How to connect a local network?

Everyone knows how fast the information technologies are developing at the moment. Every apartment now has at least one computer, and in some of them there are two or more. One should not forget about the mass of devices that have the same capabilities as computers, for example, tablets, various gadgets and so on. These devices need to form a single information network, in which the data exchange will be realized. And then many may have a question: how to connect a local network? Then we'll talk about this and how to design it, pick up the necessary equipment and the best technology, and the rest.

How to connect a local network: a preliminary stage

It is worth mentioning at once that the situation of combining different devices within the same apartment will be described further. If you have more than one device at home, there is a constant need to exchange information. When there is a need to copy large amounts of data from one device to another, you can use an external hard drive, but this is not always convenient, since a hard drive of the right size may not be at hand. The next important point is the need to use certain external devices, which include media players, network data stores, printers and so on. There may be a need to set up a public Internet connection. Most often, it is this reason that is the main reason for forcing such a connection.

How to connect a local area network: planning phase

Many people can guess how important it is to plan your home network. This affects the security and reliability, as well as the speed of data exchange and the final financial costs. It is possible to single out such main points at the planning stage. First, you need to determine the appropriate network technology, that is, it will be a wired or wireless network. It is possible to use a mixed version. In any case, it must be solved. Now it is important to determine the number and purpose of network devices. And the last, but not the most important, should be your cable plan, the location of the network equipment, and the rest.

How to connect a local network: the creation phase

So, to connect the network, you need to connect the computers with the switch using patch cords. It is necessary to connect all computers with a switch through network cables, then connect the switch with a socket, turn it on. After that, you need to check the physical presence and the correctness of the connections. To do this, you need to look at the network connections on each computer. If there is a connection, you can proceed with the settings.

How to configure a LAN connection

Log on to the local connection properties and select the Connection Protocol (TCP / IP). In general, all the settings are made in automatic mode, however for our case it is required to do everything with hands. After selecting the manual setting, you will be able to fill in the fields. To do this, enter the IP address - 192.168.1. * (* - number in the number range 1-255). It is worth using the numbers in order, which will significantly speed up the subsequent search for the computer located in the created network. The subnet mask field should be left as suggested. The remaining fields do not need to be filled in if you are using a home network. Close the window by clicking on "Ok". Now you can make similar settings on all other machines. For each computer, you must specify its name and workgroup name in the properties. The only condition for this is that the workgroup must be the same, otherwise it will not be possible to create a connection. After all the settings, it remains only to reboot all machines. Next, you can configure sharing and other settings.

If you are interested in the question of how to connect a local network to Windows 7, then everything is the same.