Microsoft KB Archive/813937

= How to Set Up a Small Network with Windows XP Home Edition (PART 2) =

Article ID: 813937

Article Last Modified on 11/5/2003

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

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SUMMARY
This article includes Part 2 of the &quot;Set Up a Small Network with Windows XP Home Edition&quot; guide. Part 2 provides information about buying the network hardware.

Note To view the other topics of the &quot;Set Up a Small Network with Windows XP Home Edition&quot; guide, see the Microsoft Knowledge Base articles that are listed in the &quot;References&quot; section of this article.

The &quot;Set Up a Small Network with Windows XP Home Edition&quot; guide includes the following topics:

Part 1. Introduction: Set Up a Small Network with Windows XP Home Edition

Part 2. Buying the Network Hardware

Part 3. Connecting the Computers

Part 4. Installing the Network Card

Part 5. Configuring TCP/IP Protocol

Part 6. Setting the Computer Names and the Workgroups

Part 7. Sharing Folders

Part 8. Sharing a Printer



Part 2. Buying the Network Hardware
Your computers can communicate with each other only if they are physically connected. To physically connect them, you must have some hardware. Many manufacturers offer starter kits that make setting up your first network easier. However, you can also obtain all the components separately. You must have the following components to connect your computers:
 * One network card per computer

The most frequently used network cards are PCI 10BaseT/100BaseT Fast Ethernet adapters. These Ethernet cards for the PCI bus can automatically switch between transfer rates of 10 MBit/s and 100 MBit/s.


 * LAN onboard

New computers typically have a LAN chip on the motherboard. If your motherboard already has a LAN chip, you do not have to install a new network card. However, you may have to activate it in BIOS. For more information, see the manual that the manufacturer supplied with your computer. If you are not sure, you can also ask your hardware manufacturer.
 * One network cable per computer.

Use CAT5 UTP or STP cables (category 5 unshielded or shielded twisted pair cables with RJ45 connectors on both ends).


 * A signal distributor.

A signal distributor connects computers with each other, controls data flow and can negotiate data transfer between 10 Mbit/s and 100 Mbit/s connections. For your small network, use either a dual-speed hub or a dual-speed switch



How to Decide Whether to Use a Hub or a Switch
The signal distributor is the central component that connects your network. The twisted pair cable connects the network cards in all the computers to the signal distributor. This forms a star structure. The term &quot;star topology&quot; originates from this star structure.

The signal distributor does not just connect the devices. It also guides data packets through the network. A hub and a switch differ. When a hub receives a data packet, it forwards it to all other computers. Each computer must verify whether it is the correct recipient.



A hub forwards data packets to all the ports.

A switch is more intelligent. It recognizes which computer is connected to which port based on the MAC address (the network card's hardware address assigned by the manufacturer) and saves this information in a table. When a switch receives a data packet, it determines the recipient and forwards the packet to the correct computer.



A switch forwards data packets only to the recipient. Therefore, a switch creates significantly less data traffic than a hub. The more computers that you have in your network, the more sense it makes to use a switch. Your signal distributor must have enough ports to support the number of computers in your network, and it should have extra ports in case you want to add more computers later.

