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Networking Your Notebook |
Connecting your home, small office, or home office computers lets you share drives, printers, and a single Internet connection among the connected computers.
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Benefits of using a network in your home, small office, or home office |
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Types of network connections |
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Using wireless networking |
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Purchasing additional network equipment |
The benefits of using a network
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Share a single Internet connection |
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Share computer drives |
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Share peripheral devices |
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Stream audio and video files |
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Play multi-player games |
Sharing a single Internet connection
A network makes sharing the Internet easy. Each computer or Internet appliance that is connected to the network can share the same modem and telephone line or broadband connection and access the Internet at the same time. This saves on the cost of installing another telephone line for your second computer and paying for a second Internet Service Provider (ISP) account.
Sharing drives
With a network, you can copy files from computer to computer by copying and pasting or dragging and dropping. You will no longer waste your time transferring files by using diskettes. In addition, you can map a drive from a computer on the network to a drive on another computer, and access the file as if it were located on the hard drive of the computer you are using.
Sharing peripheral devices
Each computer that is connected to the network can share the same peripheral devices, such as a printer. Select print from the computer you are currently using and your file is automatically printed on your printer no matter where it is located on your network.
Streaming audio and video files
With a network, you can store audio files (such as the popular .MP3 files) and video files on any networked computer, then play them on any of the other computers or devices connected to your network, a process called streaming .
Playing multi-player games
With a home network, you can play multi-player games. Load a game like Microsoft Midtown Madness 2 on your computers, and in minutes, you and your friends can race in competing cars through the streets of San Francisco.
Example network
A network connects all your computers and other devices so that you can share files, programs, peripheral devices, and much more from any computer in your home or office. The picture below shows an example of a home network.
Selecting a network connection
One of the biggest decisions you will need to make when creating your network is what type of connection you will use. Gateway supports both wired and wireless connections.
Wired connections
HPNA
Creating an HPNA network is as easy as knowing where your telephone jacks and computers are located. HPNA uses your home's standard telephone lines and telephone jacks instead of special cabling to connect computers. You can use your networked computers at the same time as you connect to your ISP, send a fax, or talk on your telephone. For the best performance, your computers or Internet appliances should have HPNA 2.0 network cards or jacks for connecting to your network.
If you have more than one telephone line in your home or office, make sure that all the computers in your network are connected to jacks that share the same telephone number.
Ethernet or Fast Ethernet
Ethernet is a type of connection commonly used in offices around the world. This type of connection can also be used to build small computer networks in the home. Ethernet is available at two different speeds: standard Ethernet, which runs at the same speed as HPNA 2.0, and Fast Ethernet, which runs up to ten times faster. To create an Ethernet network, you or your electrician must install special cables in your home or office. Your computers or Internet appliances must have Ethernet cards or jacks for connecting to a 10 or 10/100 Ethernet switch or hub. If you are connecting just two computers, you can eliminate the switch or hub and use a special crossover cable.
Check local code requirements before installing Ethernet cable or other wiring in your home or office. Your municipality may require you to obtain a permit and hire a licensed installer.
Broadband Internet connections
You can use your computer's Ethernet or USB jack for more than just networking. Many broadband Internet connections, such as cable modems and DSL modems, connect to your computer's Ethernet or USB jack. Typically, if one computer is connected to the Internet, other networked computers can access the Internet through the shared Internet connection. A broadband, versus dial-up, connection adds speed and an "always on" connection to your home network.
Wireless Connections
Instead of
connecting your computers with wires, you can consider a wireless network.
Wireless Ethernet is ideal for creating a home or office network.
If your system came equipped with an internal radio frequency wireless device, see "Safety, Regulatory, and Legal Information" for general wireless regulatory and safety guidelines. To find out if your system has an internal wireless device, check the label (see "Identifying your model").
Wireless Ethernet
A wireless Ethernet network (also known as IEEE 802.11b or WiFi) exceeds the speed of either HPNA 2.0 or standard Ethernet. In addition, this type of network allows you the freedom to move about your home or office with your computer. For example, you can take your notebook computer from your home office to your patio without having a telephone or Ethernet jack available.
Assessing your connection needs
HPNA
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Your home, small office, or home office has a telephone jack with the same telephone number in each room that has a device you want to connect |
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You have several Windows-based computers that are used for drive sharing, printing to a single printer, or surfing the Internet |
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Your notebook computer has one of the following: |
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An HPNA jack for connecting to a telephone jack |
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A USB port to connect to a HPNA adapter |
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Cost savings is more important than network speed |
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Your connection speed needs are less than 10000 Kbps (see "Comparing data transfer speed") |
Ethernet
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You are building a new home or your existing home already has Ethernet cable installed in each room that has a device you want to connect |
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You are creating a network in an office or business |
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Network speed is more important than cost savings |
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You have a combination of Windows-based computers and non-Windows-based computers that are used for drive sharing, printing to a single printer, or surfing the Internet |
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Your notebook computer has an Ethernet jack for connecting to the network |
Wireless Ethernet (IEEE 802.11b, WiFi)
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You are looking for an alternative to using your telephone line or installing cable for connectivity |
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The ability to move about with your computer is as important as network speed |
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You have several Windows-based computers that are used for drive sharing, printing to a single printer, or surfing the Internet |
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Your notebook computer has wireless Ethernet (IEEE 802.11b) for networking |
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Your connection speed needs are less than 11000 Kbps (see "Comparing data transfer speed") |
Comparing data transfer speed
When deciding between connection types, compare the different data transfer speeds provided by each to the programs you plan to run on your network. The following table shows types of programs that you may run in your home or small office and the connection speed each requires.
Type of Program Speed Required
Connection Type Rated Maximum Speed
When comparing the speed at which your network will need to run to the speed you can get from the connection type, you should consider which programs may run at the same time on your network.
For example, you have stored several MP3 audio files on your network. You typically play music on your desktop, and at the same time your teenager may play music on her notebook. Playing two MP3 audio files simultaneously requires 200 Kbps + 200 Kbps = 400 Kbps. If at the same time you are playing two MP3 audio files, you also print a file to your printer, the speed required increases to 200 Kbps + 200 Kbps + 200 Kbps = 600 Kbps.
A comparison of the two tables on the previous page shows that HPNA 2.0, Ethernet, and wireless Ethernet can handle most programs on a network. If you anticipate using a combination of programs that regularly exceed 10000 Kbps, you should consider installing Fast Ethernet for your connection.
Using a wireless network
Your notebook may have wireless Ethernet networking built-in. The information in this section tells you how to set up and access a wireless network. If your notebook does not have wireless networking built-in, and you are interested in getting networking hardware for your notebook or other computers to set up a network in your home or office, proceed to "Purchasing additional network equipment".
Radio frequency wireless communication can interfere with equipment on commercial aircraft. Current aviation regulations require wireless devices to be turned off while traveling in an airplane. IEEE 802.11b (also known as wireless Ethernet or WiFi) communication devices are examples of devices that provide wireless communication. For instructions to turn wireless Ethernet on and off, see "Turning your wireless Ethernet on or off in Windows XP" and "Turning your wireless Ethernet on or off".
If your system came equipped with an internal radio frequency wireless device, see "Safety, Regulatory, and Legal Information" for general wireless regulatory and safety guidelines. To find out if your system has an internal wireless device, check the label (see "Identifying your model").
Using wireless Ethernet in Windows XP
If your system does not use Windows XP, follow the instructions under "Using wireless Ethernet in Windows Me, Windows 2000, and Windows 98".
Setting up wireless Ethernet networking in Windows XP
If you have wireless Ethernet, the first time you start your notebook, your system automatically installs the wireless Ethernet drivers. Immediately following the initial startup, you may be instructed to run the Network Setup Wizard.
To run
the Network Setup Wizard:
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-OR-
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Click
Start
, then select
All Programs, Communications
, then
Network Setup Wizard
. The Network Setup Wizard opens.
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Click
Other
for a list of additional methods, then make a selection and click
Next
. The following screen opens.
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Enter the name of the workgroup this notebook belongs to. This name is usually assigned by the network system administrator and identifies which group of computers this notebook is most likely to communicate with.
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Click Next. A summary of the network settings you have chosen appears.
- Click Next to apply the network settings. The following screen opens.
Configuring Windows XP for wireless Ethernet
To configure
Windows XP to use the wireless Ethernet network:
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- OR -
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If you are
not using a DHCP server, click
Use the following
IP address
and enter the
IP Address
and
Subnet Mask
.
If you are required to enter an IP Address and Subnet Mask, ask your network system administrator for the correct values.
Turning your wireless Ethernet on or off in Windows XP
There are times, such as when you are flying in an aircraft, when you should turn off your wireless Ethernet network. You can also turn off wireless Ethernet to conserve battery power on your notebook.
To turn
wireless Ethernet on or off using the Start menu:
Creating a wireless Ethernet network
After you have turned on wireless Ethernet networks, you may want to create a new wireless Ethernet network. You can create either an access point or peer-to-peer wireless Ethernet network.
Access Point
An access point is a device that allows you to both join a wireless network and access a wired network at the same time. You can create an access point wireless network if you purchased an RG1000 or equivalent access point. The figure below shows an example of an access point network.
To create
an access point wireless Ethernet network:
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Enter the name of the network. For an access point network, we recommend entering the name of the access point device followed by the SSID name found on the back of the access point. Example: RG1000 1ff60a.
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Click to clear the The key is provided for me automatically check box.
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Enter the network key. This key must be the last five digits of the network name, for example ff60a.
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Make sure that the Network Authentication (Shared mode) check box is not selected.
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Make sure that the This is a computer-to-computer (ad hoc) network check box is not selected.
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Click OK to close the Wireless Network Properties dialog box.
- Click the General tab.
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If you are
not using a DHCP server, click
Use the following
IP address
and enter the
IP Address
and
Subnet Mask
.
If you are required to enter an IP Address and Subnet Mask, ask your network system administrator for the correct values.
Peer-to-peer (ad hoc)
Use a peer-to-peer (ad hoc) network if you are setting up or joining a temporary or permanent computer-to-computer network for sharing files and peripheral devices. This type of network does not include an access point into a wired network.
To create
a peer-to-peer wireless Ethernet network:
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Enter the name of the network. For a peer-to-peer network, this can be any network name not already in use, for example Adhoc.
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Click the This is a computer-to-computer (ad hoc) network check box.
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If an encryption key has been agreed to by the other members of your network, enter this value.
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Click OK to close the Wireless Network Properties dialog box.
- Click the General tab.
Connecting to a wireless Ethernet network in Windows XP
To connect
to an existing wireless Ethernet network:
Checking network signal strength in Windows XP
If your wireless Ethernet network is running slower than you expect, you should check your network signal strength.
To check
signal strength of your wireless Ethernet network:
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Click Network and Internet Connections. The Network and Internet Connections window opens.
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Click Network Connections. The Network Connections window opens.
- Select Status . The Wireless Network Connection Status dialog box opens. The meter registers the signal strength for wireless Ethernet on your notebook if other computers with the same network name are within range of your notebook.
Signal strength is affected by the distance between your wireless network devices, by radio interference, and interference from natural obstructions such as walls, floors, and doors.
Using wireless Ethernet in Windows Me, Windows 2000, and Windows 98
If your system uses Windows XP, use the instructions under "Using wireless Ethernet in Windows XP".
Installing the ORiNOCO Client Manager
If you have wireless Ethernet, the first time you start your notebook, your system automatically installs the wireless Ethernet drivers. Immediately following the initial startup, you may be asked to install the ORiNOCO Client Manager. You may also need to install the ORiNOCO Client Manager if it has not already been installed on your computer.
To see
if your wireless Ethernet client manager is installed:
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Click Start , then select Programs , ORiNOCO , then Client Manager . If Client Manager is not listed on your Start menu, you will need to install it. |
To install
the ORiNOCO Client Manager:
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Complete the instructions in "Reinstalling programs". |
Configuring the ORiNOCO client manager
To configure
your wireless Ethernet client manager:
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Enter the name of the profile you are creating. When you create the first profile, you should rename the Default profile to the name of your profile. For example, if you will be using your computer on two different networks, such as at home and at work, you may want to name one profile Home and another one Work.
- Select the type of network associated with this profile. Your options include:
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Access Point - Use this network type if you are joining a wireless network and accessing a wired network through an access point. Contact your network system administrator or refer to the access point documentation for more information about using this network type. |
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Residential Gateway - Use this network type if you are setting up or joining a wireless network that is using a residential gateway to access the Internet. |
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Peer-to-Peer Group - Use this network type if you are setting up or joining a temporary or permanent computer-to-computer network for sharing files and peripheral devices. This type of network does not include an access point into a wired network. |
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If you are connecting to an access point network, enter ANY to connect to any wireless Ethernet network within range of your notebook, or enter the exact network name of the network you are joining. |
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If you are connecting to a residential gateway network, enter the residential gateway identifier number for the network name and the last five characters of the residential gateway identifier number as the encryption key. |
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If you are connecting to a peer-to-peer network, enter the exact network name for the network you are joining. If an encryption key has been agreed to by the other members of the network, enter this value as well. |
All computers on your network must have the same network name and encryption key. For help, ask your network system administrator.
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If you are configuring your notebook for an access point network, tabs are available to enter additional configuration information as necessary. Contact your network system administrator or refer to the access point documentation before entering this information.
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If you are setting up your notebook for more than one network, repeat steps 3 through 8 to create additional profiles.
- Click OK to close the Add/Edit Configuration Profile dialog box.
Identifying this notebook on the network
If this is the first time you have used networking on your notebook, you need to provide Windows with the name of the notebook and the workgroup to which it belongs.
To identify
this notebook on the network:
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Enter a unique computer name. This name identifies this notebook on the network.
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Enter the name of the workgroup this notebook belongs to. This name is usually assigned by the network system administrator and identifies which group of computers this notebook is most likely to communicate with.
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Enter a description of the notebook. This description lets other network users identify who this notebook belongs to.
- Click OK .
Configuring Windows for wireless Ethernet
To configure
Windows to use the wireless Ethernet network:
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- OR -
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If you are
not using a DHCP server, click
Specify an IP address
and enter the
IP Address
and
Subnet Mask
.
If you are required to enter an IP Address and Subnet Mask, ask your network system administrator for the correct values.
Checking network signal strength
If your wireless Ethernet network is running slower than you expect, you should check your network signal strength.
To check
signal strength of your wireless Ethernet network:
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Click Start , then select Programs , ORiNOCO , then Client Manager . The ORiNOCO Client Manager opens. |
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The meter
on the left side now registers the signal strength for wireless Ethernet
on your notebook if other computers with the same network name are within
range of your notebook.
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The status
box in the middle provides status and error messages.
Signal strength is affected by the distance between your wireless network devices, by radio interference, and interference due to natural obstructions such as walls, floors, and doors.
Turning your wireless Ethernet on or off
There are times, such as when you are flying in an aircraft, when you should turn off your wireless Ethernet network. You can also turn off wireless Ethernet to conserve battery power on your notebook.
To turn
wireless Ethernet on or off using the Client Manager:
Accessing a different wireless Ethernet network
Once you have set up your profiles for all the possible wireless Ethernet networks you may want to access, it is easy to access a different network.
To access
a different wireless Ethernet network:
Purchasing additional network equipment
HPNA
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An 
HPNA card installed in each desktop computer- OR - An HPNA/V.90 combination card installed in each desktop computer - OR - A USB HPNA adapter attached to each desktop or notebook computer - OR - |
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An HPNA
PC Card installed in each notebook computer
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Modem cable going from each computer to the closest telephone jack |
All HPNA components should be HPNA 2.0. A mixture of HPNA 1.0 and HPNA 2.0 components will result in your network running at a slower speed.
Ethernet
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An Ethernet card installed in each desktop computer- OR - An Ethernet jack on each desktop and notebook computer - OR - An Ethernet PC Card installed in each notebook computer |
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An Ethernet hub or switch with enough ports for each computer and device in the network (hubs are slightly cheaper than switches but may run slower than switches) |
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Ethernet cable going from each computer to the hub or switch |
Wireless Ethernet
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A wireless
Ethernet (IEEE 802.11b) PCI card installed in each desktop computer- OR - A wireless Ethernet (IEEE 802.11b) PC Card installed in each notebook computer that does not have wireless Ethernet built-in |
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A wireless Ethernet (IEEE 802.11b) Access Point if you want to connect your wireless Ethernet to the Internet or a wired network |
For more information about the Gateway Connected Home or networking an office, discuss your particular needs with your Gateway Country Store representative. In addition, several books and Internet sites are dedicated to networking. Refer to these sources for more information about networking your home or office with HPNA, Ethernet, or Wireless Ethernet.