CourseSession-306039-Setting Up Wireless Home Network

8/7/2019 CourseSession-306039-Setting Up Wireless Home Network

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Setting up a wireless home networkWireless networking is easy and affordable. In a matter of hours, you can create a powerful, securewireless network for your home or small business at a very low cost. This class will introduce you to the

echnologies that make wireless networking possible, and then help you select the right wirelessquipment, set it up and troubleshoot common problems.

Lessons

Networking without wires1.This lesson offers a brief introduction to wireless home networking. You'll learnabout different types of wireless networks, ways they're being used andequipment and technologies that make wireless networking work.

Exploring wireless hardware, connectivity and network layout2.A wireless network requires special gear and connections to function properly.You'll learn how to select the right components to fit your needs, and how to put

them all together into a cohesive network.Setting up sharing and security3.This lesson walks you through the steps of sharing folders and devices, andsetting up security on your new wireless network. You'll learn about commonsecurity threats unique to wireless and how to balance ease of access withsecurity concerns.

Expanding and troubleshooting your network4.Wireless networks can easily be expanded by adding both access points toextend the range and file and print servers to offer shared resources. You'll alsopick up some troubleshooting techniques.

Networking without wiresThis lesson offers a brief introduction to wireless home networking. You'll learn about different types of wireless

etworks, ways they're being used and equipment and technologies that make wireless networking work.

Welcome to the world of wireless

f you're not already using wireless networking, you've probably seen the signsf it around town. You might have visited a wireless Internet cafe, or seenthers working wirelessly at your office. Wireless networking is rapidlyecoming ubiquitous, enabling personal and professional use of the Internet

without the bother of finding a wired connection.

The foundations of wireless technology have been around for quite a while.Guglielmo Marconi experimented with radio waves and established theWireless Telegraph and Signal Company Limited in the late 1800s. In the early

0th century, engineers determined how to send radiotelegraph signals (Morseode) without the use of wires, making it possible for ships at sea toommunicate with each other and with fixed locations on shore. With theiscovery of amplitude, commercial radio broadcasts soon followed, and thename TV.

Wireless applications are now found just about everywhere, from remoteontrols and two-way radios to digital pagers, GPSs (global positioningystems), cell phones, and wireless computer networks. Wireless, the old termhat used to refer to radio, is now back in vogue.

What to expect in the course

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This course is geared toward consumers who want to install a wireless homeetwork and introduces key aspects of current wireless technology --pecifically, to how it pertains to setting up a wireless network in your home.

Each lesson is accompanied by a short assignment and quiz, which areesigned to reinforce concepts and techniques discussed in the lesson.

Here's how the lessons break down:

Lesson 1: This lesson explores types of wireless networks and their uses,and covers connection technologies that support a wireless network.

Lesson 2: In this lesson, you'll learn which equipment and connections youneed to create a wireless home network.Lesson 3: One of the main purposes of networking is to share files anddevices. This lesson shows you how to set up file and printer sharing, andsecure your network.Lesson 4: This lesson shows you how to link wireless access points, set upprint and file servers, expand your network, and troubleshoot problems.

This first lesson discusses wireless technologies available for home and home-ffice use. Thanks to modern wireless technology, even technologically

mpaired consumers can set up a home network without too much difficulty.Are you ready to work without wires? Read on.

Exploring common wireless standards

Before getting started, it's a good idea to define some general categories forwireless networking. Although the wireless landscape might seem bewildering

t first, all you have to keep in mind is the following information:

Wireless networking is about broadcasting network data in chunks, calledpackets, over an airborne frequency (radio waves). It just replaces the wiresused by traditional wired networks with radio transmitters and receivers.Similar to TV and radio, network broadcasts have an effective distance and

can be disrupted by certain materials or conditions (such as thick walls orrugged terrain).Because wireless networking is a broadcast, anyone with a receiver tuned into your network's frequency can intercept the data and view it, unless youencrypt your traffic.

That wasn't so bad, right? You're now ready to learn about the differentpecifications and standards to which wireless devices adhere, focusing on the

most popular ones.

802.11x (Wi-Fi)

The 802.11x family of specifications is an extension of the Ethernetpecification commonly used for wired networking. It's often referred to as Wi-

Fi. The 802.11x family of specifications is flexible; it can handle TCP/IPTransmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol), AppleTalk, and other file-haring protocols.

The first sub-specification to gain widespread popularity was 802.11b, whichou can use in a heterogeneous computing environment (for example, aetwork running Macs, Unix workstations, and Windows-based PCs). In thisase, every computer must use 802.11b wireless cards and communicate via02.11b WAPs (wireless access points).

The 802.11b standard supports speeds up to 11 Mbps (megabits per second)t distances ranging from just a few feet to several hundred feet, transmittingver the standard 2.4 GHz (gigahertz) unlicensed band. Special modulationchemes can double the transfer rate of 802.11b to 22 Mbps. As with otherinds of broadcasts, transmission distance is affected by obstacles betweenhe transmitter and receiver.

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With no obstructions, the typical range is about 300 feet; however, thetransfer rate decreases with greater distance.

Newer, faster protocols based on 802.11b include 802.11a and 802.11g. The02.11a specification enables data transmission at 54 Mbps over the 5 GHzand. Because it uses a different frequency, it's not compatible with 802.11bnd requires different equipment.

The 802.11g specification is as fast as 802.11a but shares the same radiorequencies used by 802.11b. It can transmit data at a rate of 54 Mbps over the.4 GHz band. Because it's backward-compatible with 802.11b (that is, theame wireless interfaces and access points can handle 802.11b and 802.11graffic), it's the more popular of the two faster protocols.

Many notebook computers sold today have built-in 802.11b/g wirelessinterfaces.

802.11n

A new wireless technology, 802.11n, offers speeds of up to 248 Mbps (aboutve times faster than 802.11g) using both the 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz bands.

Officially, this standard is still in draft form and the details haven't beennalized. That hasn't stopped manufacturers, however, from offering 802.11ndraft" standard products, enabling you to dramatically increase the speed ofour network.

If you decide to purchase 802.11n equipment based upon the draft

standard, you run the risk that it won't be compatible with the finalstandard, forcing you to replace your equipment down the road.

802.15/Bluetooth technology

The 802.15 specification defines standards for PANs (personal area networks),nd 802.15.1 is based on the Bluetooth v.1.1 Foundation specifications.

Bluetooth technology is ideally suited for PANs that operate within very shortanges and need robust bandwidth support. Bluetooth technology is also aandy way to get your cell phone talking with a PDA (personal digital

ssistant), your digital camera or computer transmitting data to a printer, orour PDA beaming information to a notebook PC, for example.

ike 802.11b and g, Bluetooth broadcasts on the unlicensed 2.4 GHz band;owever, Bluetooth's range is much shorter -- generally up to 30 feet, althoughanges up to 300 feet can be obtained depending on the power class.

802.16 (WiMAX)

At the other end of the distance spectrum is an emerging technology called

WiMAX. The WiMAX specification is 802.16. WiMAX provides data transfersver longer distances than Wi-Fi and is used for MANs (metropolitan areaetworks) that cover an entire city. It isn't widely used for setting up homeetworks; however, you can use it to connect a home network to the Internet atroadband speeds without cables.

f all these different terms, categories, and specifications sound confusing right


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ow, don't worry. You'll get into more details about them as the courseontinues. First, though, you'll learn about WLANs (wireless local areaetworks) and more details about PANs.

Understanding WLANs and PANs

A few years ago, you probably heard and read a lot about how wirelessetworking would change the way you work and live, and some of theseredictions have come true. There's wireless access at airports, cafes,

braries, office buildings, and parks. You can now check your e-mail on yourwireless notebook PC while you wait in a client's lounge. Or you can break freerom your desk and work from the comfort of a sidewalk cafe.

To understand types of wireless networks, you need to know how PANs andWLANs work, so let's talk about them.

Getting up close: Bluetooth PANs

PANs are personal area networks. These networks have a very short

roadcasting range, generally from a few feet to 30 feet. The most popularrotocol for personal area networking is the Bluetooth specification, asiscussed previously. Bluetooth enables mobile devices to recognize eachther and communicate (after going through an identification process calledairing) within a 30-foot radius.

Bluetooth cards are available for PDAs, notebook computers, printers,digital cameras, and other devices. What's nice about Bluetooth isn't just itswide availability: The cards are relatively inexpensive and don't require ahuge power source to run.

How would you use a PAN in your home? Imagine that you're taking photos atour son's eighth birthday party with your Bluetooth-enabled digital camera.nstead of walking back to your computer every hour or so to download themages, you can send the images over the PAN to your desktop computer,which is also Bluetooth-enabled.

Or, imagine that you want to print some notes you took on your PDA. Insteadf synching the data with your desktop PC and then sending it to the printer,our Bluetooth-enabled PDA can print directly to your Bluetooth-enabledrinter.

Nowadays, many luxury vehicles come with Bluetooth capabilities, enablingou to just drop your phone/MP3 player into your cupholder and wirelessly play

music and place telephone calls through your car's built-in sound system.

Bluetooth is great for connecting devices that are physically close together andse applications that don't need super-high bandwidth. Bluetooth 2.1 caneach data transfer rates of 3 Mbps. There's a new version of Bluetooth in the

works that'll blast this performance up to an astronomical 480 Mbps.

Think local: WLANs

The 802.11x family of WLAN specifications take wireless beyond the realm ofPANs. With a well-designed WLAN, people working in offices or at home have

dded flexibility over where they access the network.

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For example, instead of sequestering yourself in a home office, you can workn the living room, closer to the rest of your family. Or you can check your e-mail or crunch the family budget from the comfort of your patio on a beautifulay.

The rest of this course focuses mainly on setting up a WLAN in your home ormall office, so you'll learn more details as you progress. However, first youeed to learn about ad hoc wireless networks, which are covered next.

Discovering ad hoc wireless networks

As you'll discover in the next lessons, the typical wireless network depends on WAP or router that serves as a centralized point for wirelessommunications. However, there's a type of "quick-and-dirty" wireless networkhat you can use in situations where you need a less permanent networkingnfrastructure.

An ad hoc wireless network enables computers with wireless NICs (networknterface cards) or embedded network interfaces to connect directly to onenother, so it's also called a computer-to-computer network. It's an excellent

olution if you need to transfer some files between two wireless-enabledotebook PCs, for example, in a location where a Wi-Fi network isn't available.

Consider a group of people with notebook PCs in a conference room. Oneerson wants to share a document with everyone present. You could create and hoc network and configure the notebook PCs to join the same workgroup,nd then set up file sharing for a quick solution.

You can also set up an ad hoc network to share one computer's Internetonnection with another computer. For example, if you have a notebook PCunning Microsoft Windows Vista or Microsoft Windows XP thatonnects to the Internet over a built-in WAN (wide area network) chip thatupports wireless broadband service, you can enable a second notebook PCo share that connection by setting up an ad hoc wireless network between thewo, and then configuring ICS (Internet Connection Sharing) on the notebookPC with the Internet connection.

Ad hoc networking isn't only faster to set up but is less expensive toimplement than a WAP/router-based WLAN, because you don't have tobuy the extra equipment. Remember that you cannot connect with theInternet with an ad hoc network, only other devices.

Now that you understand the various types of home networks available and theonnection technology behind them, you're just about ready to explore all ofhe equipment required to set up a network. First, it's helpful to learn someommon network terminology.

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Understanding common networking terms

This section describes some of the networking terms you're likely to seehroughout the course and when buying network equipment. The mostommon terms you'll hear include the following:

Availability goes hand in hand with reliability. If the network is always down,then its availability is low. In wireless networking, distance from an accesspoint can affect your network's availability, because the broadcast signaldeteriorates with distance.Bandwidth is the speed of the network. It's a term that refers to the size of

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the network "pipe" through which your data travels, and is measured asthroughput in Mbps. Generally speaking, the more bandwidth you have, thefaster your speed.

Things that can affect bandwidth include the number of users on thenetwork, types of traffic on the network (big multimedia files slow down anetwork), and availability of routers and access points.

LANs (local area networks) are small networks that cover a relatively smallgeographic area, such as your wireless home network or a typical office.

MANs (metropolitan area networks) are larger than LANs but smaller thanWANs; a MAN usually covers an area the size of a city.The speed of a network is measured in Mbps (megabits per second). Mbpsis used to describe the bandwidth or theoretical rate at which data is sent.It's theoretical because although a network connection is rated at a certainspeed, increased numbers of users on the network causes congestion,which decreases the speed of the connection.

To ensure that a computer has the fastest connection, locate it as close to theWAP as possible.

Data sent over a network is sent in chunks of bits (0s and 1s) called packets. Each packet has a header and a payload. The header helps identify the

packet as part of a message, and the payload carries the actual information(such as a piece of an e-mail, a part of an image, and so on).PANs (personal area networks) cover a very small area, such as a few feetsurrounding a person or computer. Bluetooth is the most common PANtechnology.Data-packet transmission is governed by protocols, which are rules thatdictate how data travels on a network, how the data is structured, who canaccept what data, and how data receipt is acknowledged.The most common set of protocols for transmitting and receiving data isTCP/IP. This suite works by breaking data into hundreds or thousands ofindividual packets, sending them across the network, and putting them backtogether at the destination. TCP/IP is the protocol used for Internetcommunications.VPNs (virtual private networks) are encrypted "tunnels" through which youcan send e-mail, files, and other data. VPNs serve as private networkswithin a public network. Because all traffic in a VPN is encrypted, only thoseusers who have the decryption key can access and read data on thenetwork.

VPN users can use the Internet to connect to a private LAN remotely andfeel secure that only those users who should see network data are seeingit.

WANs connect two or more remote LANs or connect a LAN with the public

Internet. We don't cover WANs at all in this course, but the last lessoncovers connecting to your company's LAN from your home network using aVPN over a WAN (the Internet).In the context of home networking, wireless broadband is high-speedwireless service you can subscribe to from a service provider for a fee,much like broadband service for your cell phone or other mobile device.WLANs are also referred to as Wi-Fi. This type of network is commonly whatmost home networks are built upon.

These definitions should serve you well as you progress through the course.Refer to this list anytime you need a refresher.

Moving on

Now that you have an overview of the wireless-networking world, complete thessignment as well as the quiz for this lesson. In Lesson 2, you'll find out about

he major categories of wireless gear.


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Understanding access points, routers, hubs and switches

Welcome back. In Lesson 1, you learned about the world of wireless standards-frequencies used, distances involved, and other general topics. In this lesson,ou'll learn about the different components of wireless networks -- in other

words, the devices that actually use the standards and frequencies you learnedbout in Lesson 1.

For the purpose of setting up a home network, all you need to be concerned

bout are two major categories of components:

Equipment that creates the wireless network and connects you to theInternetEquipment that enables individual computers and devices to connect to theestablished wireless network

The following sections discuss wireless access points, routers, and hubs andwitches. These wireless components enable you to establish a wirelessetwork.

Access points

An access point (or wireless gateway) does exactly what its name implies: itrovides a point through which devices can access a wireless network.

Generally speaking, an access point transmits and receives data on a wirelessetwork, so technically, it's a transceiver. Wireless access points are ofteneferred to as WAPs.

An access point can connect multiple wireless users to each other, andforms the interconnection or bridge between wired and wireless networks.

For very small WLANs, such as those used in SOHOs (small office/homeffices), one access point is usually all that's needed. As your network grows inhysical size, such as distance in feet or meters, and number of users, you

might need to add multiple access points. If you run into this situation, makeure your coverage overlaps so that you don't lose users in dead spots, whichre parts of a building where no wireless signal is available.

WAPs cost between $35 and $150, and usually have a maximum range of 300eet although you can extend this range with the use of specialized antennas. Aingle WAP generally supports up to 30 computers. A WAP has its own IPddress on the network, and you generally access it through a Web interface to

onfigure security and other options.

Routers

You need a router to connect to the Internet. Wi-Fi networking is a form of localrea networking, meaning it's used for connecting devices local to you (within aome or office building or similarly limited geographic area). A router is aevice used for wide area networking and connects to your ISP's (Internetervice provider's) network. The router sends Internet traffic through the ISP tohe Internet site while keeping local traffic between your own computersonfined to your home network.

If you have a cable modem, DSL (digital subscriber line), satellite, or otherbroadband service in your home, you likely have a router set up already.Routers are usually built into broadband modems.

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n most cases, you can connect your router to a WAP, walk through a simpleonfiguration process, and presto, you have connectivity to the Internet via

wireless and wired networks. If you're in a small environment and can locatehe router in a central location, you can purchase a combination router andWAP for well under $100.

Hubs and switches

Whereas routers connect multiple networks, hubs and switches connectomputers on a local network. The typical switch for home use has four or eight

Ethernet ports that enable you to connect multiple computers. Switchesonnect devices on your home network but don't provide a connection to thenternet. You need to use a router for that task.

Hubs and switches are basically interchangeable from a networkingerspective. They both serve the same basic role on a network: allowing

multiple devices to connect to the same LAN segment. The main differenceetween the two is that hubs send all traffic to all systems, whereas switchesse a little more intelligence to send systems only traffic that affects them. Forecurity and efficiency reasons, it's usually best to use a switch unless youave a specific technical need to use a hub.

Now that you have a basic understanding of access points, routers, hubs, andwitches, read on to learn about preparing your computer for wirelessetworking.

Preparing computers for wireless

Having a WAP isn't all that's required for a computer to connect to a wirelessetwork and transmit and receive wireless broadcasts. Each computer alsoeeds a wireless interface or adapter, which comes in several different formsut accomplishes the same task.

A wireless NIC is a device that fits into a PCI (Peripheral Componentnterconnect) slot for desktop PCs. You can get a PCMCIA (Personal ComputerMemory Card International Association) card, usually called a PC Card, thatlides into a slot in a notebook computer. You can also connect a wirelessdapter to a computer via its USB (universal serial bus) port, or to a PDA orandheld computer through a flash memory slot.

Most modern notebook computers have built-in wireless interfaces and

don't require the use of a wireless card or USB device.

The majority of wireless interfaces transmit on a particular frequencyetermined by the standard it supports (for example, 802.11g cards transmit at.4 GHz), and can cost anywhere from $30 to $150.

f you need to purchase a wireless interface for your computer, make sure theard or device supports the same standard and broadcast frequency as the

WAP. WAPs designed for 802.11g support the older 802.11b cards, but02.11b cards are slower than 802.11g cards. You don't have to buy the same

rand wireless card and WAP, although doing so generally eliminates someompatibility problems. An 802.11n WAP is generally backwards-compatible

with all earlier standards, allowing the use of 802.11a, b, and g, in addition to n.The following table tells you which cards to buy with which access points.

Access Point Card/Interface



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802.11a access point 802.11a interface only

802.11b access point 802.11b interface only

802.11g access point 802.11g interface (preferred) or 802.11b

802.11n access point 802.11a, b, g, or n interface

Table 2-1: Access points and interfaces.

nstalling the wireless interface

f your computer requires a wireless PCI card, turn off your computer beforenstalling it. Then remove the cover of the computer, slide the card into anmpty PCI slot, and follow the instructions for configuring the hardware.

f you're unsure which slot is a PCI slot, check your owner's manual or theomputer manufacturer's Web site.

To install a USB wireless adapter, it's not necessary to open the computer'sase; just insert the device into a USB port.

Wireless PC Cards for notebook PCs fit into a PCMCIA slot, usually found onhe left or right side of the computer. You might need to install driver softwareor the card (from a CD that ships with it or downloaded from the Internet) if theperating system doesn't recognize it and install the drivers automatically. You

on't need to shut your computer down to insert a PCMCIA card.

Next, learn how to enable a wireless connection on your mobile computer.

Enabling wireless on your mobile computer

f your new notebook PC has a built-in wireless interface, it might have a stickerndicating this. However, you might not be able to use it "out of the box." Manyotebook PCs require you to first turn on the wireless antenna. On someomputers, you do this through a software interface. Others have a physical

witch or button on the side, front, or back of the notebook PC that you turn ono enable wireless. And some require that you press a key combination orunction key to turn it on.

To determine how to enable wireless on your particular mobile computer,onsult your user's manual.

Next, your operating system must have wireless networking client softwarenstalled. Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows XP, and Mac OS Xome with this software.

f your Windows Vista computer is set up to use wireless, you should see awireless network icon in the system tray (notification area), as shown in Figure

-1. This indicates whether you're connected to a wireless network.



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Figure 2-1: Wireless network icon in Windows Vista.

Double-click this icon and select Connect or disconnect to see which wireless

etworks are within range and their signal strength, as shown in Figure 2-2.

n Windows XP, right-click the wireless icon, and then select View AvailableWireless Networks. In Windows Vista, right-click the wireless icon, and thenelect Connect to a network.

Figure 2-2: Viewing available wireless networks in Windows Vista.

Enlarge image

Next, learn how to plan your wireless home network.

Planning your home network

At this point, you might be thinking to yourself, "Hey, this wireless networkinghing doesn't sound too bad. Just buy an access point and some wirelessards, and start networking without wires."

n a way, you're right. But even the simplest wireless network implementationan hit snags if you don't do some planning beforehand. For example, you

might place the WAP in your corner office, too far away to get a great signal outn the patio and thereby dashing any plans you might have of working outdoorsn beautiful spring days.

Although there are many techniques available for planning a wireless network, good simple technique involves asking some common-sense questions, suchs the following:

Who and what: Who'll be using the network and what'll they be doing on it?

This isn't just a list of people but a general idea of the kinds of applicationsthey'll be using on the network.Where: Where do you want to access the network? For most homes, oneaccess point is enough to provide coverage in any room -- and even limitedoutdoor areas. However, thick walls, maze-like hallways and staircases, andany metal obstructions, such as metal shelving and steel pillars, can obstructbroadcasts.When: You need to know when users will be on the network. Even a small

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group of users performing bandwidth-intensive tasks all at the same time canbog a wireless network down.How: How are packets transmitted -- in the clear or encrypted? Encryptionand other security measures add overhead to network connections, whichcan slow you down. But not using encryption can expose your network anddata to outsiders. You'll learn about network security in Lesson 3.

Home networks help you save money by enabling you to share hardware, suchs printers, cameras, and network adapters, and make it convenient to shareocuments, music, and other files. Instead of having to worry about runningable from one room to the next, wireless technologies allow for an elegant

olution. All you need to do is the following:

Buy a WAP and attach it to your outgoing cable or DSL modem/router.Buy wireless cards for each computer on the network and install them, if theydon't have a built-in wireless interface.Buy wireless cards for each device, such as a printer, you want to share, orjust share the device on the network if it's attached to a networked computeror print server.

You'll learn about wireless printing and print servers in Lesson 4.

That's it -- that's all you need to set up networking. This is just a beginning, ofourse, but with these issues in mind, you can start planning for an ideal home

wireless network -- one that meets your needs and grows as required.

Moving on

This lesson covered some of the basic equipment you'll need to set up yourwireless home network. Now, refer back to the answers you gave for the

uestions in Lesson 1's assignment and get ready to do some wireless-networklanning in this lesson's assignment. Don't forget to take the quiz before youead on to Lesson 3, which covers file and printer sharing in addition to a very

mportant topic in the networking arena -- security.

Assignment #2

The Lesson 2 assignment is a continuation of the Lesson 1 assignment, which asked you to answerome general questions about your current home setup. Answer the following questions toetermine which wireless gear will be optimal for your situation:

Given the number of users, applications, and activities you anticipate on your wireless network,how much bandwidth do you need?Given the size of the area you need covered (length x width in feet), how much range in distance

do you need?Given the bandwidth requirements, distance range needed, and your budget, which of thewireless protocols is most appropriate for your home network?Given the type of data that you'll be sending over the network and your physical proximity topotential intruders, do you need security?Do you need to securely connect to a remote LAN, such as your company network? (Althoughsecurity is covered in Lesson 3, you should begin thinking about your big-picture security needsnow.)

Although there aren't any fixed rules, more than nine or ten users, large bandwidthrequirements, or a large coverage area may necessitate the use of more than one WAP.

After you answer these questions, acquire the necessary equipment to set up a wireless homeetwork, such as a wireless network interface for your computer and a WAP, if you don't own themlready. Attach and install the equipment as described in Lesson 2 or per the manufacturer'suidelines for each component.


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Quiz #2Question 1:True or False: A hub is an advanced router.

) True

B) False

Question 2:What's the usual maximum range of a WAP?

) 10 feet

B) 30 feet

C) 100 feet

D) 300 feet

Question 3:Generally speaking, wireless network cards come in which configurations? (Check all that apply.)

) PCI

B) PCMCIA

C) USB

D) ISA

Question 4:True or False: If your notebook computer has a built-in wireless (Wi-Fi) network interface, you can connect

irectly to the Internet without the need for a WAP or router.

) True

B) False

Question 5:When designing a wireless network, you need to take into account which of the following variables? (Check allhat apply.)

A) Number of usersB) Coverage area

C) Applications being used

D) Display resolution

E) Security considerations

Setting up sharing and securityThis lesson walks you through the steps of sharing folders and devices, and setting up security on your newwireless network. You'll learn about common security threats unique to wireless and how to balance ease of

ccess with security concerns.

Configuring your network

Welcome back. Lesson 2 covered some of the basic equipment you need toet up a wireless home network. This lesson talks a bit about how to share

nformation and services throughout your network, and then discusses how toecure the network so you share only what you want to, and only with thepecific people you want to access your network.

Setting up a wireless network is designed to be easy. If you followed the first

wo lessons and assignments, you were probably able to set up the physicalomponents of your home wireless network in no time. However, setting up thewireless home network is only the first step. Now you've got to get theomponents on that network talking.

This lesson assumes you're working on a computer running MicrosoftWindows Vista Home Premium or Microsoft Windows XP, and shows ou

Responding to WindowsVista UAC (User AccessControl) prompts

When changing certainsettings in Windows Vista, aUser Access Control dialog

box might appear, asking youto enter administrativecredentials or click Continueto confirm your actions. Youcan safely do so wheneverfollowing steps in thiscourse.


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how to configure network sharing in both operating systems. Your steps willvary if you're using an older version of Windows; the steps don't translateeasily to Mac OS or Linux users.

The very purpose of networking is to share what you have: data, printers, fileystems, and all the rest. Otherwise, you'd be back to where you were before --anding other people CDs or flash disks full of files or buying separate printers

or everyone in the house. Before you can start sharing folders on or with aomputer running Windows, you need to join the computer to a network.

Using Windows Vista

n Windows Vista, select Start > Connect To. You should see a list of networks;elect the network you want to connect to. If you don't see the network you

want to connect to, select Set up a connection or network and follow therompts.

Using Windows XP

The following steps work in Windows XP with the Control Panel set to Categoryiew (not Classic view):

Select Start > Control Panel.1.Select Network and Internet Connections.2.Select Set up or change your home or small office network. The3.Welcome to the Network Setup Wizard starts. Click Next.Follow the wizard's instructions. Use the same network and/or4.workgroup name on each computer.

Once you've run this process on two or more computers running Windows XP,ou should test your network. Just select Start, and then click My NetworkPlaces. You should see a list of other computers on your network, such as/dad-computer/shareddocs/.

Now that you've connected to a network, read on to learn how to set up sharedolders.

HP Paper

Setting up shared folders

The easiest way to share information on a wireless network is to set up sharedolders on the computers. Users of other computers on the network can seehese shared folders in their Network (or Network Neighborhood) screen andlick to access them -- if they have the proper permissions.

Setting up shared folders in Windows Vista

n Windows Vista, documents are shared in a folder called the Public folder.However, sharing is turned off by default for better security. To enable sharing

f the Public folder, follow these steps:

Select Start > Control Panel. In Category view, click Network and1.Internet and thenNetwork and Sharing Center.

You can also access the Network and Sharing Center by right-clicking thewireless network icon in the system tray and selecting Network and SharingCenter from the shortcut menu.

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Click the down arrow to the right of the Public folder sharing option to1.display configuration options, as shown in Figure 3-1.

Figure 3-1: Public folder sharing options in Windows Vista.

Enlarge image

To enable others to view files but not change them or create new ones1.in the Public folder, select Turn on sharing so anyone with networkaccess can open files. To enable others to view and change files, selectTurn on sharing so anyone with network access can open, change, andcreate files.Click Apply.2.Close the Network and Sharing Center.3.

Now files in the Public folder are accessible to everyone on the network. Topen the Public folder and access the files it contains, select Start >

Documents. In the Folders list on the left, click Public.

Sharing files and folders outside of the public folder

You can also share individual files or folders without moving them to the Publicolder. To do this, follow these steps:

Navigate to the file or folder you want to share, for example, by locating1.it in the Documents folder.Right-click the file or folder, and then select Share. The File Sharing2.dialog box appears.

Select users to share the file or folder with, and then click Share.3. When the Your is shared screen appears, click Done.4.

Setting permissions

f you want to restrict what users can do with files in a shared folder, you needo set up custom permissions such as read-only, modify, and so on. Here'sow:

Right-click the shared folder, and then select Properties. The Properties1.

dialog box appears.On the Sharing tab, click Advanced Sharing.2.Check the Share this folder checkbox.3.Click Permissions to open the Permissions dialog box, in which you can4.add specific users and give them Full Control, Change, and/or Readpermissions by checking the corresponding Allow checkbox. ThePermissions dialog box is shown in Figure 3-2.
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Figure 3-2: Giving individual users custom permissions.

By default, everyone has the Read permission, but you can remove theEveryone group if you want only specific people to have access. To remove theEveryone group, select it and then click the Remove button. Add individual

sers, and then check the checkboxes in the Allow column for the permissionsou want them to have. When you're done, click OK.

Setting up shared folders in Windows XP

f you're running Windows XP, notice that you have a Shared Documents foldern the My Computer window, as shown in Figure 3-3. This folder is already setp as a shared resource -- whatever files you place in it can be accessed byther computers on your network.

Figure 3-3: The Shared Documents folder.

Enlarge image

When you look at this folder, you can tell it's shared because it has an icon of aand underneath the folder. This represents a hand reaching out to offer the

older to others. All shared objects -- including additional hardware, such asrinters -- have this hand appended to their icons in Windows XP.
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Right-click the Shared Documents folder, select Sharing and Security from thehortcut menu, and then view the Sharing tab to see the different options forhe folder.

For example, you can set the folder's name that appears on other computers'isplays, which is the name that other users see when they view your Shared

Documents folder from across the network. In Figure 3-4, that name has beenet to SharedDocs.

You can share any folder by navigating to it in My Computer or WindowsExplorer, right-clicking it, and then selecting Sharing and Security.

Figure 3-4: Configuring sharing from the Shared Documents Properties dialogox in Windows XP.

You can also enable other network users to make changes to files in sharedolders. This enables them to add, delete, and change files in this folder. InFigure 3-4 shown previously, the Allow network users to change my files options checked because the owner of that particular computer knows other networksers will need to update the files in the folder.

General notes about sharing folders

n most cases, it's okay to leave the name of the shared folder as the default,which is the same as the name of the folder in your local file system. In otherases, you might want to give more descriptive folders names to help networksers find what they're looking for more easily. For example, FamilyTripPhotos

s a better name for a shared folder than Trip.

On a wireless network, names of shared folders are broadcast onto the publicirwaves; unless you secure your network with encryption, unauthorized peoplesuch as neighbors who have wireless-enabled computers) can see yourolders if they connect to your wireless network. You'll learn about encryptionnd security later in this lesson.

For safety's sake, you shouldn't share folders that contain personalinformation, such as family budgets, credit card information, passwords,


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work files, or personal e-mail, on a wireless network.

You can share an entire drive or partition, but it's usually a good idea to sharenly individual folders. It's a security risk to enable network users to accessour entire computer. You should give them access only to the information theyeed, and nothing more.

Next, learn how to share printers and other devices on a wireless network.

Sharing printers and other devices on a wireless network

You can share devices of all kinds on a network, and it's just as easy asharing folders. All you have to do, in most cases, is right-click the device icon,elect Share (Windows Vista) or Sharing and Security (Windows XP) from thehortcut menu, and then select the appropriate sharing option.

Which kinds of devices can you share? You can share all of the following, plusmore:

PrintersScannersDigital photo card readersExternal hard drives and removable media drives, like a flash or DVD drive

Sharing a printer

For some devices, you have to access them through the hardware applet inControl Panel to share them. Let's see how to share a printer in Windows Vista

nd Windows XP using this technique:

Select Start > Control Panel.1.In Windows Vista, select Hardware and Sound. In Windows XP, select2.Printers and Other Hardware.

These instructions assume you're using the default Windows Vista andWindows XP Control Panel views (referred to as Category view), notClassic view.

In Windows Vista, click Printers. In Windows XP, click View installed1.

printers or fax printers.From the list of printers installed on the computer, select the one you2.want to share, right-click it, and then select Sharing.In Windows Vista, click Change sharing options, if necessary. Select3.the Share this printer option and give it a share name. In Windows XP,select the Share this printer option, and then type a name to bedisplayed to network users or accept the default name.Click OK.4.

Now the printer can be used by others on the wireless network. In Lesson 4,ou'll learn how to connect to a shared printer to print to it.

Now that you have all these shared resources, you need to learn how to secureour network so the wrong people can't access them. That's covered in theext section.



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Securing your network

Wireless networking makes it easy for you to access your network and thenternet from any point within your home, and possibly even outdoors. Thisbiquitous wireless access is a great convenience to you, but it also makes lifeasy for unauthorized individuals to gain access to your network. There mighte a number of motivations for this type of activity:

Your neighbor might not want to pay for Internet access and wants tofreeload on your wireless network instead.Someone driving by may wish to perform illegal activity on the Internet and is

looking for an anonymous way to commit crimes. By using your Internetconnection, that activity can be traced back to you.

Hackers routinely drive around neighborhoods with a wireless-enablednotebook PC looking for insecure wireless networks. This activity is knownas war driving.

A hacker might be seeking personal information by eavesdropping on yournetwork activity or accessing your saved files.

n this part of the lesson, you'll learn a few important ways you can secure yourwireless network by securing your access points and encrypting your network.

Securing your WAPs

There are a few simple actions you can take to secure your WAPs:

Change the administrator password from the factory default setting. Manyaccess points are sold preconfigured with a default password (for example,"admin"). Hackers know these passwords well and use them to take overnetworks. You should immediately change the password to a strong onewhen installing a new access point on your network.Restrict administrative access to the internal network (that is, disable remotemanagement). Most access points also enable you to specify that alladministrative activity must come from the local network. This prevents ahacker from breaking into your access point over the Internet and changingyour security settings.

Encrypting your wireless network

Encryption prevents unauthorized individuals from accessing your wirelessetwork and viewing information that you send over your network. Most

wireless access points offer two options for encryption: WEP (Wired EquivalentPrivacy) and WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) encryption.

Don't use WEP encryption on your network under any circumstances. It hascritical security flaws and is easily cracked in seconds using software freelyavailable on the Internet. You must use WPA encryption to secure yournetwork. If your device doesn't support WPA, you should replace it with onethat does.

The process to configure WPA encryption on your network varies depending onhe type of equipment you've purchased. Here are some common settings youmay be asked to make:

WPA or WPA2: Both technologies are secure. You should select the onethat's compatible with all of your wireless equipment. In most cases, eitherone works with modern wireless equipment.AES or TKIP encryption: Again, both of these options are secure. You canuse either one, but be sure to choose consistently on all wireless devices.Personal or Enterprise mode: On home networks, you always want to selectpersonal mode (sometimes called pre-shared key or PSK mode).



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Encryption key or password/passphrase: You'll be asked to enter anencryption key or passphrase for your network.

Here are the steps in Windows Vista for creating a network profile withecurity:

In the Network and Sharing Center, click Manage wireless networks in1.the Tasks pane on the left.Click the Add button on the toolbar.2.Select Manually create a network profile.3.

Enter the network name in the first field, and then select the security4. type from the drop-down list as shown in Figure 3-5. Select WPA2-Personal for the strongest security on a home network.

Figure 3-5: Selecting the security type.

Enlarge image

The encryption type field fills in automatically, in this case with AES.1.Enter the security key or passphrase.2.Check the Start this connection automatically checkbox if you want to3.access this network each time you use your Wi-Fi connection.Click Next.4.Click Connect to.5.

You should now be connected to the WAP and can connect again using thisrofile in the future.

n Windows XP, right-click the wireless icon in the system tray, select ViewAvailable Wireless Networks from the shortcut menu, and then click Change

dvanced settings in the left pane. Click the Wireless Networks tab, click theAdd button, and then complete the fields on the Association tab much like that

escribed previously for Windows Vista. (If the network you want to configureecurity for is already listed in the network list on the Wireless Networks tab,elect it and click Properties to access the security settings.) Click OK whenou're finished.

Next, learn how you can use virtual private networks to connect back to yourworkplace.

Connecting to your workplace with a VPN

VPNs (virtual private networks) enable you to remotely connect to yourrganization's network just as if you were sitting in the office. Modern Windowsperating systems have VPN client software built in, although if your companyses certain types of VPN servers or firewalls, you might have to installroprietary VPN software. This section assumes your company uses the built-
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n Windows client.

Setting up a VPN connection in Windows Vista

You set up Windows Vista VPN connections through the network connectionwizard, as follows:

In the Network and Sharing Center, click Set up a network or1.connection, click Connect to a workplace, and then click Next.Pick the option to create a new connection, and then click Next.2.Select Use my Internet connection (VPN).3.In the next screen, shown in Figure 3-6, provide the IP address or the4.fully qualified domain name of the VPN server (you must get thisinformation from your company's IT staff) and a destination name.Select any of the options at the bottom of the screen that apply to you,

and then click Next.

You can select to use a smart card for authentication if this is required byyour company.

Figure 3-6: Setting up a VPN connection in Vista.

Enlarge image

Enter your user name and password for the corporate network, as well1.as the domain name if it's a Windows domain.Click Connect. It might take a minute or two for the connection to be2.established.

To use the connection to connect to your corporate network, just select it fromour list of network connections. You may need to enter your credentials, andhen click Connect.

Setting up a VPN connection in Windows XP

Windows XP VPN connections are set up through the Network settings dialogoxes as well. Here are the basic steps:

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Open Control Panel, and then select Network and Internet Connections.1.Select Create a connection to the network at your workplace.2.Select Virtual Private Network connection in the New Connection3.Wizard, and then click Next.Type a name for the connection (such as MyCompany VPN), and then4.click Next.Choose whether Windows needs to dial a connection to the Internet5.before connecting to the VPN, and then click Next. Then, on the VPNServer Selection screen, enter the host name or IP address of the VPNserver. Click Next.In the completion screen, click Finish.6.

To use the connection to connect to your corporate network, just select it fromour list of network connections. You'll be asked to enter your user name andassword, and then click Connect.

Moving on

This lesson covered the essentials of sharing files and folders on a network,escribed methods of making your home network safer and more secure, andhowed you how to make VPN connections. Lesson 4 discusses more

dvanced networking topics, such as expansion and troubleshooting. Beforemoving on, don't forget to do the assignment and take the quiz that go with thisesson.

Assignment #3

This assignment is very simple: Figure out how to implement all the must-do securityecommendations from this lesson with your particular equipment. Specifically, do the following:

Change the default administrative password on your WAP.Disable remote management on your WAP.Enable WPA encryption on your WAP.Enter the encryption key in the wireless configuration settings on your computer(s) that willconnect to the wireless network.

Make sure to take your time when you do this. It's a good idea to refer to the documentation thatame with your WAP, because the interface and setup procedures can differ slightly depending onhe brand and model. This is a great exercise for discovering how to set up a WAP and working withach networked computer's wireless settings.

Quiz #3Question 1:True or False: You can share printers on a wireless network.

) True

B) False

Question 2:True or False: On Windows XP computers, you can identify shared folders by the fact that the folder name is

isplayed in a different color.

) True

B) False

Question 3:When you share a folder on a Windows computer, which of the following options can you set? (Check all that

pply.)

A) The name of the folder to be displayed on other computers

B) Whether users can make changes to files in the folder

C) The maximum size of the folder


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D) The color of the folder

Question 4:What's war driving?

A) Using a computer to call all numbers on an exchange to see which ones are faxes, modems, and otherxploitable devices

B) Stealing passwords by peeking over someone's shoulder

C) Driving around neighborhoods with a wireless-enabled notebook PC, trying to pick up availableroadcasts

D) Buying user names and passwords from a hacker who obtained them through social engineering

Question 5:What should you do to secure your wireless access point? (Check all that apply.)

A) Change the default administrative password.

B) Disable any user access to the device.

C) Turn on encryption.

D) Disable remote management.

Expanding and troubleshooting your networkWireless networks can easily be expanded by adding both access points to extend the range and file and printervers to offer shared resources. You'll also pick up some troubleshooting techniques.

Expanding your network

Welcome back. If you've gotten this far, you've accomplished a great deal,ncluding the following:

Planning your wireless home networkPurchasing, installing, and configuring all the gearSharing files and devices, and securing your network

This lesson covers some advanced topics related to growing your network.Although your network might be small now, at some point you might need to

dd computers or expand the broadcast coverage.

Sooner or later, most home users need to expand their networks. You'll eitherave added so many users and computers onto your network that it starts tolow down, or you'll experience big changes in the kinds of files you send overhe network, requiring more bandwidth. Perhaps you'll need to expandroadcast coverage to additional parts of your home or out to the yard or patio.

Fortunately, expanding a wireless network is a simple matter. In most cases, allou have to do is buy more WAPs to increase your bandwidth and coverage. Inome cases, however, you might need to take other steps, such as setting upouters and servers. You'll cover all of these topics in this lesson. First, let's findut how to add WAPs and routers to your network to extend its range.

HP Paper

Adding access points and routers to the network

The traditional way to expand your wireless network is to set up additionalccess points. This is particularly effective if:

You have users you want to keep on separate access points for security orbandwidth reasons -- for example, you might have your kids use one accesspoint and have the adults use a separate one.You have different parts of the property that need coverage -- for example,the third floor of your home is an office that needs wireless coverage, youneed coverage in the kids' bedrooms on the first floor, and you sometimeswork in a converted shed out back and need wireless access there.

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When you buy additional WAPs, ensure they all use the same wirelessrotocol, such as 802.11g, and set up security on each one. For thoseomputers and devices that might roam between different wireless coveragereas, such as a notebook PC, you need to configure the device with each

wireless access point's encryption keys so it can connect to whichever WAP iswithin range.

You need to set the same SSIDs (service set identifiers) on each additionalccess point if your notebook PC or other device will roam and use multiple

ccess points. The SSID identifies the wireless network. Check the user guideor each access point to determine how to change the SSID.

Although you may have overlapping network coverage when you havemore than one WAP, in reality, a computer only communicates with oneaccess point at a time. It selects the access point with the strongest signal.

To avoid crosstalk (colliding signals) on overlapping WAPs, set differentroadcast channels on each WAP. For best performance, you should selectoncontiguous channels. For example, if your first access point broadcasts on

hannel 1, set your second WAP to broadcast on channel 6.

Other points to consider when adding more access points include theollowing:

Most access points have an effective indoor range of approximately 150 feet-- less if there are obstructions, metal shielding, or thick walls present. Youneed only a little bit of overlap (several dozen feet at most).Although WAPs placed near the center of your home (or in your basement orattic) might not be accessible from the street unless a war driver has aspecial high-gain antenna, access points placed near the periphery of yourhome are more likely to be picked up.

Always put security measures in place regardless of the placement of yourWAPs. That means using WPA or WPA2 encryption and other securitymeasures discussed in Lesson 3.

Your speed and signal strength on a wireless network is determined by twomain factors: distance from the access point and number and quality ofobstructions between a system and an access point. Even slight changes inthe way you point your notebook PC's antenna, or raising the height of aWAP, can mean dramatic changes.

Some users with adjustable antennas have reported great returns by keepingheir antennas straight or replacing shorter antennas with longer ones.

Using the 802.11b and 802.11g specifications, you have only 11 channelson which to broadcast, and these overlap. To ensure you have uniquechannels with no overlap, you should select from channels 1, 6, and 11. Youcan select from 12 channels if using 802.11a.For best performance, make sure that other appliances or devices withinrange don't broadcast on the same frequency. These include microwaveovens, garage-door openers, many cordless phones, some power lines,Bluetooth devices, and neighbors with their own 802.11b networks. Ofcourse, you might not have control over all of these.

Adding a router to the network

You use routers to connect two or more networks together and to divideetworks into subnetworks (also called subnets). You might be able to alleviaterowth problems by setting up a router and confining a specific type of traffic tos own subnetwork. For example, if you play wireless LAN games, the heavyata traffic might slow down the entire network. If you can keep all of this trafficwhich is mostly localized) on one subnet, however, users on other subnets


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might not be affected.

Dividing a network into subnets involves configuring computer and device IPddresses and entering subnet masks into the TCP/IP settings to identify whichortions of the IP address identify the network or subnet and which identify the

ndividual computers.

Subnetting is a complex topic that's beyond the scope of this course, butyou can find many guides to IP subnetting on the Web.

Most routers support the creation of different subnets. Because each modelas different settings and commands, read your particular router'socumentation to set up separate subnets.

A router can also be an effective way to secure different parts of your homenetwork. For example, you can restrict certain types of traffic on certainsubnetworks, such as only e-mail and Web traffic.

Adding a firewall to the network

Although you should have personal firewall software installed on each of youromputers, as the network grows you may want to add a separate firewallevice that protects the entire network. This is called a perimeter or edgerewall. An edge firewall can provide stronger security than personal firewalls.

Edge firewall devices are made by many vendors. If you're building a newetwork, you can often find a single device that serves as a combination router,rewall, and wireless access point.

f you're not sure whether your network has a firewall, check your router beforeou buy a dedicated device. Many routers contain basic firewall functionalityhat's sufficient for most home networks.

After you've added devices to help expand the physical performance of youretwork, you may want to find a way to better organize the sharing of files and

olders. You'll learn how to add a simple file server to your wireless network inhe next section.

Adding a simple file server to the network

Suppose you have a wireless network, each computer sharing lots ofocuments. As a result, you've found that it has gotten harder and harder toeep track of where different files are located. Moreover, network users haveoticed that when they share their directories, their computers get boggedown when other users access their fi les. This can become a problem,specially if you're sharing a lot of music, graphics, videos, or other large files.

The answer to this problem is to set up a simple file server on your network. Ale server is traditionally a dedicated computer that holds files and other dataeeded by a group of network users; however, you can create a simple server

y sharing a USB flash drive with ample free disk space or install and share andditional hard disk. Establishing a file server can make your network easier tomanage in the long run. It's also easier to secure and back up the data on aingle disk rather than on every computer on the network.

Many USB drive models are available with storage capacities of 500 GB or



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greater. You can easily connect multiple external drives to create evenlarger storage areas.

Options for setting up a file server

The easiest way to set up a file server on your network is to purchase a USBrive and attach it to an existing desktop computer on your network. Then

ollow the instructions from Lesson 3 to share the drive on the wireless networko that users may access it over the network. For added security, create

eparate folders for each user and assign permissions so users can't accessach other's folders.

Alternatively, you can purchase a dedicated computer that's designed to act as file server. This approach is much more expensive than just sharing a drivettached to or installed in an existing computer, but it offers faster performancend won't negatively affect the user of the computer that's set up in sharing

mode.

Although you could use a notebook PC for a file server, it's not recommended.A file server needs to be turned on and accessible most or all of the time;

otebook PCs are generally not designed to run 24/7 and are often set to gonto standby mode or hibernate after a certain period of time to save

CourseSession-306039-Setting Up Wireless Home Network

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