Until recently, home networks were primarily the realm of technophiles -- most families either didn't need or couldn't afford more than one computer. But now, in addition to using computers for e-mail, people use them for schoolwork, shopping, instant messaging, downloading music and videos and playing games. For many families, just one computer is no longer enough to go around. In a household with multiple computers, a home network often becomes a necessity rather than a technical toy.
If you're thinking of networking the computers in your home, you have several options to explore. In this article, you'll learn about the different types of home computer networks, how they work and what to keep in mind if you're considering creating one.
Network Specifics
If you're looking for information on a specific type of home networking, take a look at these articles:
|
A home network is simply a method of allowing computers to communicate with one another. If you have two or more computers in your home, a network can let them share:
- Files and documents
- An Internet connection
- Printers, print servers and scanners
- Stereos, TVs and game systems
- CD burners
- More than one computer
- Hardware (such as a router) and software (either built in to the operating system or as a separate application) to coordinate the exchange of information
- A path for the information to follow from one computer to another
Video Gallery: Networking Basics and Beyond
In the Lab Rats' "Home Network Primer," we learn the basics of setting up a home network and get a hardware lesson about routers and Internet connectivity.
Bob Metcalfe, founder of Ethernet technology, talks about the technology of new home automation. This video explores the exciting prospects and inherent difficulties in networked homes. |
We'll look at the hardware that creates and protects home networks in the next section.
