Chapter 27: Designing a Windows-Based Local Area Network

Chapter Introduction

If you have more than one computer, you should consider connecting them with a local area network (LAN). Windows XP provides all the features needed to connect your computer to a LAN--no other software is required (although you will probably need some hardware). This chapter introduces LANs, including what a network is and why you might want one, and the two major kinds of networks. Most new networks use Ethernet technology, either with cables or wireless links. This chapter also describes what you need to do to install a LAN, including buying and installing cards and cables.

This chapter provides the background for the specifics covered in the rest of the chapters in Part V, which cover configuring Windows for a LAN (Chapter 28), sharing disks and printers (Chapter 29), sharing an Internet connection (Chapter 30), and network security (Chapter 31).

This chapter covers setting up your network from scratch. However, if you are adding a Windows XP computer to an existing peer-to-peer network or upgrading a computer on a network from an earlier version of Windows to Windows XP, the steps you need to follow are also found in this chapter (see the sidebar on "Adding to an Existing Network" and "Upgrading a Computer on an Existing Network").

In addition, this chapter provides details on alternatives if you don't need a permanent network, just a temporary connection: direct network connection with a serial or parallel cable, dial-up connections, and Virtual Private Networking.