Telecommunication & Networking - Local Area Networks (LAN) How To Set Up

There are two types of local area network 
1. Wired networks based on the Ethernet technology, which represent almost all local area networks.           Ethernet networks generally use RJ45 cables.

2. Wireless network which generally use the WiFi technology.

To create an RJ45 LAN in Windows, you will need

• Several computers running Windows (computers running two different versions of Windows can be part of the same network);

• Ethernet cards on a PCI or ISA port (with an RJ45 plug) or built into the motherboard. When applicable, make sure the diodes on the back of the network card light up when the computer is on and that a cable is plugged in! There are also network adapters for USB ports, particularly in the case of wireless network adapters;

• RJ45 cables in the case of wired networks;

• A hub, a device you can connect the RJ45 cables from the network's various computers to, which are fairly inexpensive (expect to pay around €50), or a switch, or, as an alternative option, a crossover cable if you want to connect just two computers.                                                                                     It is recommended that you adopt a so-called "star" structure, where the computers are each connected to the hub via an RJ45 cable. A hub is a device that transfers data from one computer to another. The choice of hub will be made in function of the number of connected computers in order to have enough plugs (called "ports") on the hub.  Source: en.kioskea.net