4 Ways to Set Up a Computer Network

Table of contents:

4 Ways to Set Up a Computer Network
4 Ways to Set Up a Computer Network
Anonim

This article shows how to create a local computer network (LAN) using Windows machines or Macs. If the number of computers to be connected is small, a wireless connection can be used, but in the case of a very large LAN network it is preferable use a wired connection.

Steps

Method 1 of 4: Create a Wireless LAN Network in Windows

Set up a Computer Network Step 1
Set up a Computer Network Step 1

Step 1. Select the Wi-Fi network connection icon characterized by this symbol

Windowswifi
Windowswifi

It is located in the lower right corner of the desktop. A drop-down menu will appear.

  • If Wi-Fi connectivity is currently off, press the button Wifi, located in the lower left corner of the panel that appeared, before proceeding.
  • In some cases, in order to view the icon of the Wi-Fi network connection, you will need to select the item "Show hidden icons" characterized by the icon ^ located at the bottom right of the desktop.
Set up a Computer Network Step 2
Set up a Computer Network Step 2

Step 2. Select one of the available networks

Click the name of the Wi-Fi network to which you want to connect the computers that will make up the LAN network.

Set up a Computer Network Step 3
Set up a Computer Network Step 3

Step 3. Press the Connect button

It is located in the lower right corner of the chosen Wi-Fi network pane.

Set up a Computer Network Step 4
Set up a Computer Network Step 4

Step 4. Provide the network security password

When prompted, enter the password to access the selected wireless network.

Set up a Computer Network Step 5
Set up a Computer Network Step 5

Step 5. Press the Next button

It is located under the network name. If the entered password is correct, the computer will be connected to the network.

Set up a Computer Network Step 6
Set up a Computer Network Step 6

Step 6. Connect the other computers to the internet via the chosen Wi-Fi network

At this point you will have to repeat the steps described above for all the other computers that you want to connect to the network via wireless connection. After connecting all the machines to the network, you can proceed to configure the file sharing options.

Set up a Computer Network Step 7
Set up a Computer Network Step 7

Step 7. Access the "Start" menu by clicking the icon

Windowsstart
Windowsstart

It features the Windows logo and is located in the lower left corner of the desktop.

Set up a Computer Network Step 8
Set up a Computer Network Step 8

Step 8. Type in the control panel keywords

Your computer will search for the Windows "Control Panel" program.

Set up a Computer Network Step 9
Set up a Computer Network Step 9

Step 9. Select the Control Panel icon

It is characterized by a blue rectangle located at the top of the "Start" menu.

Set up a Computer Network Step 10
Set up a Computer Network Step 10

Step 10. Choose the Network and Sharing Center option

It is characterized by an icon with a series of blue monitors.

If you are in the "Category" view mode of the "Control Panel", you will need to choose the item first Network and Internet to be able to select the indicated option.

Set up a Computer Network Step 11
Set up a Computer Network Step 11

Step 11. Select the Change advanced sharing settings link

It is located at the top left of the page.

Set up a Computer Network Step 12
Set up a Computer Network Step 12

Step 12. Click the "Enable Network Discovery" radio button

This way you will be sure that your computer will be able to interact with other machines connected to the network.

You can also turn on the "Turn on file and printer sharing" and "Allow Windows to manage Homegroup connections" options if they aren't already

Set up a Computer Network Step 13
Set up a Computer Network Step 13

Step 13. Press the Save Changes button

It is located at the bottom of the window.

Set up a Computer Network Step 14
Set up a Computer Network Step 14

Step 14. Activate the same functions also on all other computers connected to the network

When all machines connected to the LAN have the "Enable Network Discovery" option enabled, you are ready to use your wireless network.

Method 2 of 4: Create a Wireless LAN on Mac

Set up a Computer Network Step 15
Set up a Computer Network Step 15

Step 1. Select the Wi-Fi network connection icon characterized by this symbol

Macwifi
Macwifi

It is located in the upper right corner of the desktop. A drop-down menu will appear.

  • If Wi-Fi connectivity is currently disabled, click the icon

    Macwifioff
    Macwifioff

    then select the option Turn on Wi-Fi from the menu that appeared.

Set up a Computer Network Step 16
Set up a Computer Network Step 16

Step 2. Select one of the available networks

Click the name of the Wi-Fi network to which you want to connect the computers that will make up the LAN network.

Set up a Computer Network Step 17
Set up a Computer Network Step 17

Step 3. Provide the network security password

When prompted, enter the password to access the selected wireless network using the "Password" text field.

Set up a Computer Network Step 18
Set up a Computer Network Step 18

Step 4. Press the Connect button

It is located at the bottom of the window. This way your computer will connect to the selected network.

Set up a Computer Network Step 19
Set up a Computer Network Step 19

Step 5. Connect the other computers to the internet via the chosen Wi-Fi network

At this point you will have to repeat the steps described above for all the other computers that you want to connect to the network via wireless connection. After connecting all the machines to the network, you can proceed to configure the file sharing options.

Set up a Computer Network Step 20
Set up a Computer Network Step 20

Step 6. Enter the "Apple" menu by clicking the icon

Macapple1
Macapple1

It features the Apple logo and is located in the upper left corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear.

Set up a Computer Network Step 21
Set up a Computer Network Step 21

Step 7. Choose the System Preferences… item

It is one of the options present in the drop-down menu that appeared.

Set up a Computer Network Step 22
Set up a Computer Network Step 22

Step 8. Click the Sharing icon

It is characterized by a blue folder visible in the center of the "System Preferences" window.

Set up a Computer Network Step 23
Set up a Computer Network Step 23

Step 9. Select the "File Sharing" checkbox

It is located inside the box on the left of the "Sharing" window. This way you can be sure that you can share files stored on your computer within the LAN.

Within the indicated box you can also select all the other sharing options present that you want to use on your LAN network, as needed

Set up a Computer Network Step 24
Set up a Computer Network Step 24

Step 10. Close the "System Preferences" window

All changes will be saved and your computer will be ready to share the files it contains on the network.

Set up a Computer Network Step 25
Set up a Computer Network Step 25

Step 11. Activate the same functions on all other computers connected to the network

When all the machines have been connected to the LAN and have active file sharing, the network configuration will be completed.

Method 3 of 4: Create a Wired LAN in Windows

Choose a Wireless Router Step 3
Choose a Wireless Router Step 3

Step 1. Make sure you have everything you need to proceed

You will need a network device to which you will need to physically connect all the computers that are part of it (such as a router) and enough Ethernet cables to wire all the connections.

  • Most standard network routers have few Ethernet ports, however you can purchase network hubs or switches that allow you to connect as many as 10 devices or more.
  • Make sure you know the exact distance between each computer to be connected and the network router, so that you know the length of the network cables to purchase.
Connect Two Routers Step 5
Connect Two Routers Step 5

Step 2. Connect the device that will manage the network infrastructure to the modem

Use an Ethernet cable to connect the port called "Internet" on the back of the modem, which manages the internet connection, with the same port on the back of the network router (in case the device is not equipped with this communication port, use one of the available Ethernet ports).

Remember that the network router will need to be connected to the mains for it to function properly

Create a Local Area Network (LAN) Step 10
Create a Local Area Network (LAN) Step 10

Step 3. Now connect each computer to the network router

Again use an Ethernet cable to connect each machine's network card to an Ethernet port on the router.

If you are using desktop computers, the network card should be on the back side of the case, while if you are using laptops you will find it along one side

Set up a Computer Network Step 29
Set up a Computer Network Step 29

Step 4. Enter the "Start" menu by clicking the icon

Windowsstart
Windowsstart

It features the Windows logo and is located in the lower left corner of the desktop.

Set up a Computer Network Step 30
Set up a Computer Network Step 30

Step 5. Type in the control panel keywords

Your computer will search for the Windows "Control Panel" program.

Set up a Computer Network Step 31
Set up a Computer Network Step 31

Step 6. Select the Control Panel icon

It features a blue rectangle located at the top of the "Start" menu.

Set up a Computer Network Step 32
Set up a Computer Network Step 32

Step 7. Choose the Network and Sharing Center option

It is characterized by an icon with a series of blue monitors.

If you are in the "Category" view mode of the "Control Panel", you will need to choose the item first Network and Internet to be able to select the indicated option.

Set up a Computer Network Step 33
Set up a Computer Network Step 33

Step 8. Select the Change advanced sharing settings link

It is located at the top left of the page.

Set up a Computer Network Step 34
Set up a Computer Network Step 34

Step 9. Click the "Enable Network Discovery" radio button

In this way you will be sure that the computer in use will be able to interact with the other machines connected to the device that manages the LAN network (in this case the router).

You can also turn on the "Turn on file and printer sharing" and "Allow Windows to manage Homegroup connections" options if you haven't already

Set up a Computer Network Step 35
Set up a Computer Network Step 35

Step 10. Press the Save Changes button

It is located at the bottom of the window.

Set up a Computer Network Step 36
Set up a Computer Network Step 36

Step 11. Activate the same functions on all other computers connected to the network

When all machines connected to the LAN have the "Enable Network Discovery" option enabled, you are ready to use your network.

Method 4 of 4: Create a Wired LAN on Mac

Create a Local Area Network (LAN) Step 6
Create a Local Area Network (LAN) Step 6

Step 1. Make sure you have everything you need to proceed

You will need a network device to which you will need to physically connect all the computers that are part of it (such as a router) and enough Ethernet cables to wire all the connections.

  • Most standard network routers have few Ethernet ports, however you can purchase network hubs or switches that allow you to connect as many as 10 devices or more.
  • Make sure you know the exact distance between each computer to be connected and the network router, so that you know the length of the network cables to purchase.
Create a Local Area Network (LAN) Step 8
Create a Local Area Network (LAN) Step 8

Step 2. Connect the device that will manage the network infrastructure to the modem

Use an Ethernet cable to connect the port called "Internet" on the back of the modem, which manages the internet connection, with the same port on the back of the network router (in case the device is not equipped with this communication port, use one of the available Ethernet ports).

Remember that the network router will need to be connected to the mains for it to function properly

Create a Local Area Network (LAN) Step 15
Create a Local Area Network (LAN) Step 15

Step 3. Now connect each computer to the network router

Again use an Ethernet cable to connect each machine's network card to an Ethernet port on the router.

  • If you are using iMacs, the network card should be on the back side of the screen.
  • If you are using MacBooks, it is very likely that you will need to purchase a USB-C to Ethernet adapter in order to connect using the network cable. This step is necessary because most modern MacBooks are no longer equipped with an Ethernet network card.
Set up a Computer Network Step 40
Set up a Computer Network Step 40

Step 4. Enter the "Apple" menu by clicking the icon

Macapple1
Macapple1

It features the Apple logo and is located in the upper left corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear.

Set up a Computer Network Step 41
Set up a Computer Network Step 41

Step 5. Choose the System Preferences… item

It is one of the options present in the drop-down menu that appeared.

Set up a Computer Network Step 42
Set up a Computer Network Step 42

Step 6. Click the Sharing icon

It is characterized by a blue folder visible in the center of the "System Preferences" window.

Set up a Computer Network Step 43
Set up a Computer Network Step 43

Step 7. Select the "File Sharing" checkbox

It is located inside the box on the left of the "Sharing" window. This way you will be sure that you can share files stored on your computer within the LAN.

Within the indicated box you can also select the other sharing options present that you want to activate on your LAN network, as needed

Set up a Computer Network Step 44
Set up a Computer Network Step 44

Step 8. Close the "System Preferences" window

All changes will be saved and your computer will be ready to share the files it contains on the network.

Set up a Computer Network Step 45
Set up a Computer Network Step 45

Step 9. Activate the same functions on all other computers connected to the network

When all the machines have been connected to the LAN and have active file sharing, the network configuration will be completed.

Advice

  • When purchasing Ethernet cables for LAN wiring, make sure they are shielded. Shielded network cables are equipped with a protective inner sheath which serves to reduce the risk of damage to the cable itself.
  • After enabling file sharing on your computer, you can create a shared folder that acts as a network directory to use for sharing documents and data between connected computers.

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