Home Network How To - What Kind Should I Use?

When I first started in computers, one of the mostUnfortunately because of the fact that the hub does
confusing things that I ran across was how to set up anot have built-in firewall or any other such software
home network. The differences between hubs, routers,that can protect the computers behind the hub
Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) and cabling were aComputers A must also be running Windows firewall in
mystery to me. But after much trial and error andthe background which provides an additional
built-up experience I managed to figure things out andperformance hit.
some of that information I will share with you now.So although the ICS is the cheapest way to go, it is
There are two basic types of networks that I'm goingdefinitely not the speediest way to go. In fact, to be
to talk about in this article first being the infamous ICShonest, I would only follow this route if the users of
or Internet Connection Sharing. ICS is usuallyComputers B and C had something against the user of
implemented by connecting multiple computers throughComputer A and want to get even!
the hub to a single computer. Let's say we have threeThe second type of setup that I'm going to talk about it
computers, Computer A, Computer B and Computeris the router based set up. Nice thing about the router
C. Computer A has enjoyed a high speed Internetis that most routers are very intelligent. They have
connection and after a while, Computer B and C wantbuilt-in firewalls, parental controls, can block sites or
to get in on the action! In order to implement ICS, weeven allow users to have access to your network
would have to connect Computers B and C to a hub.from the outside if they know the proper passwords
A hub is basically a switch that allows any computerand/or ports to connect through. No additional
hooked up to it to communicate with any othersoftware is required that might add a performance hit
computer hooked up to the hub. So with all threeand all three computers get configured the same way.
computers hooked up to it, we would set the networkTo hook up or router you simply plug a cable from
up on the computers to use ICS. Computers B and Cyour Internet connection into the router then plug the
would be told that they're going to connect to thethree computers into the router as well. When you set
Internet through another computer that has aup your computers you tell networking software that
high-speed Internet connection. While Computer Aall three will computers have direct access to the
would be configured to enjoy its high-speed connectionInternet. There is some setup involved with router as is
as it did before.usual with any complicated piece of hardware but
Like this, Computers B and C would enjoy a relativelyusually it is very painless and if you follow the
fast connection to the Internet as would Computer A.instructions, quite easy!
The problem here starts when all three computers areThe nice thing about router set up is that once it is set,
accessing the Internet at the same time. Computers Bup all three computers enjoy the same speed
and C would enjoy a relatively fast connection to theadvantages of being on a high-speed Internet. No one
Internet while Computer A would suffer somecomputer is impacted by the fact that someone else is
moderate slowdowns because it not only has todownloading a file. In fact, all three can download a file
handle its own traffic but the traffic of the other twoat the same time and still enjoy impressive speed while
computers as well. The user on Computer A is goingdoing so! Face it guys this is the network that you
to get quite upset if Computers B and C decide towant to set up if your wife is on Computer A!
download files at the same time. Because downloadingRouters tend to be a little more expensive than hubs
a file is such a data intensive process, demanding largebut the advantages of having them a part your
amounts of data be transferred from the Internet asnetwork far outweigh any price difference. So if you
fast as possible, Computers A may suffer somemust go with ICS, then do so with pride! But personally,
severe speed problems because of the demand beingI would recommend spending the extra money to go
put on it from the other two computers.the "router route"!