Sunday, February 06, 2005

Networking PC Report : Final Version | No graphics

By Ian
January 30, 2005
Technical Writing
Microsoft Word 2003 Professional
Rev 1.1

Networking PCs

- Table of Contents -

Chapter 1: Creating Ethernet or LAN

- Finding materials
- Setting up
- Using generic hubs
- Using user Interface – Control panel
- NIC is recognizing the network connection
- Internet Protocol TCP/IP dialog box
- Selecting connection method

Chapter 2: Manually overriding IP Addresses

- host pcs / host servers
- New Connection Wizard
- find your IP address by the command prompt
- using ipconfig
- using ping

Chapter 3: Installing Network Interface Card

- Step 1
- Step 2
- Step 3
- Step 4

Chapter 4: Bus Topology

- introduction
- Setting up
- Using generic hubs
- Using user Interface – Control panel
- NIC is recognizing the network connection
- Internet Protocol TCP/IP dialog box
- Selecting connection method

Chapter 5: Creating Straight-through or Cross-over Cable

- introduction
- Step 1 (finding cable)
- Step 2 (stripping rubber jacket)
- Step 3 (using RJ-45 diagram)
- Step 4 ( slipping wires in connector)
- Step 5 (finishing cable)
- Step 6 (cable testing)

Chapter 1: Creating Ethernet or LAN

A LAN stands for local area network and it’s all about hooking many computers up to a network in a room. I haven’t had experience with fiber-based Ethernet yet, so I am going to have to stay with ground based; wire called RJ45. Second, the category I’m using is CAT5e, which is 1000 Megabits bandwidth for the length of the cable. For cable longer than this there’s a need for an Ethernet closet. For now, omit though we’re hooking up straight-through cable from the PC to the switchboard (what is recommended these days) or Cat5 layer 1 hub according to the OSI model. Third, the person involved with networking all the computers together will need to gather all the supplies for it including an IEEE 802.3 switch board, a IEEE 802.3 router, two to four RJ-45 straight-through cables (100 meters recommended) Now, I’ll first explain how to set up a network using a hub.

The hub is the most primitive gateway to networking because it’s a layer 1 device. With technology progressing - few people use Cat5 hubs any more unlike 1990 thru 1999 - in other words they’re an older technology. Be sure each computer has at least CAT4 network interface cards working properly. The NIC has a female port which the RJ-45 will fit into perfectly. Your hub will have 5 or 8 ports on it so plug-in the straight-through cable from the first port of the hub (left to right) to the PC’s NIC card the user is working with.

If the user has a second PC, hook another RJ-45 from the PC to the Hub. Make sure it’s a straight-through cable or it won’t work. Plug in the opposite end to the 2nd port of the hub. If the reader has a 3rd PC then do the same to the way until all 5 or 8 ports of the hub are plugged in. Now, MS Windows has a funny way of trying to do everything for the computer user. Sometimes we’ll need to step in and take control of it before it takes control of us.

Step 1: Control Panel from start menu

Step 2: Control Panel:

Step 3: Click on Network and Internet Connections.

Step 4: Check and see if the NIC is recognizing the network connection via router / hub connection.

Step 5: Next you can either change the (I)nternet (P)rotocol Address by going into Properties, Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) in the properties dialog box. I’ll tell the user how to do this in the next chapter. On my computer there is an “X” on Local Area Connection since that NIC either doesn’t have a driver or more likely aren’t connected by a cable to an existing network. This problem is most likely to be solved by hooking a RJ-45 cable up to the NIC. As the user may realize - it’s never a good idea to have two cables hooked up to one PC even if there is more than one network available. The reason is because an IEEE 802.3 switch board, and IEEE 802.3 router are better at solving this problem. Routers are also known as intelligent hubs.

Step 6: The fifth step of this procedure is to use the New Connection Wizard to connect all the PCs to each other via star topology or extended Star topology. The 2nd dialog box of New Connection Wizard is seen below. The administrator wants to click on the Set up a home or small office network.

Step 7: Windows XP will automatically go into Network Setup Wizard. Click on Next twice. The 2nd dialog box only tells you what NIC cards are not connected. As the user can now see I checked Ignore disconnected network hardware. This is an example of my computer:

Step 8: Windows XP will ask you to “select a connection method”. What this means is when the user’s host PC is connected to the Internet you check the first option. Otherwise, the reader will check the other option for all other PCs. The third option is only there if the user doesn’t want a network connection, but ignore that because nothing bad happens when the current computer isn’t connected to ISP when set to “this computer connects to the Internet through another computer”.

Step 9: Windows XP will go through more windows, but I’d ignore them until the 2nd to last dialog box asks you to prompt for installation CD. The administrator does not want to insert any CD in the CD/DVD-ROM drive. So click no on that.

Step 10: If you have done steps 1 through 8, then the user shall have a fully operational network. This procedure should be done with any type of ground cable including multi-mode fiber-optic cable. Since none of us are rich enough to afford multi-mode fiber-optic cable it shouldn’t be a concern.

Chapter 2: Manually overriding IP Addresses

Step 1: To manually override IP addresses means giving the computer an IP address just for OFFLINE Local area networks. Only a couple numbers will be allowed, and the user shall use only use the “192.168.?.? way” because these bits are guaranteed to work if you have a working NIC. Shall we start? Good. The user will to go back into Network connections window, and right click on the NIC connection as seen below to get to the properties dialog box.

Step 2: Once step 1 is competed and you’re in the Properties dialog box, go over one tab into Internet Protocol TCP/IP Properties. The user will want to copy the 2nd picture exactly. The default gateway is the hosts PC’s IP address. Your information comes from his/her PC since it’s the Server. All LANs need a host PC or host server. All the other PCs are known as nodes or sometimes referred to as workstations in commercial situations. Remember, keep the Default Gateway the same for every node or the LAN will partially work or not work at all. Either way, it spells trouble when not done correctly. If this happens to the administrator than it’s not very fun checking every computer again, and tying in the correct default gateway for each one.

Step 3: Once Step 2 is completed find your IP address by the command prompt by Start, Programs, Accessories, Command Prompt. Or you can do Start, Run. In the Run Prompt dialog box type in “Command” than press Enter.

Step 4: The fourth step is to type in “ipconfig” at the underscore in the command prompt. The NIC will give you the IP address of the existing computer node from the NIC card. If there isn’t one assigned then the user has to assign it him/herself. If the reader’s NIC works - he/she will have an IP address. If the coder doesn’t have an IP address - replace the NIC card. I’ll show the reader how to do that which I’ll explain in the 3rd chapter. Let’s say the PC NIC card works. We’ll proceed to Step 5.

Step 5: Now type in “ping 192.168.1.2” into the command prompt, and you’ll get a result similar to this if not exactly due to the different administrator settings.

Chapter 3: Installing NIC Card

Step 1: Make sure the reader who so happens to also be a computer user has a screw driver, an electro-static discharge wrist band, and the power cable connected from the PC to the wall socket or power strip. A hardware installer must sure he/she is wearing shoes, has a T-shirt on with no extra clothing, and hands aren’t wet so all of this. All of these precautions will l minimize electrostatic discharge on the motherboard. It is highly recommended for the installer to have an electrostatic wrist band. Finally, hook the wrist band end (should be a clip) to the power box fan. If the power box is not an option for any reason - hook the end piece to the grounding hole of a wall socket. All wrist bands should have two parts: a clip and an end which fits inside the grounding hole of a wall socket.

Step 2: Now, it is necessary to take out the filling metal plates and replace it with the NIC card.

Step 3: Next, snap the NIC card in place make sure it’s good and tight. Finally, screw it down enough so you can unscrew it when there is a need too.

Step 4: Install the software from the CD or floppy which came with the PCI NIC card. Windows XP plug and play feature will probably identify any new NIC cards installed on a cold boot without a specific driver, so don’t feel bad if reader in question can’t find the CD. The same goes for IEEE 802.11B or IEEE 802.11G wireless PCI NIC cards because they’ll install the same way as normal NIC cards. To guarantee a LAN turning out….do Chapter 1 Steps 1 – 8 over again.

Chapter 4: Creating an Old Fashioned Bus Topology

The point of Chapter 4 is that it’s done exactly the way as Chapter 1 did with straight-through RJ-45 cable. Make sure there is a cross-over RJ-45 cable connected before you go to Step 1.

Step 1: Control Panel from start menu

Step 2: Control Panel:

Step 3: Click on Network and Internet Connections

Step 4: Check and see if the NIC is recognizing the network connection via router / hub connection.

Step 5: Next, the computer user can either change the IP Address by going into Properties, Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) in the properties dialog box. I’ll tell the user how to do this in the next chapter. For example, on my computer there is an “X” on Local Area Connection, since that NIC either doesn’t have a driver or more likely is not connected by a cable to an existing network. This problem is most likely to be solved by hooking a cross-over RJ-45 cable up to two NICs for two PCs. As the user may realize it’s never a good idea to have two cables hooked up to one PC even if there is more than one network available. The reason is because an IEEE 802.3 switch board and IEEE 802.3 router are better at solving this problem as a Cisco standard.

Step 6: The fifth step of this procedure is to use the New Connection Wizard to connect all the PCs to each other via bus topology. The 2nd dialog box of New Connection Wizard is seen below. The computer user will want to click on the Set up a home or small office network option.

Step 7: Windows XP will automatically continue with Network Setup Wizard. Click on the Next button twice. The 2nd dialog box only tells you what NIC cards are not connected. As the user can now see, I checked Ignore disconnected network hardware. This is an example of my computer:

Step 8: Windows XP will ask the administrator to select a connection method. What this means is that when the administrator’s host PC is connected to the Internet, the check the first option; otherwise, you check the other option for all other PCs. The third option is only there if the computer user doesn’t want an Internet connection, but I’ll ignore that because nothing bad happens when a computer isn’t connected to the Internet once set to option 2.

Step 9: Windows XP will go through more windows, but I’d ignore those ones until the 2nd to last dialog box asks you to prompt for installation CD. You do not want to insert any CD in the CD/DVD-ROM drive. So click the No button on that one.

Step 10: If the user has done steps 1 through 8, then you shall have a fully operational network. This procedure shall be done with any type of ground cable, including multi-mode fiber-optic cable. Since none of us are rich enough to afford multi-mode fiber-optic cable, it shall not be a concern.

Chapter 5: Creating Straight-Through & Crossover Cable

• Cable to split
• RJ-45 connectors
• Cable splitter
• RJ-45 clamper
• Cat 5e/Cat 6 compatible wire tester

Introduction – This is for people who don’t need excess cable. They can cut some existing RJ-45 cable they bought or maybe have a spindle of cable they can cut to length.

Step 1: Find some straight-through cable and cut approximately 10 feet of it.

Step 2: Strip the rubber jacket about a couple inches (just enough to fit in the connector piece) Do it for both ends. If the reader accidentally cuts off the cable all together, strip more off, which is why I’m giving the extra length of RJ-45 so mistakes can happen without throwing the whole piece away.

Step 3: Untwist the wires on the first end.

Straight-through RJ-45 from left to right:

Orange White,
Orange,
Green White,
Blue,
Blue White,
Green,
Brown White,
Brown

Crossover Cable

Green White,
Green,
Yellow White,
Blue,
Blue White,
Yellow,
Brown White,
Brown

Step 4: Slip each wire in the holes of the connector gently. If the wires get crunched try it again unless the wire won’t work because it’s no good. When this happens the user must strip more jacket off, and cut all the color coded wires evenly. Make sure the wires reach the end of the connector and are all even. The connectors are transparent.

Step 5: Once everything looks good clamp it down by fitting the end piece correctly in the RJ-45 clamper. The connector can only go in one way. Clamp it down all the way.

Step 6: Get a Cat 5e or Cat6 cable tester and usually all you need to do is connect the two ends of the cable to the two parts of the tester and press Test button. The user should get a lot of Oks or Passes. If there happens to be any Failures or Not Passes on the LCD screen than do all the steps in Chapter 5 over again until successful.

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