HOW TO SHARE FILE AND PRINTER IN A COMPUTER NETWORK?

SHARING FILE AND PRINTER IN A COMPUTER NETWORK 

 PRELIMINARY STEPS 

1. Create an IP address
2. Configure the IP address
3. Set Windows firewall settings
4. Set up a home or small office network

Firewall 

is a network security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules.

Network Setup Wizard 

is a built-in feature of windows that let you setup a network for computers running Microsoft windows operating systems.

SHARING FILES ON A NETWORK (SERVER) 

1. Place the folder inside
2. Right click the folder 
3. Click Properties
4. Click Sharing
5. Click Share this folder on the network
6. Click Apply
7. Click OK

CHECKING FILES (CLIENT) 

1. Click Start button
2. Click Run
3. Then type \\[IP address of server]

 SHARING PRINTERS ON A NETWORK (SERVER) 

1. Click Control Panel
2. Click Add Printer
3. Right click Printer
4. Click Sharing
5. Click Share this printer
6. Click Apply
7. Click OK

 CONNECTING PRINTERS ON A NETWORK (CLIENT) 

1. Click Run
2. Then type \\[IP address of Server]
3. Then type \\[IP address of Server]
4. Right click Printer
5. Right click Printer

How to reformat a personal computer?

 REFORMATTING A PERSONAL COMPUTER 

1. Start your pc and press key F2, F12 or delete key (Depends on your PC model). 

  Your PC BIOS settings will be displayed. Find boot menu. In boot device priority select CD-ROM as first boot device.

2. Your PC will boot from CD and windows installation will start. Press Enter at this screen.

3. Accept License agreement by pressing F8 key.

4. Delete the partitions.

5. Create the partitions.

6. Define the size of partitions.

7. Now select your desired partition for installation of Windows XP and press enter.

8. Choose to format the partition. Choose NTFS file system quick. 

9. Setup will format the partition.

10. After formatting, setup will start copying files on to the hard disk.

11. After copying of files, setup will start installing Windows. 

12.  Select desired language and regional settings, when prompted by setup.

13. Enter windows key.

14. Type a name for your computer.

15.  Select time and date settings and time zone according to your country.

16.  Provide network settings for networking pc's or select typical settings and press enter.

17.  Setup will install devices and register components.

18.   After completion setup will do a cleanup of files and will restart your pc automatically. At this stage you can remove CD from drive.

What is a Network or IP Address?

THE IP ADDRESS

Network address is more commonly known as IP address. It is the numeric address of a computer connected to the network. It can be compared to the physical address that we use for our homes which uniquely identifies it from the rest of the homes in our neighborhood, town, city, province, country and the whole wide world. IP address is a set of numbers, called as “octets” or “dotted decimal” notation, that identifies any network device.

IP VERSIONS

1.IPv4 (IP version 4) is the standard version

2.IPv6 (IP version 6) is the advanced version

IPv4 – Internet Protocol version 4

IPv4 addresses are canonically represented in dotted-decimal notation, which consists of four decimal numbers, each ranging from 0 to 255, separated by dots, e.g., 172.16.254.1. Each part represents a group of 8 bits (octet) of the address.

Binary digit of 172

128	64	32	16	8	4	2	1
1	0	1	0	1	1	0	1

Binary digit of 16

128	64	32	16	8	4	2	1
0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0

Binary digit of 16

128	64	32	16	8	4	2	1
0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1

Classes of IP Address

                      Note:  

                               127   - loop back function of a network

                               Class D  - is for multicast

                               Class E  - reserved for future or experimental purposes 

Example of Class A IP address

100.168.2.1

Example of Class B IP address

190.3.0.1

Example of Class C IP address

Typical home networks use IP addresses that start with 192.168. IP address such as

  192.168.1.1   or 192.168.2.1

Creating IP address

1.  Right click My Network Places

2.  Click Properties

3.  Right click Local Area Connection

4.  Click Properties

5.  Click TCP/IP

6.  Click Properties

• Obtain an IP address automatically

• Use the following IP address:

    IP Address:

    Subnet Mask:

IP configuration

1.  Click Start button

2.  Click Run

3.  Type cmd

4.  Type ipconfig

5.  Type ping [IP address]
6.  Type ok

What are the Types of Cable?

There are three types of cable: twisted-pair, coaxial, and fiber optic. Let us know these three cables.

Twisted-Pair Cable

It is the most common type of cable. Twisted-Pair cable has eight individual copper wires bundled together and covered with an insulting material. The copper wire in twisted-pair cable is always color coded with a insulation and they are twisted in pairs for a total of four pairs,

There are two types of Twisted-Pair cable, the Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) Cable and Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) Cable.

• UTP stands for Unshielded Twisted Pair cable. UTP cable is a 100 ohm copper cable that consists of 2 to 1800 unshielded twisted pairs surrounded by an outer jacket. They have no metallic shield. This makes the cable small in diameter but unprotected against electrical interference.

• Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) Cable. STP is similar to UTP but with each pair covered by an additional copper braid jacket or foil wrapping. This shielding helps protect the signals on the cables from external interference.

Coaxial Cable

A coaxial cable is a type of shielded and insulated copper cable that is used in computer networks and to deliver cable TV services to end users. Coaxial cable is also known as coax, which is derived from the geometric axis created between a shield and insulator.

Fiber-Optic Cable

Optical fiber is used as a medium for telecommunication and computer networking because it is flexible and can be bundled as cables. It is especially advantageous for long-distance communications, because light propagates through the fiber with much lower attenuation compared to electrical cables.

What is Straight-Through Cable?

Straight-through cable is used to connect different type of devices.

Examples:
Computer- Switch
Switch-Router
Router-Computer

We need to use the correct color for the appropriated pin the RJ-45 jack for us to be able to do straight-through.

What is Cross-Over Cable?


Straight-through cable is used to connect same type of devices.

Examples:
Computer- Computer
Switch-Switch
Router-Router

The pattern for cross-over is T-568A and T-568B.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_fiber_cable
https://www.sqa.org.uk/e-learning/NetTechDC01CCD/page_17.htm
https://www.fiberoptics4sale.com/.../95046918-what-is-unshielded-twisted-pair-utp-cabl...
https://www.techopedia.com/definition/15981/coaxial-cable

Types of Network Topologies

Network Topology refers to the layout or structure of the network in relation with the flow of data.

Linear Bus Topology

Linear Bus Topology uses one long cable referred to as a backbone to which computers and other devices are attached a terminator is placed at each end of the backbone to keep the signals from bouncing back and being received again by the nodes in the network.

Star Topology

 

Star Topology uses a central device called a hub with cables extending in all directions. Each networked device is connected directly to the hub. Data from a computer pass through the hub or switch before it can reach the other target node.

Ring Topology

Ring Topology is a network configuration in which device connections create a circular data path. Each networked device is connected to two others, like points on a circle. Together, devices in a ring topology are referred to as a ring network. In a ring network, packets of data travel from one device to the next until they reach their destination. Most ring topologies allow packets to travel only in one direction, called a unidirectional ring network. Others permit data to move in either direction, called bidirectional.

Mesh Topology 

Mesh Topology is a network setup where each computer and network device is interconnected with one another, allowing for most transmissions to be distributed, even if one of the connections go down. It is a topology commonly used for wireless networks. Below is a visual example of a simple computer setup on a network using a mesh topology. Mesh networks operate in two ways: by either routing the data or flooding the data. When you’re routing a message in a mesh network, it propagates along a predefined path, hopping from node to node until it reaches its destination. In order to establish these routes and ensure that the paths are available, the network needs to be continuously connected and configuring itself. In other words, it has to constantly work to find broken paths and create self-healing algorithms to build route tables. Because there’s a lot of layer two (MAC) traffic flowing on the network to establish this route, mesh networks can be less efficient than star networks (which we’ll cover in a moment).

Hybrid Topology

A hybrid topology is a type of network topology that uses two or more differing network topologies. These topologies include a mix of bus topology,mesh topology, ring topology, star topology, andtree topology.

https://www.link-labs.com/blog/what-is-mesh-topology

https://www.computerhope.com/jargon/m/mesh.htm

https://www.computerhope.com/jargon/r/ringtopo.htm

https://www.computerhope.com/jargon/h/hybrtopo.htm