Build Your Own Home Network

Initial Steps

Ethernet Choice
The first thing you want to do when attempting to build your own home network, is choose what you want to use for cabling. For ease of use, and easy expansion, I suggest using 10/t or 100/TX. 10/T and 100/TX both use Cat5 Cabling. If you look at it, it looks like a phone wire, but has twice as many wires both on the plug and in the wire. Because I'm suggesting 10/T (which it will not be referred as) I'm also going to write this tutorial as though 10/T is the only choice, because, in my mine, it is. All other types are inferior in too many ways.

Get some NICs
Now that you've settled on what type of Ethernet to use, (thanks to me) you'll want to get some Network Interface Cards for each computer you plan to put on your network. Network Interface Cards, are just that, they are a card that interfaces your computer with the rest of the network. If you can, get cards that will fit into a PCI slot in your computer, if your computer has such slots. PCI Network cards are much easier to use than any other type of card.. If you can't get PCI, I recommend ISA cards made by 3COM. They are just as easy to use, and require no jumper configuration. If you can't get either, it's time to shop around, or save up your money.

Another thing to consider when buying NICs is the speed of your network. You can choose from either 10Mbps (10/T) or 100Mbps(100/TX.) If you only get 10/T cards, the speed that computer on the network will only be 10Mbps, but if you get both 100/TX cards, and a 100/TX, along with a hub, which I'll talk about later, you will increase your speed ten-fold. Don't expect your speed increase to come without cost. Generally, 100/TX components cost from two to five times a much, depending on the component. While on the subject of speed, another important thing to take into account is duplex. By this time, we should all know how duplex works. In half-duplex, or normal mode, one card talks, while the other listens, and vice-versa. In full-duplex mode, both cards can talk and listen at the same time, which means a 2x speed increase. Which means on a 100/TX network, full-duplex will bring throughput up to 200Mbps, under the right conditions. Full-Duplex equipment will also cost more.

Every Good Network Needs a Hub!

There are two ways to run a Network using 10/T. Computer to Computer, or Computer to Hub (the Hub connects to all other computers.) Obviously, a Hub must then be used when 3 or more computers need to be networked. When only 2 computers need to be networked, a special type of cable, called cross-over cable can be used. The only problem with that, is further expansion. When you get a 3rd computer, you have to also buy a hub.

Just like the NICs, the Hub can be a bottleneck in your network speed. If you have 100/TX cards, and a 10/T hub, your WHOLE network (not just a segment as with NICs) will run at 10Mbps. If you get 100/TX cards, it's suggested to get a 100/TX hub to go along with it, unless you plan on upgrading in the future due to money constraints.

The number of ports (places you plug the cable in) is also important. Usually, you'll want to make room for further expansion. I like to buy hubs that will have 25% more capacity (or more depending on the situation) than is needed. So, if you have 3 computers, buy a 4 port hub. If you have 6, buy an 8 port, and so on. Don't forget that an uplink port is also nice. If you run out of spaces, you can use the uplink port to link that hub with another hub. There is a problem with that though. All the computers from the first half only have one line to access the computers in the other half of the segment. That really isn't a major concern in homes, but it's a major concern in upstart businesses.

The positioning of the hub also plays an important role. Some people, like myself, like to have the hub close to the central computer of the network. In some cases, that might be the server. In other's, it might be the computer that is used most by the "Computer Guy/Gal" of the house. It's your choice where you place it, because it's your hub. Just remember, you'll need to buy enough cable to reach the hub from all computers that are being networked.

Cable Concerns

Cable is VERY important. If it weren't for the cable, we'd have no network.

The first concern is cable quality. Quality, in effect, is rated using the Cat System. The higher the Cat Rating, the faster your cable will travel. Being Cat cable also rates phone lines, there are only two Cat ratings used for Ethernet cable. They are Cat3 and Cat5. For 10/t networks, that WILL NOT be upgrading in the future, Cat3 is fine. But, as soon as you want to upgrade to 100/TX, all Cat3 cable must be replaced to Cat5, which can handle that speed.

Physical cable placement is another concern. For liability and safety reasons, I'm sure you don't want cable running all over the ground. For the home user, that might be fine, but in a business, it's a hazard waiting to happen. Cabling can be run though the walls, and attached to a port that fixes to your wall just like the phone cable port. They are called "Data Drops." These plastic outlets only cost a buck or two, depending on where you buy them, and are very worth while. One final note, just remember to buy the right amount of cable needed to run where you want it to go. Having left over cable is better than having not enough.

The Two Ways to do Things

As you can tell from the graphic on the top (What not to do!), that the PCs on the top of the graphic will get the least amount of data from the server during busy times, because it has to share it has the most hubs between it and the server. On the bottom graphic (If you have to...Do this.) Every PCs has the same amount of hubs between it and the server, two. If you got to use more than 1 hub, do it that way. Otherwise, you'll be sorry!