is not found in any of the computer then first of all open computer case and install a LAN card (fig-4) on the spare slot of the computer.
  2. Install LAN card Driver on the same computer so that LAN card works
  3. Connect all Computers’ LAN card one by one with an 8 port hub/Switch through cat5 cable with RJ45 connector with Straight cable connection as explain above (fig-4) to form a network of 8 nos. of computers.
  4. You can make any computer into a Server and rest of them into Clients
  5. Connect all the hubs/switches together (without using an uplink port) through cat-5 and RJ-45 connector with Cross Over cable connection (fig-3) and (fig-9, 10) in case of using more than 8 computers in your networking.

RJ-45 Wiring Pin-outs and CAT-5 Color Hints

How to wire a 10BaseT or 100BaseT connector with Category 5 cable and RJ45 connectors using USOC 568B wiring standards:

EIA/TIA 568B WIRING STANDARD

PIN   Wire Color

  1. White /Orange Stripe
  2. Orange
  3. White /Green Stripe
  4. Blue
  5. White /Blue Stripe
  6. Green
  7. White /Brown Stripe
  8. Brown

EIA/TIA 568A WIRING STANDARD

For Cross Over Cable Wiring Wire ONE End using 568B and one end as follows

(Swap Orange and Green Pairs):

PIN   Wire Color

  1. White /Green Stripe
  2. Green
  3. White /Orange Stripe
  4. Blue
  5. White /Blue Stripe
  6. Orange
  7. White /Brown Stripe
  8. Brown

STEP 1: Cut the outer PVC jacket of the wire about 2.0" to 2.5" from the end. This will give you room to work with the wire pairs. Separate the pairs and align them in the order shown below. Begin flattening the wires into a "ribbon" as shown so that it will easily slip into the connector and into the individual channeled areas.

 

(Fig-6) Cat-5 Cable cutting for RJ-45 Connection

STEP 2: Once you have all the wires aligned and ready to insert, you must trim them to approximately 0.5" in order to have as little "untwisted" wire in the connection as possible. Category 5 specifications require a certain number of twists per inch and even the connector counts!

 
 

(Fig-7) Cat-5 Cable cutting for insertion in to RJ-45 Connection

STEP 3: Insert the wires into the connector making sure that each wire goes into its appropriate "channel" and extends all the way to the end of the connector underneath the gold crimping connectors. Sometimes you can look at the end of the connector to see the copper wires if you're using solid copper cable. If the wires don't extend to the end of the connector, the crimp may not make contact.

 

(Fig-8) Clamping of RJ-45 with Cat-5 Connection

STEP 4: Press the cable and the jacket into the connector firmly so that the jacket will be crimped by the plastic wedge near the rear of the connector, and insert it into your crimping tool and crimp the cable. RE-CRIMP the cable to make sure all connections are made.

STEP 5: Repeat steps 1 through 4 for the other end of the cable for a standard Ethernet cable.

Following is the wiring diagram of 14 computers NETWORKING

You can connect more than two Hub/Switches for expansion of your net work. The following wiring diagram shows the Cascading of more than two Hub/Switch Connections (with cross connection Cable Connection) to connect Hub/ Switch together.

 

(Fig-10) Complete wiring diagram of 14 point LAN

Network Administration

Under Network Administration, Network Administrator perform the following tasks.

For smooth running of total network. To make the login to all the users and allot the IP address with proper right for each client, sharing of files, printer, Internet, software, mapping to a drive and trouble shooting of the network problems.

To check network Connection and communication between Server and Clients or Trouble shooting, Internet on LAN etc. There are two simple tools are included in the window operating system (i) Ping (ii) Tracert

(i)  Ping Command: - Ping is a basic programs that lets you verify that a particular IP address exist and can accept requests. Use Command as ..........C:\> Ping 192.168.1.1 -t ..... Press Enter Key

(ii) Tracert Command:- if you are having connectivity problems, you can use the tracert command to check the path to the destination IP address that you want to reach and record the result

You can use these command from Windows,Start- Run then by typing the Command Ping with IP address or Tracert IP address [-d] then press Enter Key, or also from DOS Prompt. For more information about Ping and Tracert commands with windows 98 type the command C:\Ping -? Or C:\tracert -?

Then see the details on the screen as given below.

Ping Command

Options:

Tracert Command

Options:

........................................................... End Of Article ..................................................................