| Networking - Communication - Medium. All those | | | | In order for two computers to communicate |
| key words, and many others, are fundamental to | | | | over Wi-Fi, they must have wireless cards |
| networks. Configuring your own computers and | | | | installed. There are many card manufacturers |
| allow them to exchange data, is a great way to | | | | such as Linksys, Netgear, D-Link. Although 98% |
| start Networking. | | | | of mobile computers are wireless enabled, some |
| Ethernet Networking (Wired Ethernet connection) | | | | desktops or towers need wireless card installed. |
| To start with, there are some basic requirements | | | | Wireless requires a lot more knowledge and |
| that will allow us to achieve our goal: Hardware | | | | configuration, as it's not plug and play as wired |
| and Software. | | | | would be to some extend. |
| Hardware: Make sure there are at least two | | | | Although it is a peer-to-peer connection, make |
| computers with Network cards installed, and then | | | | sure: |
| we have a cross-over cable ready. NB: use of | | | | - Both Wireless adapters are set to Ad-hoc mode |
| any other type of cables may result in connection | | | | instead of infrastructure. Infrastructure mode is a |
| failure. | | | | connection where an access-point is present. |
| Software: verify that the computers are running | | | | - The wireless cards must use the same SSID |
| a proper operating system, and the network | | | | (Service Set Identifier), which are case sensitive. |
| cards drivers are properly installed and up to date. | | | | - The encryption type must be the same. So if |
| With those entire in place, simply plug the two | | | | for example WEP/WPA2..., it must be the same |
| ends of your cross-over cable to your computer's | | | | as well as network key. |
| network cards and wait for a while until they get | | | | Would recommend disabling all sort of security, |
| IP addresses and you are ready to go. By default | | | | when connecting for the first time, and configure |
| your computers will get APIPA addresses | | | | later when the connection is up and running. |
| (Automatic Private IP Address). This is due to the | | | | Although this is not a norm, this helps |
| fact that a DHCP server hasn't been found, thus | | | | troubleshooting when connection issues occur |
| they auto assign themselves private addresses. | | | | during setup. |
| We can now enjoy sending ping messages | | | | APIPA: Automatic Private IP Addresses start with |
| between our computers to test connectivity: we | | | | 169.254, and the range reserved by the IANA is |
| have just achieved our first Peer-to-peer | | | | 169.254.0.0 to 169.254.255.255. |
| Networking configuration. | | | | DHCP Stands for Dynamic Host Configuration, and |
| Voila a basic way of networking between | | | | allows computers to dynamically acquire their IP |
| computer. Having the right equipments, such as a | | | | address from a DHCP server configure for this |
| cross-over cable, is crucial for communication to | | | | purpose. |
| take place. Yes, computers can talk to each other | | | | PING stands for Packet Internet Groper, is used |
| and allow us to share data and all their resources. | | | | to test connectivity between two nodes on the |
| Peer to Peer over Wireless (Wi-Fi) | | | | network. |
| Wi-fi has been out for some time and has | | | | Just in case there is no reply for the ping |
| become a norm for most homes or enterprise | | | | message, does not mean there is no connectivity. |
| users. Unlike wired networking, wireless does not | | | | Check that your Firewall allows Incoming Echo |
| require any cabling to work. | | | | Request. |