Download Lab03: RAM, File types and Storage Devices

Lab 9
QMCS 200
Introduction to Computer and Information
Technology
(revised for R. Smith’s Section)
Building a Local Area Network (LAN)
Purpose
This lab is designed to introduce you to how to build a local area network. Further, this lab will
provide you with background knowledge on why a LAN would be useful, the hardware needed and
will have you put a LAN together and experiment with its capabilities.
Instructions
Complete this lab with a partner and discuss each step with that person. You MUST use the 3
computers located in room OSS429 for this lab. You must set up a time to do this lab with
either the instructor (R. Smith) or the course assistant (Tim Tursich). Check the instructor’s
home page for contact information. The class home page (the one listing assignment due
dates) has contact information for Tim Tursich.
Together with your partner, write answers to those steps that require it (they are in boldface,
underlined and surrounded by **) on a blank piece of paper. At the end of the lab, turn in your
paper with your names on it or you may e-mail the answers.
What is a Local Area Network (LAN) and why build one?
1. A LAN is a group of computers (typically, 2 – 50 computers) that are physically located near
each other (on the same floor of a corporation or small business, across several floors of a
house or within 1 room in a school lab). A small business or a home may want to connect 38 computers so that these people are able to share the internet, are able to share a printer
or they might want to share some files between the computers. All computers in the LAN
are connected to a box that can be a switch, hub or router AND this device is connected to
the network/internet. The router, hub or switch and all computers in the LAN MUST be within
1 mile of each other, however, typically they are in the same room or within a few hundred
feet.
2. Your first decision in building a LAN is to decide your purpose. File sharing and printer
sharing is a separate issue from the internet connection. File sharing/printer sharing can be
accomplished by connecting all your computers together into a LAN. You would not need to
connect the LAN to the Internet.
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3. Do you want all computers to share the internet? Do you want to share files and/or a printer
between the computers? Do you want to do both? We will create a LAN to do both.
What hardware is needed?
1. Hardware needed to create a LAN includes the following:

Switch (UST or a large company) OR Router/switch (your home or small
business) that is 802.11g compatible.

Wall connection to the corporate or university central computing facility where
router/proxy server and gateway to the internet are located OR Broadband
cable/DSL OR telephone Modem (if connecting to the internet from home or small
business).

Cat5 10/100 ethernet cable for each computer

Network card for each computer

Printer (if you desire to share it between all computers)
2. First, a brief discussion on where you might build this LAN. If you are building a LAN at UST
or in a company, you will need a Switch and will not need a Router and Modem because a
router and modem connection to the internet will be provided at a central location for the
company or university. All computers will be connected together using either wireless or
Ethernet methods and connected to a Switch box. The Switch may be located in the same
room or down the hall. The Switch box will then be connected to the network connection
(likely to a plug in the wall). In your company or university, this wall plug will then be
connected to a central computer where a router and proxy server are located. Your
information will go through the router and proxy server with the IP address of the router
being sent through the internet.
If you are building this LAN at your home, you WILL need a router, modem and switch AND
will use one of the following hardware configurations: 1) - a Router with a separate
(broadband) modem and a separate switch OR 2) - a Router with a built in switch and
modem OR 3) - a Router with a built in switch and a separate modem. Each computer is
connected to the Switch, then to the router and then to the modem although these features
may be combined into one or two hardware devices. The modem is connected to the wall in
your home where it leaves your home and travels to your ISP.
3. In this lab, we will connect three computers together in a LAN and then connect it to the
internet. We will use UST as our ISP, therefore, we will use a Switch. Your choices are a
switch that will accept a wireless connection from each computer or Ethernet cable.
4. You will need to insert a network card into the expansion slot of each computer. You will
purchase a network card (NIC) that works with the switch(Ethernet or wireless). In this lab,
you will insert (you will find it already installed) a 10/100 Ethernet network card. The CAT5
cable plugs into the card and plugs into the switch. In the computers in this lab, you will
notice that there is NO NIC in the computer’s expansion slot. That is because the computers
were purchased with the NIC and are built into the motherboard. On another computer, you
may have to add a NIC.
5. To determine if there is a built in 10/100 NIC, select Start, Settings, Control Panel and
double click on the System icon. Select the Hardware Tab and Device Manager. Select the
+ sign next to Network Adaptor. If a NIC is listed and you did not insert a card into the
expansion slot, then your computer has a built in NIC. Do this on computer 04. **Use Alt
printscreen to copy into Word and print the Device Manager window that shows the
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Network adaptor.** You will notice that there are two NIC’s. The one you will use to
connect to the LAN is the Intel NIC. The Linksys NIC is an extra card that has been inserted
into an expansion slot for the purpose of showing you where you will need to insert this in
your own computer at home. You will not use the Linksys card in this lab. Shut computer
04 off and Open it up. Notice there is a Linksys NIC card in an expansion slot AND notice
the metal piece inside the computer connected to the network port on the outside. This is
the built-in NIC.
6. The printer will be connected to your choice of the computers and used by all. Go ahead
and connect the printer to one of the computers. Connect it to computer 06.
7. Now, go ahead and check each computer for the Network card that has been installed.
These computers have Intel NIC’s. It is on the motherboard (piece of metal connected to
the network port and no additional NIC). Other brands in addition to Intel that are commonly
purchased include: Linksys, Belkin, NetGear and 3Com.
8. Connect a CAT5 cable from each NIC to any of the ports 1X, 2X, 3X, … on the Allied
Telesyn Switch. With the network cards in place and the cables attached between the NIC
and the switch for EACH computer, your LAN is set up.
9. The hardware is now connected and you have a Local Area Network where you may share
files and a printer between these computers. You are NOT connected to the internet. We
will do that later. It is now ready to establish file sharing.
10. A little more explanation about what you have done and how it would be the same/similar at
your home or place of business: A switch provides IP addresses to each computer in the
LAN and will send incoming information to the correct computer based on its IP address.
Setting up an Ethernet LAN off campus in your home would be identical except you will use
a router/switch combination device instead of a switch.
If you need to share a broadband Internet connection in your home or small business, you
will need to use a router. A switch will not let you share a broadband cable/DSL Internet
connection. There are a few exceptions to this rule. Call your ISP if you want to find out
which to use without being charged for an extra IP address.
A router is a component that connects your network to a Wide Area Network (WAN) like the
internet. It can have an integrated 4 port or 8 port switch in it. A router is intelligent and is
able to act as a firewall for protection against hackers from the outside. Again, this is not
necessary in this lab because you are using UST as your ISP. In the central computing
facility in Aquinas, there is a router and firewall. In packet-switched networks such as the
Internet, a router is a device or, in some cases, software in a computer, that determines the
next network point to which a packet of information should be forwarded toward its
destination. The router is connected to at least two networks and decides which way to send
each information packet based on its current understanding of the state of the networks it is
connected to. A router is located at any gateway (where one network meets another),
including each point-of-presence on the Internet.
Most routers now are a hybrid of a router and switch. Instead of having multiple routers
sitting around the house you have one box that is slightly larger. It has a place for your
Internet connection and then places for all your computers CAT 5 cables. That box would
have all the workings of a switch but also have a port for your high speed internet
connection and something called a NAT. The NAT is what makes a router do what it does.
The switch part sends all the data from the network to the NAT. The NAT helps determine
where it goes and then sends it to its proper destination while masking its IP.
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If you desire wireless, you would purchase and install a wireless NIC and a wireless
router/switch. You can have multiple NIC’s in a computer. Some people have a wireless
NIC for traveling convenience and portability AND an Ethernet NIC for home or business
use. The disadvantages of a wireless LAN include the following: interference by cell
phones, cement in walls or simply distance can make the connection impossible, very slow
or inconsistent speed and computer must be within 300 feet of the switch. The advantages
of a wireless LAN are that there are no cables necessary between the computer and the
router/switch and the computer can be moved anywhere within wireless reach of the signal
from the router/switch. Some LAN’s will use an Access Point hardware device that is
connected to an Ethernet Router/switch. The Access Point accepts a wireless connection
from each of the computer’s NICs.
11. More than one switch or router/switch CAN be connected together. At UST, there are many
LANs such as room 431. These computers in 431 connect into a switch located down the
hall. The computers in room 432 also connect into another switch, 428 into another switch
and 434 into another switch. Other floors in OSS also have LANs. All of these switches are
connected together and then into a Network connection that travels to Aquinas and connect
to a piece of hardware called a bridge that is connected to the e-mail server, admin. server,
web server and then connected to the router and proxy server and then out to the internet.
12. If you have a home with 10 computers, you would use two routers and connect 5 computers
to each. One router cable would connect to the other and ultimately be connected to the
ISP. You could also use 2 switches connected together with one switch connected to a
router and the router connected to the cable modem and then to the internet.
Setting up the LAN for file and print sharing among computers in
the LAN
File Sharing
1. Now, go to one of the computers and begin setting it up for sharing among the computers.
First, we will establish file sharing and Second, we will enable each computer to be able to
use the printer.
2. Many companies and homes desire to share some files (but not all) between computers.
Many companies will have a public folder that can be shared and is stored on a server. We
will create a public folder on each of the computers and make it visible to each of the other
computers so they may read the files in the folder but will not be able to change them.
3. We will first establish file sharing on the each computer.
4. On computer station01, create a folder on the desktop and name it Shared folder-station 01.
5. Right mouse click on the folder and select properties. Click on the Sharing tab.
6. Click on share this folder.
7. Now create a brief Word processing document and save it in this folder.
8. Go to each of the other computers on the LAN and complete steps 4, 5, 6 and 7 naming the
folder Shared folder-station 04 or Shared folder-station06.
9. Now, we will check it out to see if we can indeed look at the files in each shared folder.
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10. Go to computer station 01, Double click on My Network Places.
11. You will see a panel on the left where Entire Network is listed. If you do not see this panel,
select Tools and Folder Options from the menu. Select the General tab and click on Show
Common Tasks in Folders. Now, the panel will appear.
12. Click on Entire Network.
13. You will see all three of the following OR you may only see Microsoft Windows Network:
Microsoft Terminal services
Microsoft Windows Network
Web Client Network
14. Double click on Microsoft Windows Network
15. UST (the LAN in this room) should appear in the right panel. If you set this up at home, it
will be called MSHOME or some other similar name. If you were connected to the internet
(if you connected the switch to the wall), you will see other LAN’s (in addition to UST) on the
UST network. If you were in a company, this would also be the case. Double click on UST.
16. As long as you are not connected to the internet and have only connected the 3 computers
into a LAN, you will see 3 computers that are connected to your LAN.
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17. These are the names given to the computers when Windows was initially installed. The
computers in our LAN that you just assembled are :
QM110 -01
QMCS110-04
QM110-06
You might not like these names, but they are the default names when you installed your OS.
If you want to see the name of your (or each of many) computer here in the lab OR at home
and you want to change the name if you like, go to the control panel and double click on
System. Click on the Computer Name tab. PLEASE Don’t change the names in this lab.
**Use Alt Print Screen to print the window that displays the computer name for one of
the computers used in this lab.**
18. Double click on the computer station where you want to locate files, so select either
computer station 04 or 06. You MAY be asked to provide a username and password to
access this folder. You would need to provide the Username and Password for the
computer you are accessing. If it asks you for this, use localadmin and Qmcs110class as
this is the username and password for each of the computer stations.
19. Shared folder-station 06 (or other station) will appear and if you double click on it, all files
will appear. You may open any of them (if there are multiple files) but will not be able to
Save them back on the other computer. You COULD save it on your computer.
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20. You may go to any of the computers on the LAN and be able to view files on any of these
computers as well.
21. If you were not on the UST system but instead built this network at home or at a small
business, steps 12 through 17 would look slightly different. You might see step 12, but
instead of UST in step 15, you might see mshome and in step 16, you would see the list of
your computers on your home LAN. If you were in a company, you would see the network
established within the company and would have the name ABCLan01 or something similar.
22. AT UST, at your home or on any LAN, a shortcut to doing this that will always give you a list
of the folders on the computer for which you have allowed sharing :
Click on Start and Run
Enter: \\QM110-01 or the name of any computer on the LAN (QM110-06 or QMCS110-04).
If you don’t know the names of the computers, you will have to sit at each computer, go to
the Control panel, System and Computer Name tab and read the computer name.
** Use Alt Print Screen and print the window where you have entered \\QM110-01 or
other computer station number.**
Printer Sharing
If you have trouble with file sharing, you may copy files you need to print to the computer that has the
printer – just use file sharing.
1. Now we will set up printer sharing and try it out.
2. Go to the computer where the printer is attached. This lab assumes it is station 06.
3. If you just attached the printer to the computer, you may have to install it (lab 8) and may
have to insert the CDROM that contains the printer driver. Often, printers are automatically
recognized and a formal installation is not necessary. Your printer in this lab should
automatically be recognized and Windows XP will find the printer driver.
NOTE: You should not have to install the printer in this lab!!
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4. Select Start, Settings and Printers and Faxes.
5. Select the printer and right mouse click. Select properties.
6. Select the Sharing tab and click on Share this printer.
7. Reboot station 06.
8. Now, go to another computer on the LAN and go into Word processing and open up a file
from another computer on the LAN. Select File Print and click the drop down arrow next to
Name and select the printer that is connected to another computer on the LAN. **You will
print to this printer.**
9. If the printer does not show up, reboot the computer and try again. If it still does not show
up, select Network Places from the Desktop and select the computer where the printer is
located (QM110-06) Printers and Faxes. Then, right mouse click on the Canon Printer and
select: Connect.
Setting up the ISP connection to share the internet
1. Before these computers can share the internet, you must have an Internet Service provider
(ISP). There are numerous choices including: AOL, Comcast, Earthlink, Qwest and many
others. The ISP may provide you with web space to store a web site, an email address and
space to store your e-mail messages that you receive and send AND other storage space
(similar to the U drive at UST). You may elect NOT to use the web or email space they
provide, but to use another e-Mail address (www.yahoo.com, for example). The main
purpose for obtaining an ISP is to gain ACCESS known as a GATEWAY to the internet. It is
your connection to the internet highway. Your instructor will provide information about ISP’s.
You may already be connected to an ISP at home with one computer. If not, you must first
subscribe to an ISP and have them come to your home or business and install the
connection so you have a wall plug. During this lab, you will use the University of St
Thomas as your ISP access to the internet.
2. When you connect your computers (your LAN) to the ISP to access the internet, you will
need to connect to the ISP using your choice of communications methods. You may choose
a 56k telephone dial up connection, cable, DSL, Satellite, T1/T3 line. Wireless is not
available at this time to connect from your home or place of business to your ISP. The
University of St Thomas as an ISP uses a T1 or T3 line. At home or a small business, you
would likely use a DSL or cable connection. If you were connecting to an ISP using a
Cable, DSL, phone line or Satellite, you would need a modem specific for that
communication method. Broadband or Cable/DSL modems will all work for Cable or DSL.
The modem is connected to the wall plug in and leaves your house or place of business and
is connected to your ISP. Wireless connections to the internet are not available at this time
as there would need to be wireless towers in the community similar to cell phone towers.
With a T1 line such as at UST, you will connect a CAT5 ethernet cable directly into the wall
plug in a lab on campus, or dorm room, therefore, you do not need a modem.
3. If you desire to connect several computers to the ISP using the same communication line,
you must first connect all computers together into a LAN (which you have done) and then
connect the LAN (the switch) (connect CAT5 cable from 8MDI port on the switch) to the
modem or to the wall plug in (when using UST as your ISP). If you were at home, you would
have a router/switch and a modem.
4. Connect a CAT5 cable from the switch (from the LAN) to the University of St. Thomas
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network (the UST ISP) by connecting the cable to the network wall plug. As soon as you
have connected the cable from the switch to the wall here in the lab, you are connected to
the ISP. **Open Internet Explorer or another browser and enter a web site. Use Alt
Print Screen to print a page.**
5. Off campus, you would need to connect the router/switch to a cable or DSL modem using a
CAT5 ethernet cable and the modem to your ISP outlet as you would not be using the UST
Internet Service provider.
6. Now, a refresher on the difference between a router and a switch. Routers are one of
several types of devices that make up the "plumbing" of a computer network. Switches and
routers all take signals from computers or networks and pass them along to other computers
and networks, but a router is a “gateway” to the internet in that it is the only one of these
devices that examines each bundle of data (packets) as it passes and makes a decision
about exactly where it should go. Because we are using UST as an internet service
provider, we would not need a router in this lab. A switch would do the job as UST has a
router in Aquinas that all internet access at UST travels through on its way out into the
internet highway. A switch decides which of the computers on the LAN to send the
information coming in. A hub (older technology) does not decide which computer to send
information to and sends all information to ALL computers on the LAN. At home and in
small businesses, you would typically purchase a router/switch combination and connect all
computers to it. The router/switch combination would be connected to the modem and to
the wall connection to your ISP.
7. For some of you who want to know more, here you are. The functions that a router
performs are necessary for communication between the computers on your network and
computers on other networks on the Internet at the network layer (TCP/IP). Probably the
most important thing that a router does is perform NAT, which stands for Network Address
Translation. NAT is a technology that allows computers on a network behind an Internet
connection to communicate with computers outside the network; to the rest of the Internet
the network is a single IP address (the one your ISP gave you), and NAT allows for
incoming and outgoing connections between the computers on the network who have their
own "internal" IP addresses and the computers outside the network who see only the ISPassigned IP address.
8. Another possibility for connecting a LAN at home to the internet would be the following. You
could use one of your computers in your home as a "gateway" to the internet using Internet
connection sharing software like the kind that Windows comes with. All computers in your
home would need to be connected to this computer and it would perform the same functions
as a hardware router, but there are some disadvantages that come with using that setup,
like how all of the computers on the network lose Internet access if the gateway computer is
offline. If you want to share an Internet connection between two or more computers in your
home or small business, a hardware router is the best thing to get for it.
Now that you are connected to an ISP (through UST), you have access to other LAN’s at St.
Thomas and other computers on those LANs. You would have to know the username and
password to access folders those computers have decided to share with others or printers
that are shared. **Click on My Network Places, Entire Network and Microsoft Windows
Network. You will see a list of LAN’s at UST from which you will select UST**.
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9. Again, because you are connected to the UST network, you will see all computers at St
Thomas listed. The computers in your LAN are included. QM110-01, QMCS110-04,
QM110-06.
10. At your home or small business where you have connected to an ISP where you have
purchased a subscription, you will see only your LAN and the computers you connect. Only
in a large company or university will you see many LAN’s and many computers.
YOU are DONE
1. OPTIONAL STEP------ If you would like to see what a router will do when you use it instead
of a switch, you may do the following. Disconnect all cables from the switch and reconnect
them to the combination Ethernet/wireless router/switch. You may need to reboot each of
the computers or will need to wait 5 minutes or so while the router recognizes each
computer. When you access My Network Places, you will see only your LAN (UST) and
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only the 3 computers in the LAN. This is what it will look like if you created this at your
home or small business.
2.
BEFORE YOU LEAVE THIS ROOM, YOU MUST DO THE FOLLOWING to prepare for
the next group. Delete the Shared folder from each desktop and disconnect all hardware
from the computers and the switch or router so that others in this class who set up the LAN,
will be able to learn by completing each step.
3.
Shut down each computer.
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