Installing and Configuring a LAN

02                          Installing and Configuring a LAN

You’ve got the basics, now let’s install a network. You need to install a network

interface card (NIC), including proper drivers. Youmust install client

software so that the PC can see and be seen on the network. The NIC needs to

run a properly configured network protocol that matches that of other machines.

And finally, youmust enable File and Printer Sharing to turn the PC into

a server and make its resources available for other users across the network.

Of course, you also need to connect the PC to the network hub or switch via

some sort of cable (preferably CAT 6 with Gigabit Ethernet cranking through

the wires, but that’s just me) or through a wireless standard.When you install a

NIC, by default, Windows 2000, XP, and Vista install TCP/IP (configured for

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, DHCP), the Client for Microsoft Networks,

and File and Printer Sharing.