Connecting a Wired network
Connecting a wireless network
Creating a Dial-up Connection
Creating a VPN Connection
Connecting to a wired network
1.
Cat 5 is a kind of cable used for data transfer. If your home is wired for high-speed access, you may have Cat 5 cable in your walls. You can buy Cat 5 cable at your local computer or office supply store.
2.
Switches make for a speedier network, although they cost a little more than a hub. However, in most cases, it’s better to invest a few dollars more for the extra performance of a switch. You could also get very sophisticated — for example, like on a company network — and use a router.
3.
Plug one end of the Ethernet cable into the switch or hub and the other end into each PC's network adapter (it looks like a fat phone plug).
If you computer doesn't have a network adapter plug, you'll need to install an internal PCI network adapter (or add one to your system using either a USB drive or a PC card slot).
4.
After the computer starts, you'll need to run the Network Setup Wizard to get your network put together and working.
(Muir, 2015)
Side note:
The switch will connect you to your default gateway which will give you access to outside (public) networks.
You can seek out a wireless network in at least two ways. The first is to use Windows. The second is to use any custom software that came with the wireless NIC. Here’s how to find a wireless network in Windows 7, Vista, XP, and using custom software. You will need to have a wireless router installed.
Connecting to a wireless network in Windows 7 happens in a number of strange and confusing ways. The easiest way is to click the Wireless Networking icon in the taskbar’s notification area.
Up pops a list of available wireless networks; choose one from the list and click the Connect button. If prompted, type the network password.
In Windows Vista, connect to a wireless network by choosing the Connect To command from the Start button menu. A Connect to Network window appear, from which you can choose a wireless network.
In Windows XP, you need to access the Wireless Network Connection icon in the Network Connections window: Open the Network Connections icon in the Control Panel and then right-click the Wireless Network Connection icon. Choose the command View Available Wireless Connections from the shortcut menu.
The custom software doesn’t work better at finding the signal, but often it displays the signals it found in a better way than the traditional Windows method does.
Accessing the custom wireless network connection software that came with your PC’s wireless NIC depends on that software. For many, you will be able to right-click a teeny icon in the notification area. Eventually, after wading through some weird dialog boxes, you will get to the connection window. It not only shows available wireless networks but also graphically shows the network’s signal strength.
After choosing a network, the next step is to enter a password for access, unless your computer already knows the network and the password has been saved or the network doesn’t use a password.
After you’re connected, you see a wireless connection icon appear in the notification area. You can point the mouse at the icon to check the connection’s status.
You may, sometime after connecting, be prompted to specify whether the wireless network is public or private.
Some of those passwords can be long and tedious to type, especially in Windows XP, where you have to type it twice.
Yes, some networks have no passwords. The LuckyDog-guest network has no password, which is why it’s flagged with a teensy yellow shield icon. Password-less networks make for easier access, but they’re also less secure.
If you’re using an unsecured network, definitely employ a software firewall.
Public wireless hot spots often lack passwords. You might be required to “log in” by providing your email address or a form of temporary ID.
Always set to Public any wireless network you use outside your home or office. That helps boost general wireless security.
Windows Vista also assaults you with various User Account Control (UAC) warnings as you connect to wireless networks. Type the administrator’s password or click the Continue button to proceed.
(Gookin, 2015)
Side note:
The best way to secure a wireless network is to set it up with WPA2 password.
To create a new dial-up connection to a server at your workplace, perform the following steps:
Open Network And Sharing Center, either from Control Panel or by clicking the networking icon in the system notification area and then clicking Open Network And Sharing Center.
After Network And Sharing Center is displayed, click Set Up A New Connection Or Network to start the Set Up A New Connection Or Network wizard.
On the Choose A Connection Option page, select Connect To A Workplace and then click Next.
If this is the first connection you have created on the computer, proceed to step 5. Otherwise, select No, Create A New Connection and then click Next.
Click Dial Directly and specify a telephone number for the RAS server to which you want to connect, as shown here. (You can also give the connection a descriptive name to distinguish it from other connections on the computer. Typically, this will be the name of your remote network or RAS server.)
If dialing rules have not been configured for your computer, click Dialing Rules and then configure them as required.
To use a smart card for authentication, select Use A Smart Card. You must have a smart card reader installed on the computer to use this option. If you select this option, proceed to step 11.
To allow other users of the computer to use the connection, select Allow Other People To Use This Connection. Selecting this option requires that you have local administrative credentials for the computer so that you can respond to the User Account Control (UAC) prompt that appears.
To create a new connection that needs further configuration before you can use it, select Don't Connect Now; Just Set It Up So I Can Connect Later.
Click Next and specify the credentials (user name, password, and optionally the domain) you will use to be authenticated by the RAS server. (This option is available only if you left the option to Use A Smart Card cleared earlier in the wizard.)
If you chose to create a connection that needs further configuring before being used, click Create and then either click Close to create the connection or click Connect Now to initiate the connection.
There are two principal ways to configure VPN. The first and more-common scenario, called outgoing, is setting up a remote computer to call into the office network. The second scenario, called incoming, occurs on the network side, where a computer allows secure connections from other computers. Windows 7 comes preloaded with the Agile VPN client, which makes setting up either kind of connection relatively easy.
Step 1 Click the Start button. In the search bar, type VPN and then select Set up a virtual private network (VPN) connection.
Step 2 Enter the IP address or domain name of the server to which you want to connect. If you're connecting to a work network, your IT administrator can provide the best address.
Step 3 If you want to set up the connection, but not connnect, select Don't connect now; otherwise, leave it blank and click Next.
Step 4 On this next screen, you can either put in your username and password, or leave it blank. You'll be prompted for it again on the actual connection. Click Connect.
Step 5 To connect, click on the Windows network logo on the lower-right part of your screen; then select Connect under VPN Connection.
Step 6 In the Connect VPN Connection box, enter the appropriate domain and your log-in credentials; then click Connect.
Step 7 If you can't connect, the problem could be due to the server configuration. (There are different types of VPN.) Check with your network administrator to see what kind is in use--such as PPTP--then, on the Connect VPN Connection screen, select Properties.
Step 8 Navigate to the Security tab and select the specific Type of VPN from the drop-down list. You may also have to unselect Include Windows logon domain under the Options tab. Then click OK and Connect.
Step 1 Click the Start button, and, in the search bar, type Network and Sharing.
Step 2 Click Change Adapter Settings in the left-hand menu.
Step 3 Click File, and then New Incoming Connection.
Step 4 Select the users you'd like to give access to and click Next.
Step 5 Click Through the Internet and select Next.
Step 6 Select the Internet Protocol you'd like to use. (The default TCP/IPv4--the line highlighted in the screenshot below--will work fine.)
Step 7 Finally, click Allow access; you've now set up an incoming VPN connection.