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                                 LAN (LOCAL AREA NETWORK)

                     A local area network (LAN) is a network that connects computers and devices in a limited geographical area such as a home, school, office building, or closely positioned group of buildings. Each computer or device on the network is a node.

               Setting Of LAN

•       PC 1 - 192.168.1.1
PC 2 - 192.168.1.2
PC 3 - 192.168.1.3

•       Power up all computers and the switch. To configure the IP address for each individual computer:

•       Go to Start > Settings > Control Panel > Network Connections (double-click it) 

•       Look for Local Area Connection

•       If the status is Network cable unplugged, check the cable connection. It should not show "Network cable unplugged" when you proceed to the next step. 

•       Right-click Local Area Connection, Properties. Ensure the Internet Protocol is checked.

•       Also ensure that Client for Microsoft Networks and File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks is checked. This will enable you to share files across the network. 

•       Highlight Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) by clicking it once, and click on Properties.

•       The field "IP address:" is where we will input the IP address. The Subnet mask should be 255.255.255.0

•       If there is a Internet sharing computer in the network, the Default Gateway and Preferred DNS Server will be the Internet sharing computer's IP address. Otherwise, it would be blank. Hit OK two times and the setting should be saved.

•       Repeat the above for every computer.

•       Now go to Start > Settings > Control Panel > Network Connections (double-click it). If it still doesn't say Connected, right-click the connection, Disable. Wait a few moments, and right-click the connection, Enable. Now it should say under the status

   Sharing folders and playing LAN games

•       Right-click any folder in Explorer, click Properties. 

•       You will notice a new Sharing tab. Check the box "Share this folder on the network" under Network Sharing and Security. Check the 2nd box if you want to allow the other computer to modify your shared folder, else it will be read only. Remember the share name, you will need it to access the share from another computer.

•       To access the computer's shared folder, you would click on My Computer > Tools > Map Network Drive.

•       Here is the syntax:

\\<ip address>\<share name>So if the computer is 192.168.1.2 and the share name is C, the Folder field would be "\\192.168.1.2\C". Check the "Reconnect at logon" if you want this drive to be available when you restart the computer.

•       That's it - once you click Finish, Windows XP will attempt to connect to the computer's share. Next you should see a new drive in your Explorer with the shared folder's contents.

   FOR LAN GAMES

•       For LAN gaming, it could not get any simpler! Most LAN games support the UDP Discovery method of detecting servers whereby you just have to go to the LAN games tab and the list of servers would be obtained automatically.

•       Start a server on the computer. Normally this will be indicated as Host Game.

•       Once the server is up and running, go to the other computer.

•       Select the option to join a network game. If there is a list, the server name should appear in the list. If yes, simple double click it to join. Otherwise, choose the "Enter IP" option. 

•       Enter the IP address of the PC that is running the server.

SARE PRINTER IN LAN

•       1

•       Click "Start." Right-click "Computer" and choose "Properties" from the context menu to view the system information.

•       2

•       Go to "Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings," and write down the information shown next to "Workgroup."

•       3

•       Click "Start," then click "Control Panel." Click "Choose homegroup and sharing options" from below "Network and Internet."

•       4

•       Check the box next to "Printers," then click "Change advanced sharing settings..." Click "Turn on network discovery" and "Turn on file and printer sharing." Click "Save changes."

•       5

•       Sign on to Windows XP and connect to the network. Click "Start." Right-click "My Computer." Click the "Computer Name" tab.

•       6

•       Enter the Windows 7 workgroup name into the "Workgroup" field. Click "OK" three times to close all of the dialog boxes. Restart the Windows XP PC.

•       7

•       Click "Start," then click "Control Panel." Click "Printers and Other Hardware," then "Printers and Faxes."

•       8

•       Right-click the printer you want to share. Choose "Sharing..." from the context menu. Click the "Sharing" tab, then click the radio button next to "Share this printer." Click "OK."

•       Install Printer on Windows XP

•       9

•       Click "Start," then click "My Computer." Choose "My Network Places" from the left pane, then click "View workgroup computers" from the "Network Tasks" section.

•       10

•       Double-click the Windows 7 computer. Enter the user name and password for the Windows 7 account. Click "OK."

•       11

•       Select a printer to use, then click "Connect." Click "Yes" when the "Connect to Printer" dialog box appears. Windows XP will install the printer to the computer.

•       Install Printer on Windows 7

•       12

•       Sign on to Windows 7 and connect to the network. Click "Start." Click "Control Panel." Click "Hardware and Sound."

•       13

•       Select "Add a printer" from the "Devices and Printers" category. Click "Add a network, wireless or Bluetooth printer."

•       14

•       Choose the Windows XP printer from the list. Click "Next." Click "Install driver," and Windows 7 will install the Windows XP printer to the PC. Click "Finish."