Part II. Choosing a Network Setup

• Ethernet/10BaseT: Ethernet is the type of network technology used by almost all home networking hardware available today. Ethernet is a "baseband" technology, which means that all the bandwidth of the cable used in the network is utilized in one single channel. Since there is only one channel, all computers "hear" all the traffic from other computers and filter the information based on addresses. 10BaseT is a specific type of Ethernet that uses Category 5 cable and RJ45 connectors. The 10 represents the maximum throughput (10 Mbits) and Base T refers to the baseband technology used in Ethernet. Note that 100BaseT is the same thing with the exception of the maximum throughput of 100 Mbits. For a brief overview of Ethernet, click here.
• Network Interface Card (NIC): a PC card that connects the PC to the network. This connection is either to another PC's NIC, a hub or a router. NICs are available for ISA or PCI bus slots, although PCI is recommended if you have a PCI slot available. NOTE: in all the diagrams shown below, a line connected to a PC or laptop indicates a connection to a NIC. The computer labeled "Main PC" requires a NIC for each line connected to it. Also, this manual assumes the use of an Ethernet NIC using RJ45 connectors (10BaseT/100BaseT).
• Hub: A device that allows you to connect two or more computers together such that all computers can communicate to all others. A hub (or a router with a built in hub) is required if you want more than two computers in the network. Without it, you would need a NIC for every computer connection (i.e., if PC A is connected to PC B and C, it would need two NICs, one for B and one for C, each using a cross-over cable).
• Router: Generally, a router does just that; routes network traffic to specific sections of a network (called sub-nets), which reduces unnecessary traffic in subnets. Most routers (including Cable/DSL routers) come with a built in hub (i.e., have multiple ports), however, there are some that will require an additional hub.
• Cable/DSL routers: Specialized routers that allow the sharing of a single cable/DSL Internet connection. Unless you pay for additional IP addresses, most cable/DSL Internet connections supply only a single address. The router supports sharing this single address using Network Address Translation (NAT). This protocol translates between the single cable/DSL address and all other addresses on the home network, thus requiring only one address outside the home network. NOTE: in the configurations that do not use a cable/DSL router, the "Main PC" performs the NAT using "Internet Connection Sharing" built into Windows 98 SE and Higher.

• Phone-line networks: This type of network uses existing phone lines in your home to connect the computers together instead of running additional network cables. The max throughput is typically 10Mbit (verses 100Mbit using an Ethernet based cabling system). Also note that different vendor's phone-line network cards (NIC) may not work together properly.


• Wireless: Possibly one of the most expensive options for a home network, the use of wireless hardware gives you complete flexibility as to the locations of the PCs on the network. You won't have to run any cable at all. Most wireless receivers also are routers, giving you cable/DSL sharing along with wireless client PC locations.

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