At-Home Networking

With ever-expanding families and the increasingly important role computers play in the educational lives of young students, one computer often cannot support the various needs and demands of a single familial unit. This is why more and more households possess multiple computers. But even then, problems can arise, especially if only one computer has Internet access.

This is where home networking comes into play.

So what exactly is a home network? In simple terms, a network is nothing more than something providing a means for different things to communicate with each other. With that in mind, home networking is a means by which two or more computers can function connectedly. In other words, each computer has access to the files, programs and equipment, such as printers, as the other.

There are several advantages to home networking. Those who have set up a home networking system often praise its convenience. Home networking affords a great degree of user-flexibility. Since the computers are linked, users can retrieve files from other computers or print on different printers without having to take a physical step.

For multi-computer families, home networking is less disruptive; two people no longer have to fight over one computer. This feature can be useful when someone needs to retrieve a file from a computer already being used by someone else.

Another asset of home networking is Internet sharing; multiple computers share a single Internet connection. Plus, home networking can save money. Since users share the equipment, one does not have to purchase a printer or other accessories for every computer.

For some, a client/server setup for the network is ideal, especially if a person uses particularly important files or works from home. With this setup, the main computer functions as the server. All other computers are clients with limited capabilities. For example, they can perform several functions, like opening files, but cannot delete anything. Again, this measure lends an extra air of security to the safety of crucial programs or files.

Speaking of security, all network users should seriously consider installing a firewall, which is an application intended to block other computers from accessing — and potentially harming — computers in the network.

Home networking systems are efficient, convenient ways for multiple users to access and share computer programs and files. A home network does not need to be intimidating; installation and usage tips are easy to come by as bookstores, libraries and the Internet provide straightforward explanations of networking systems.


Sources:
Ivens, Kathy. Home Networking for Dummies. New York: Hungry Minds, Inc., 2001.
Underdahl, Brian. Home Networking: A Visual Do-It-Yourself Guide. Indianapolis: Cisco Press, 2005