Learning Project One s2
Creating a Network
In this chapter, students put together all the components to create their own network.
Chapter Overview
This chapter gives students the chance to create their own network. Throughout the chapter, they will use a worksheet to help them do the development and then they will complete hands-on labs to actually put together their own networks.
Student Prerequisites
§ Complete Chapters 1 through 5 prior to beginning this chapter so students understand the overall concept of networks and the function they have in society. It is important to do the planning in chapter 5 and to use that initial work to complete the work in this chapter.
Classroom Technology Resources
§ Students must have computers with Internet access to complete the Web portions of the course.
§ Cables and connectors should be available for the students.
Materials for Instructors
§ A teacher machine with Internet access is suggested. If you have the ability to display your screen to students, it could be helpful as they work through the chapter.
Suggested Web Sites
§ Home PC Network: http://www.homepcnetwork.com
§ What is an IP Address? http://www.howstuffworks.com/question549.htm
§ How to Set Up Your Home Network: http://www.pcworld.com/howto/article/0,aid,102461,00.asp
§ How to Set Up a Small Network with Windows XP Home Edition: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=813936
§ How Home Networking Works: http://www.howstuffworks.com/home-network.htm
§ Home Net Help: http://www.homenethelp.com/home-network.asp
Additional Materials and Resources
For Students
§ For definitions and any unfamiliar phrases, refer students to Webopedia at http://www.webopedia.com
§ For students who want to know more about actual wiring for networks, refer them to the step-by-step tutorials at http://www.swhowto.com.
For Teachers
§ What is an IP Address? http://www.howstuffworks.com/question549.html
§ Home PC Network: http://www.homepcnetwork.com
§ How to Set up a Computer Network: http://www.internet-connection-guide.com/computer/add-on/computer-network.htm
Topic-by-Topic Overview
The below section follows the student textbook and offers additional comments and exercises you will find useful as you teach this course.
How Do I Put It All Together?
Emphasize to students that planning is one of the most important parts of creating a network.
How do I connect the computers?
Explain that connection is established via wires or a wireless connection. This section deals with wired connections. Information on wireless networks follows this section.
Selecting the cable
Ensure that you have sample of all cables to show students.
Coaxial cable
Explain that coaxial cable, though not used as often, is still found in offices and students are likely to encounter coaxial cable for some time to come.
Twisted-pair cable
Emphasize that twisted-pair cable includes both shielded and unshielded.
Explain the difference in the two, focusing on interference and loss of data that can occur in unshielded.
Have students visit the Cables to Go Web site to get more information about cables and pricing of various types of cabling. The site is online at http://www.cablestogo.com.
Fiber optic cable
Explain that fiber optic cable is used most often outside of buildings, connecting a building, neighborhood, or even a city. Explain that while fiber optic is quite expensive, it lasts much longer, has greater data transmission ability, and is much more reliable than other transmission media.
Exercise: Cabling
Complete this exercise after studying cabling in the classroom.
Have different types of cable for students to examine. If resources and time permit, you might want to introduce students to the various connectors and have them crimp wires and put connectors on cables.
Installing the cable
You can have students investigate how cables are installed in the school. If possible, they should visit the computer department and examine how the servers are set up, where the wires run, and how the wires are distributed throughout the school.
Have students study the steps in the Wire My House for Networking section of the Home PC Network Web site at http://www.homepcnetwork.com.
There is a more complete review of wiring, with pictures for each step at http://www.swhowto.com. Determine the needs and level of your students and you might want to refer some students to this Web site.
Can I create a network without wires?
Discuss the advent of wireless networks and discuss some of the uses of wireless technologies. You might include such items as laptops, PDAs, and cellular phones.
Using wireless systems
Have students visit some of the online sites that provide information about wireless systems, including Linksys (http://www.linksys.com), Proxim (http://www.proxim.com), and 3com (http://www.3com.com).
If you have wireless devices available, you might show students some of the features. Find out if some of the students in class have cell phones that offer an Internet connection and discuss how that fits into a network.
How do I install the hardware?
Discuss the basic hardware that is required in a network, using the hardware students studied in Chapter 5.
Exercise: Network Hardware
Students will examine three different scenarios for setting up a network. Each one involves different size networks. You can either require students to all do the same scenario in class together and have them do the others on their own, or divide students into groups and have each group follow a different scenario.
Students will determine the necessary hardware based on each scenario. The estimated time is based on each group of students completing a separate scenario. This first course will require them to do some initial planning and research based on the scenario, along with finding all the appropriate hardware.
Lab: Hardware
If time and classroom setup permits, have students complete the optional hardware lab. Students will label and place components according to their network plan.
How do I set up the software to configure the network?
Discuss the different types of network operating systems. Explain that every computer must have an operating system installed, even if it is simply a client machine on a client/server network.
Installing the Network Operating System
Explain that many systems come with an operating system already installed. While students may have to do some setup, they shouldn't need to actually install the software.
Configuring the computers
While the software is usually included, students will often need to configure the system. They will usually need to Share the files with others.
Explain that one of the basic requirements of Windows XP when setting up a home network is to run the Windows XP home networking wizard, which they will do at the end of this class.
Emphasize that the network must be completely planned, the ISP determined, the modem and all hardware installed before actually running the wizard and setting up the network.
Exercise: Sharing Files and Folders
Complete this exercise after discussing ways to configure the computers. Do this exercise on the student computers already connected to the school's network. Ensure that students have the ability to share their own student folders prior to the class.
1. On the desktop, double-click My Computer.
2. Right-click on the student folder, then click Sharing and Security....
3. Click the Sharing tab.
4. In the Network sharing and security section, turn on Share this folder on the network, type a name for the shared folder in the Share name text box, then click OK.
5. Close My Computer.
6. On the desktop or in the Start menu, have student open My Network Places. Notice the shared folders in the window.
7. Close the My Network Places window.
Lab: Peer-to-Peer Network Configuration
If time and classroom setup permits, have students complete the optional software lab to configure a peer-to-peer network.
Lab: Client/Server Network Configuration
If time and classroom setup permits, have students complete the optional software lab to configure a client/server network.
Can We Connect the Network to the Internet?
Emphasize that even on a home network, you can share an Internet connection. Typically, one of the computers using Windows XP's Internet Connection Sharing feature and provides a single connection to the Internet. All others in the family who are on the network can surf the Web from their own computers.
How do I choose an ISP?
Discuss the various ways to evaluate an ISP:
§ Services: discuss some of the different services ISPs can offer to customers, including Web pages, server space, dial-up connections while traveling, toll free access numbers, etc.
§ Size: spend some time discussing local ISPs in your area. Discuss the pros and cons of going with a small local company versus a large national company.
§ Contracts: encourage students to remember to get all the details before making a decision.
§ Support and Equipment: emphasize the importance of having access to some type of service 24 hours a day. Make sure they check to see if there is an additional charge to use the technical support or customer service.
§ Find out if the ISP provides any necessary hardware or if you need to purchase hardware specifically for getting online. Explain that some ISPs require you purchase equipment, while others provide it as part of the service and you must return it when you cancel the service.
Exercise: Locating an ISP
Students will complete this section after you have discussed the questions necessary to ask when locating an ISP. Have students fill out the ISP portion of the Scenario worksheet.
What type of connection do I need to the Internet?
Discuss the various types of connections. Explain the difference between each one. Make sure you know which service the school has. If possible, bring in a laptop and connect to the Internet using a standard dial-up modem. With that laptop connected, and the high-speed connection in the school, navigate to the same site and discuss the differences with students.
What type of hardware do I need to connect to the Internet?
Discuss the difference between a dial-up modem, a wireless network adapter, and an Ethernet network adapter.
What type of software do I need to connect to the Internet?
Explain that many times an ISP will have its own software, sometimes a customized version of Microsoft Internet Explorer. There is usually software to accompany the modem or other adapters. If possible, show students what a control panel for a DSL or Cable modem looks like and emphasize the importance of not adjusting settings without guidelines from the ISP or the modem manufacturer.
What do I need to know to connect to the Internet?
Hand out the Sample ISP Setup Instructions.doc. This file provides a sample of the instructions students might get when they sign up for Internet service. Explain that much of this is done automatically by the software they receive from their ISP, but show them the steps on making the changes manually.
IP Addresses
You can spend some extra time on IP addresses if you believe it is appropriate for your students. You can use the IP address for the school. You might want to show students how to use the PING command in the command prompt window to find any IP address. Explain that this is a tool to see how the computer is communicating with the network.
Before having students examine setting up TCP/IP, explain that this is done in different ways. In a simple peer-to-peer network in which one computer connects to the Internet and others go through that computer, you will likely need to configure the TCP/IP. However, if the network uses a router, such as a DSL or cable modem, they will likely need to enter the information through the interface provided by the ISP.
Domain Name Servers
Domain Name Servers (DNSs) are servers that convert every IP address into a domain name. For example, the IP address 207.46.245.214 is converted by the DNS into microsoft.com. Most often, you will connect to the ISP and there is a DNS at the ISP's location rather than having a DNS server as part of your own network.
Exercise: TCP/IP Setup
Complete this exercise after discussing TCP/IP, IP Addresses, and Domain Name Servers. Emphasize that in many cases, this information is automatically added by the ISP software. Caution students not to make changes as you view the various screens.
1. Open My Network Places.
2. Double-click on the Internet connection or the Local Area Connection.
3. In the Status dialog box, click Properties.
4. In the Properties dialog box, click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), then click Properties.
5. Caution students to make no change to this screen as you describe it. Explain that for most home networks, they will select Obtain an IP address automatically to get a dynamic IP address. They will only enter an IP address if they have select a static IP address from the ISP.
6. Explain that the primary and secondary DNS server are the same as Preferred DNS sesrver and Alternate DNS server. Point out the four sets of numbers and dots in each IP address.
7. Click Advanced.
8. On the IP Settings tab, point out the IP addresses or, if the address is dynamic, explain that DHCP Enabled displays here.
9. Click Cancel.
10. Click Cancel.
11. Click Cancel a third time to close the Properties dialog box.
12. Click Close, then close the Network Connection window.
Connecting a Home Network to the Internet
Explain that students will complete a lab that actually has them set up a network. However, at this point, they will complete the Network Scenario exercise.
After students complete the planning worksheet for the scenarios, you might have them use that same worksheet again to begin planning their own home network.
Exercise: Using the Windows XP Home Networking Wizard
Complete this exercise at the end of the chapter, before going to the hands-on labs or completing the Enrichment exercise.
1. Click Start, My Network Places.