> I know this well. Are there any good howtos?
Not with the broadness of the question, no. Now if you want to limit
your question to something like "How do I wire a 10BaseT network at the
hardware/wiring level", the probably so. Or if you want to ask "How do I
configure an X-Brand wireless router to serve DHCP addresses to only
certain NIC addresses", again, probably so. But the generic question
"How does one set up a network" is just too broad to point you to any
HOWTOs.
Alright, let's try some thing. The Toshiba A70 laptop has a
- V.92 56K Data/Fax Modem
- 10/100 integrated Ethernet LAN,
- Built-in Atheros Wireless LAN (802.11ag)
How do I connect this wirelessly to the router I will have?
> I need internet access [on both the laptop and the W2K "server"]. This
> [laptop connection] will be wireless [and the server will be wired]. I
> have one signal coming in to the house. This currently goes directly
> to a modem, then to an ethernet in the central computer. If I want
> wireless at the same time as the central computer is connected, I need
> a router, yes? How do I set this up properly so that both computers
> can be connected and be accessing, say, different web-pages
> simultaneously? Does this help at all?
Ah, yes.
Buy a router with both wired and wireless connections. The ones around
$40-$80 will probably have three or four wired ports, and a wireless
capability for more connections.
Apparently I'm getting a free one: Customer preference. Since we've been connected using our ISP for so long, they are giving us a free modem and router. I'll try that first and, if necessary, buy one. I have a feeling that it will work, though.
Basically you unplug your W2K box from the modem, plug the
wireless/wired router into the modem, and then plug your W2K box into
the router. Then you'll use your web browser on Windows to connect to
the router (the paperwork that comes with the router will tell you how).
You'll want to turn on wireless networking in the router if it's not
already on, and you'll want to secure that wireless signal in some way,
such as by using WEP (Wireless Encrcyption Protocol) or by limiting
connections to certain hardware addresses, etc.
Well, that doesn't sound too bad. If it comes with instructions on how to set it up, perhaps some luck may be had after all.
Then if your laptop has wireless capability, you should be able to surf
the web, etc wirelessly, independently of the W2K box. If setting up
wireless on your laptop is daunting, you can start with a wired
connection, using another wired port on the router. (Kind of silly to
tether a laptop that way, but it'll get you started along the road of
figuring out what you're doing.)
As I mentioned, it has all three capabilities: Wireless, Ehternet and Modem. What drivers will I need so that they work nicely? Will this also mean that I need to make myself a kernel? I'd rather not do that, if I can avoid it. I think there may be some KDE applications to assist in this. Is this so? Or, are they simply things that one uses WITH what is already installed? Is this even making any sense?
See the previous portion of the sentence: a "wireless access point".
My apologies. I meant to ask what is a wireless access point. I simply abbreviated it, as you had.
> My Printer is an HP DeskJet 842C. Is this a "real printer"?
I'm not sure. As a general rule I'm suspicious of Deskjets, but I have a
vague memory/feeling that the 842 may be "real".
Is there a web-site et cetera where I can check this?
But other than that, and the risk of having a Windows box on the
internet 24x7 (you might want to get a router with a firewall), and the
electricity cost, no, there's not any real reason to turn off the
central computer. Turning off the monitor should be sufficient in most
situations (YMMV).
Good. I have a firewall in windows. So, all should be well.
It seems that the only un-resolved question is how I will set up the "network". Given what I have given, is there sufficient information? If not, what else can I give?
--
Kent
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