CTCNet Conference 2002 Presentation Topic:
Networking 1
What is a Network and How Can it Help You?
Basic Explanation of Computer Networks in a Community Center Environment, Emphasizing Cost-effective Solutions

Jerry Winegarden

Duke University
Office of Information Technology
jbw@duke.edu
http://www-jerry.oit.duke.edu
(also)
RTPnet Triangle Centers for Technology
www.rtpnet.org/tact
To be presented June 15, 2002

Last Revised 6/14/02

Introduction

This presentation seeks to explain, in general terms, how computers are connected together to share resources, and suggest the most cost-effective ways of connecting them to the Internet.

Most important idea

Connect all your computers together in your own network (called a "LAN") to share files and printers, and then connect your LAN to the Internet with an "internet connection box" (a router/firewall). This means you need just one Internet account and one phone line or DSL or cable modem connection to connect ALL your machines at the same time to the Internet. Then, you choose the type of connection from this "icb router" to the Internet, depending on what's available and your budget.

PICTURE GOES HERE

Definitions

First, a few definitions. Many will be discussed in this session and are important for you in connecting your computers to each other and to the Internet. A few other terms are included for completeness in case you have heard of them and wondered what they mean.

LAN = Local Area Network
"Local" collection of computers and the cables and hubs which connect them together to share information and resources such as files and printers. Technically, a LAN is a segment on one router port (one "wire") if connected to the Internet. Examples of LANs would be a classroom or an office, or possibly even a whole building. Machines in separate buildings are typically in separate LANs. However, with wireless ethernet, separate buildings can be connected in the same LAN (technology limitations may interfere however, just as with wireless phones.)
router
Networking box which connects LANs to form the Internet. A router is necessary to see that information can get from a machine on a LAN to a machine outside the LAN in an intelligent way, without the user needing to know the actual routing information along the way. In the original Internet,called Usenet and Arpanet, information was passed from one machine to another until it reached its destination. The addresses looked like:
mymachine!ourdeptmachine!ouruniversity!clemsonarpargw!gatecharpagw!theiruniv!theirdept!theirmachine
which is an explicit path of machine names to get from one machine to another across the country. The "backbone" of Usenet and Arpanet was a series of "well-known" computers which were connected to each other. Information was passed from one to another in accordance with the "bang path" address which the user sending the email provided. The invention of routers was the basis of the Internet. It took the responsibility of getting messages from one user to another away from the individual users and automated it. Instead of bang path addresses, each machine was assigned an "IP number" and a corresponding hostname/domain name. DNS servers then are automatically searched online address books. All information is passed in packets which are addressed to the IP number of the destination machine, but users only have to remember the machine's "fully qualified domain name" (fqdn) and the DNS servers will look it up and fill it in for you.
Although a router can be rather complicated, the simplest versions, which are most likely to be used in a CTC, consist of one "port" to connect to your LAN and one other "port" to connect to the Internet. The "port" can be "ethernet" or some other type of communications device such as "dialup modem". Many of the "routers" available also include built-in ethernet hubs or switches; thus they are a hybrid.
So, the Internet consists of LAN's separated by and connected together by a series of routers.
WAN Wide Area Network
Collection of LANs connected as if the machines in the WAN were all one one LAN (i.e. as if they were all in the same room), even though they might be in different buildings or even on different planets. Thus, if you have multiple centers, but you need to share the same database, you would need to establish a WAN. The Internet is the "mother of all WANs!!!" A WAN spans more than one router or router segment. Special software (e.g. VPN) allows machines on separate LAN's to interact as if they were on the same LAN, thus forming a WAN.
Ethernet - type of network connection hardware, software (as opposed to Token Ring, or Localtalk, or Phonenet, or Banyan Vines, ...). Invented by Xerox years ago, originally used "thick ethernet cable" and external transceivers. Since expanded to include standards of interoptibility for thin coax, twisted pair cable (Cat 5, Cat 6, ...), and wireless.
- NIC card = Network Interface Card = Ethernet card = Ethernet Adapter
- Ethernet speeds
  - 10 Mbs = 10 Mega bits per second = 10,000,000 bits per second (1 character = 8 bits) = approx 1 million characters per second
  - 100Mbs = 100 Megabits per second
  - 1000MBs = 1 Gbs = 1 Gigabit per second = 100 million chararacters per second
- 10BaseT = Twisted-Pair Ethernet with RJ45 connectors = 10MegaBit/second transmissions over Twisted pair wire.
- 100BaseT = Twisted-Pair Ethernet with RJ45 connectors = 100MB/sec ethernet transmission over Twisted pair wire.
- 1000BaseT = Gigabit ethernet = Twisted-Pair ethernet with RJ45 connectors = 1000MB/sec = 1 GB/sec transmission over Twisted pair wire.
- 10Base2 = Thinnet = Thin-coaxial = BNC = RG-58 cable
- AUI
- Transceiver - external connector for ethernet - plugs in AUI port and comes in twisted-pair, thinnet, and fiber optic cable interface versions.
- 10/100 Ethernet (twisted pair) cards, hubs: will run at 10MegaBits/second or 100MB/sec (autosensing)
- Fast Ethernet = 100MB ethernet cards, hubs
- Gigabit Ethernet = 1000MB = 1GB ethernet cards, hubs
hub a box that connects computers together - i.e. twisted-pair ethernet networking device to which several computers are connected in order to form a LAN. A LAN is set up like a wagon wheel, with the ethernet hub being (logically) at the center axle point, and the cables connecting to each computer like spokes on that wagon wheel. Every piece of information from every computer on the LAN is sent down each spoke ("repeated") by the hub, thus connecting every machine to each other.
- Hubs can have a varying number of "ports", usually 4, 5, 8, 12, 16, 24.
- They can also have a special port called an "uplink" port.
- hubs can be standalone, cascaded, or stacked
  - standalone - hub not connected to the Internet or any other hub - just connects machines in a LAN (to share files and printers)
  - cascaded - hubs connected to each other with one hub at the "upper level" (e.g. in central phone closet), other hubs connected via their "uplink port" or "cross-over cable" to this central hub (e.g. one in each classroom) and a third level of hubs with PC's connected to them (e.g. one at the end of each row in a classroom). You can cascade down at most 3 levels from a router.
  - stacked - hubs (or switches) connected with special cable as if they were one hub with twice the number of ports. This is useful for a central hub, since the second or third hub "stacked" does not count in the cascase level count. Thus, if you have 24-port stackable hubs, you could buy two, stack them together to form one 48-port hub (you won't find a 48-port hub anyway). You probably won't be using stacked hubs at home!
  - rack-mountable - hub is made to be screwed into a vertical equipment rack to save table space. Probably any networking device can be purchased in a form which is rack-mountable, but most versions you will find will be "table top".
- switch Special kind of ethernet hub, faster, because if manages multiple machines' connections more efficiently to guarantee each machine the maximum published bandwidth (e.g. 10 Mbs), instead of sometimes shared bandwidth. Slightly secure than normal hubs, but also more expensive. Not designed to be cascaded with a series of hubs, but to be the central hub unit.
- Wireless ethernet - hub with transmitter/receiver and cards with receivers for each machine, much like wireless phones (not cell phones).
  - Strength of signal determines how far away machines can be from the hub and how much "interference" from building frame, etc, can be tolerated. Two levels of signal strength:
    - 100 mW (Cisco Aironet, Oronoco)
    - 30 mW (the rest: DLink, Netgear, Linksys, Compaq, Apple, Intel)
  - Wireless protocol standards: Two (incompatible) standards currently exist:
    - 802.11b, 2.4GHz, maximum speeds advertised: 11 Mbs. (older)
      Prices:
      - Router with 4-port switch: $120 (DLink), $ Cisco
      - Wireless laptop card: $70 (DLink), $ Cisco Aironet
    - 802.11a, 5 GHz, max speed 72Mbs (some say 48Mbs). (newer)
      Prices (6/2002):
      - Router with 4-port switch: $330 (DLink), $ ? Cisco Aironet
      - Wireless laptop card: $150 (DLink), $ ? Cisco Aironet
  - The two standards are NOT compatible (2.4GHz cards will not work with 5 GHz hubs and vice versa),
  - most manufacturers 802.11b cards and hubs interoperate, with a few exceptions (if special security features are enabled). Be careful if you are planning on using the card with an existing company or school's wireless hubs. Security features may be turned on and registration required. Check on capatibilty before buying. No compatibility problems with most home routers.
  - Power output of cards and hubs determines distances and speeds achievable
    - Cisco Aironet cards and hubs, series 350: 100 mW
    - DLink, Linksys, Compaq, etc: 30 mW
  - Prices have dropped dramatically (about 30% in the past 6 months), but STILL PRICEY! (Table of price survey presented below)
    However, if you need them, our tests say: they do work!
    If you have a main building with another building nearby, you may be able to place a wireless hub in the main building, connected to the LAN and reach it from machines in the second building if they have the right wireless cards. On the other hand, they may not! You might not know until you try. The same can be said even for connections in the same building, especially if the buildings are constructed from concrete blocks and steel! We have run some tests of what works and will present the results below. Your laptop with a wireless card can connect at school or community center and also at home if you get your own wireless router for home.
- combination router/switch/print server/wireless access point - some boxes now combine several features
Wiring and connectors
- Category 5 (Cat 5) - twisted-pair ethernet cable with 8 wires
- Category 6 and 7 (Cat 6 or 7) - twisted-pair ethernet cable with 8 wires, constructed in a slightly different manner to support even higher speeds than 100MBit/second (which Cat 5 supports). 1000MB/second (Gigabit) connections may start requiring such cable, although Cat 5 is used for Gigabit in many cases.
- RJ45 8-pin modular Ethernet cable connector
- RJ11 4-pin modular phone cable connector
- RJ9 6-pin modular (ISDN) phone cable connector
protocols - set of rules for communicating
- TCP/IP - Internet's protocol
- IPX - Novell LAN
- Netbeui - Microsoft LAN
- Appletalk - Apple LAN
- DECnet - DEC (Compaq)
Internet addressses and names
- TCP/IP addresses: IP number + port number
  - IP number = individual machine's "address", like the street address of an apartment building. For example, 152.3.202.97
  - IP port number = network service port number, like the individual apartment number. For example, web service is most often on port 80.
- Internet hostname and domain names, "fully qualified domain name" (fqdn)
  - FQDN, or Hostname, or Domain Name: www-jerry.oit.duke.edu
  - Registered with DNS servers, IP numbers of destination looked up as needed (and routers take care of making sure packets reach the destination IP number)
  - Note: nothing magical about "www."* address. No different than any other domain name, just by convention or suggestion, web servers are named with www: www.duke.edu but there are web servers without the www: nc-help.org
- DNS server = Distributed Name Service server = nameserver = Internet domain name to IP number lookup service
- Dynamic DNS service: see: www.dyndns.org
- methods of obtaining an IP number:
  - dhcp: method of dynamically receiving an IP number (assigned to you permanently or temporarily randonmly assigned to you) from a dhcp server. dhcp clients ask for an IP number and any dhcpd server on the LAN responds with a number (e.g. 192.168.1.23) and the client machine then sets its IP number to that number.
  - manually assigned (static) IP number - pre-assigned IP number that doesn't change each time you restart your computer. The TCP/IP protocol for this ethernet card must be set "manually" by specifying the IP number, rather than relying on a dhcp server to provide this information.
LAN Ethernet connection media choices
- Twisted-pair wiring (10BaseT)
- Thin-coax (10Base2)
- Wireless
Internet Ethernet connection media
- dial-up phone connection (ppp)
- ISDN (dialup)
- cable-modem (e.g. RoadRunner) - broadband
- DSL (ADSL, SDSL) - different speeds available - shares existing phone line, don't pay for an extra data line (e.g share your FAX line)
- T1 (with frame relay connection) - "fractional T1" means slower speeds than the maximum available on a T1 connection.
- T3 (same as T1 only much faster, but much more $$)
- Satellite (bi-directional) - e.g. DirectPC
Hardware ethernet address = MAC address = NIC address
Unique identifying number assigned to each and every Ethernet card. To meet Ethernet specifications, every card must identify itself on the network with this number, which consists of six pairs of hexadecimal numbers, often seen displayed with "-" or ":" separating the pairs. Xerox invented Ethernet and originated this scheme. The first three pairs refer to the manufacturer of the card. The last three pairs refer to an individual card made by that manufacturer. (Obviously, some manufacturers now have several manufacturer codes, because they've made so many cards!).
For example: 00-0A-A5-15-AA-D9

How Do You Establish a LAN in your Community Technology Center?

Determine how many hubs you will need and where you will locate them.
See below for explanation of how to install hubs. Since 10MB hubs only cost about $30 or so, you should be able to afford to place hubs to keep wiring simple. See LAN Ethernet Wiring Examples for some ideas on where to place hubs.
Determine which speed Ethernet you will need on your LAN
Will you need to run "Fast" Ethernet (100MB), or 10 or 100 MB (10/100 MB), or just 10MB? Unless you are running "full-motion video" applications or something else which is extremely "bandwidth intensive" (sends a very large amount of information in a very short period of time), you will most likely be able to live just fine with 10BaseT, 10MB hubs and ethernet cards. (10/100 MB cards are OK with 10MB hubs and in some cases are almost as inexpensive now as 10MB cards. 10/100 hubs are still considerably more expensive than 10MB hubs, but are acceptable. Switches are sophisticated hubs which attempt to optimize your network performance; unless you have the full-motion-video-over-network-type applications you should not need them). Also, if you are attempting to cascade hubs (e.g. place a hub in the central phone closet with one line to each room, and a separate hub in each room, or even separate hubs at the end of each row in a classroom) they might not work with a switch. There are now ADSL or cable modem "routers" (e.g. Linksys and DLink) which include a built-in hub or switch with the router. Beware and choose the right one.
Wireless Ethernet is an option for your LAN, but it is still quite expensive and can be a bit touchy to install if all of the machines are not in the same or close room as the wireless hub, because of interference or strength of signal problems. With wireless, you get what you pay for in the signal strength.
Wireless Ethernet involves placing a wireless ethernet receiver card in each machine and locating a wireless Ethernet transmitter hub in the room and connecting it to the rest of your LAN (or to your router) via an Ethernet cable. If you have mobile units or a segment of wiring is very difficult to achieve, wireless may be an option you should consider. Otherwise, don't. It's still too expensive, but getting much better. (Next year?) For example, the less powerful hubs cost about $200 with individual machine cards about $100. Compare that with $30 for a hub and $20-$40 for an ethernet card. The difference buys an awful lot of cable (cable is about .07 - .15 per foot depending on the type). Current wireless hubs maximum speed is 11 MB/sec IF you have a perfect reception/transmission signal. If the signal is weaker, the hub will automatically slow down the attempted communication to 5, or 2, or even 1 MB / second in order to not garble anything (you can't live with garbled computer data - dropping even one bit can be critical, as opposed to voice communications where you can put up with a lot of choppiness and interference in the voice and still understand what is being said.)
Efforts are being made to increase the power and performance of both hubs and cards. The next generation of wireless hubs are shooting for xx MB/sec.
There are currently two basic classes of wireless ethernet hubs based on power.
- Most powerful (100 mW):
  - Cisco Aironet
  - Oronoco (or Lucent?)
- Less powerful (30 mW):
  - Linksys
  - Netgear MR314, $120 (w. 4-port 10/100 switch)
  - DLink
  - Compaq
  - Intel
So, now you know what hardware you need.
Obtain the correct numbers and types of Ethernet cards, cables, and hubs
- ethernet cards
  - 10MB ethernet cards should be about $15-$20,
  - 10/100 MB cards: $15-$35
  - 1000 MB cards: $xx-$yy ("Gigabit ethernet")
  - wireless cards $70 - $150
  - 10MB 5-port hubs: $30-$50
  - 10MB 8-port hubs: $40-$60.
  - 10MB 16-port hubs: $xx-$yy
  - Note: two 8-port hubs are likely less expensive than one 16-port hub!
  - 10/100MB 8-port hubs: $60-$125
  - 10/100MB 16-port hubs: $xx-$yy
  - 10/100MB 8-port switches: $xxx-$yyy
- Install Ethernet card in each machine (including "network printers")
  Note: some machines have a "built-in" ethernet port (RJ45 jack)
  Note: some machines (mostly Macs and "network" printers) may require an external ethernet transceiver
  Read "Installing Ethernet Cards"
Obtain an ethernet cable for each machine
- Ethernet cables can be made by hand by obtaining a length of Category 5 cable, a supply of (male) RJ45 connectors, and a special crimping tool (for 8-pin connectors). See "Making Your Own Ethernet Cables" for instructions.
- You can purchase cables of 3', 7', 14', 25', 50' lengths. The shorter ones for perhaps $3-$4. Since you use mostly shorter cables if you have properly placed your hubs, then you might consider purchasing them pre-made.
- Cables can be connected together to produce a longer cable with an "inline connector"
- If you have to connect machines from more than one room, then you will want to buy bulk roll of cable and pull from one room to another and then put on the connectors yourself.
Plug each computer into a hub with a cable
Note: length limit for each Ethernet cable: 100 meters (about 300 feet)
- If you have only one hub, then you are done with hardware connections (except for adding a router for Internet connection - see below)
- If you have more than one hub
  - Pick one hub as the "top" or "center" of your network
  - Plug other hubs into this "top" hub ("Cascading" hubs)
    - Use the special "uplink" port on each "lower" hub, if they have one,
      or
    - cross-over cable if they do not.
      (Note: you can use a short two foot cross-over cable and a cable inline connector to extend a regular cable and achieve a longer cross-over cable connection.)
  - Plug the other end of this ethernet cable into any free port of the top hub.
  - You will NOT use the uplink port of the top hub as an uplink port, so it is available as a "normal" port.
  - Reserve one port on the top hub for connecting to the router, which will connect your LAN to the Internet.
  - All other ports on the top hub can be used for connections from computers.
  - If you cascade down any farther with additional hubs, follow the above procedure for each hub.
  - You can only cascade down THREE levels of hubs.
    Thus, you can have your top hub, connecting down to a hub, which connects down to one more level of hubs.
- Remember that each hub has a power adapter, so it requires at least one (and maybe two) outlets on a power strip.
Determine which Internet connection method you will use
- Dial up
- ADSL
- Cable modem (RoadRunner)
- T1
- Satellite
Purchase Internet Access account
Purchase "ICB" = Router to connect LAN to Internet
- Linux computer
- "black box" (e.g. Linksys or DLink)
- special "satellite" version of linux pc router

Satellite:

Picture Goes Here

Satellite connection involves an Outdoor Antenna (disk), and two "indoor" units: IRU (Indoor Receiving Unit) and ITU (Indoor Transmitting Unit)

Sometimes you are given these as internal cards to install in your one computer that they are assuming you have. There are also some companies that have a router already pre-made to handle the send and receive. (Optistreams.com)

Topics still to cover:

PC or Mac software installation/configuration
Two types of software to install:
1. System Software (e.g. drivers)
2. Applications such as Netscape Navigator
Connecting your LAN to the Internet - "Internet Connection Box"
- Linksys
  - Access the router via web browser from any machine on your LAN:
    http://192.168.1.1 (this is the IP number of the router).
  - log in (according to the documentation: username: (blank), password=admin
  - If manual IP number set up, then, give it IP number, netmask, gateway, DNS nameserver(s) (use manual set up if you have a STATIC IP number)
  - If dynamic address (DHCP), click on DHCP.
  - Check DHCP configuration: numbers will be 192.168.1.x, with x starting with 100. Default number of hosts allowed: 50, increase this if necessary.
  - In most cases, rest of defaults will work just fine
- Linux PC (ipchains)
  - Install Linux with ipchains or iptables package
  - AAAfirewall_install_v62.html: Install/configuration cookbooks
  - obtain and run router configuration scripts: config_adsl or config_ppp

Do you need servers?

peer-to-peer networking: every machine's a server, everyone's a client
client-server networking and stand-alone servers
printer sharing
- PC with MS Windows: How to share files and printers> PC-to-PC
- PC printer sharing server: Linux + Samba = Free network printer solution
- Macintosh: How to share file and printers Mac-to-Mac

file sharing

Microsoft Windows
- Peer-to-peer: Network Neighborhood - Microsoft Network (smb)
- Windows NT Server - NT Domain server
- Windows 2000 Server - Active Directory
- Linux Server with Samba package for Microsoft Network service, NT Domain service, and/or Active Directory service
- Linux server with OpenLDAP for LDAP directory services
- Linux server with Mars-NWE package for Netware 3.11 file service (no NDS tree service)
- Novell Netware - IPX or IP
Apple Macintosh OS
- Peer-to-Peer: Appleshare (Appletalk via ethernet or via Localtalk)
- Appleshare server (dedicated Macintosh with File Sharing enabled and possibly with Apple Network Administration Toolkit (ANAT))
- Linux server with atalkd (netatalk) package for Appleshare file/print service
UNIX/Linux
- Peer-to-peer: NFS (network file service) or ftp file transfers, or gnomba to allow Linux computer to be a Microsoft Network client (access files from MS Windows computers via Network Neighborhood).
- NFS server - Linux with NFS package (other "Unix" environment file services: AFS (NFS-like))
File Service HOW TO's
- PC with MS Windows: How to share files and printers, PC-to-PC
- File server: Linux + Samba = Free file service for MS Windows PC's on separate machine (PC with Linux)
- Macintosh: How to share files and printers, Mac-to-Mac
- Mac file server: Linux + Netatalk = Free file service for Macs on separate machine (PC with Linux)
web server (http)
- Unix/Linux: Apache (httpd) (most popular)
- Linux: tux (new! fastest!)
- Microsoft Windows 2000/XP: Internet Information Server (IIS)
- Microsoft Windows 2000/XP/ME: Personal web server
- Macintosh:
e-mail server
- Unix/Linux: sendmail
- Unix/Linux: IMAP, POP, SMTP service
- Microsoft Windows NT/2000/XP: Exchange, Lotus Notes
- e-mail client
  - Unix/linux: mail, pine, mutt, Netscape Communicator (native, IMAP, POP)
  - Microsoft Windows: Outlook, Outlook Express, Eudora, Netscape Communicator, Mulberry, Lotus Notes (Exchange, IMAP, POP)
  - Macintosh: Eudora, Netscape Communicator, Mulberry, Lotus Notes (IMAP, POP)
  - "Web-mail client" - use web browser to access mail box on server -
    e.g.: Yahoo or Hotmail
    Web mail client can be installed on a UNIX/Linux server (e.g. horde.org's imp package)

web content filtering for your LAN

Package on each machine (PC or Mac): (cost: $25-$30 per machine/ 6 months)
- Cyberpatrol
- NetNanny
Proxy server
Manually configure each machine's web browsers (Internet Exploder or Netscrape Navigator) to "Use a proxy server" which is set to allow or deny access to sites based on "no no lists"
Note: every connection request is forcibly sent to that proxy server, which either passes it on, or denies it. However, user can edit the preferences on the web browser stop using a proxy server.
```
		How to configure browsers to use a proxy server
   Netscape:
      -->Edit Preferences
      -->Advanced
      -->Proxies 
      -->Manual Proxies 
      -->(IP number or dns name of web proxy server) 
      -->"Port" number of web proxy service (e.g. 3128)

   Internet Explorer (depends on version)
```
"Transparent" proxy service - all web traffic forced through the proxy server without configuring each client machine.
- available with a Linux machine as your firewall/router
  - Uses squidGuard package in conjunction with
  - squid caching server package
- Cost
  - FREE!
  - "NoNo" lists maintained by squidguard.org, but
  - can also be updated or maintained by your system administrator (you).
  - See: www.squidguard.org

How to Establish a Network in Your Home and Connect it to the Internet

Establish a LAN
- Buy hubs/ethernet cards/pull cable (through attic, under floor, through walls (if you don't' care ;-) OR
- Buy a wireless hub with wireless cards
Connect the LAN to the Internet - obtain an "Internet Connection Box"
Type Depends on your Method of Connecting to Internet: Dialup or Ethernet
- Dialup
  - Buy a "black box" router with one ethernet port, one dialup modem port
  - Install Linux on a computer with one ethernet port, one modem (internal or external)
- Ethernet
  - Buy a "black box" router with two ethernet ports ("LAN" and "WAN")
  - Install Linux on a computer with two ethernet cards
  - Note: most cable and ADSL providers give you an external "modem" (cable or ADSL) with one ethernet port, to which you connect your WAN interface on your router. However, some DSL providers use an ppoe instead and give you an internal PCI ppoe interface card for your (they assume) one PC to interface to their network. Some proprietary routers now provide ppoe support, some do not. Ppoe drivers exist for Linux if you build your own router.
  - Note: satellite connections assume TWO separate external interfaces: one for transmit and one for receive. There are not many routers built to support this (they do exist). A Linux computer can most likely be made to work with these interfaces, so you can "roll your own".
    Part List (Home LAN)
    Option 1: Wired, broadband to Internet - cable modem or ADSL)
    - Router with 4 port 10/100 switch (e.g. Linksys)
    - Ethernet cables (1 for connection to each computer, 1 extra to connect router to cable modem or ADSL modem)
    - 10/100 PCI Ethernet card (desktop) or PCMCIA card (notebook) for each computer (if they don't already have one built-in)
    Option 2: Wireless, broadband to Internet - cable modem or ADSL)
    - Wireless Router with 4 port 10/100 switch (e.g. Linksys)
    - 1 Ethernet cable (for connection from router to DSL or cable modem)
    - Wireless PCI Ethernet card (desktop) or wireless PCMCIA card (notebook) for each computer (if they don't already have one built-in) - 802.11b, 2.4 GHz, 11Mbs. Note: Linksys router has four RJ45 ports, so mixture of wired and wireless machines can be connected.
      Option 3: Wired, dialup to Internet (or wireless, dialup to Internet)
      - Dialup Router with 4-port 10/100 switch
      - Ethernet Cables
      - Ethernet cards for each computer
      - external modem (if router doesn't have internal built-in modem)

Price Table for cable/DSL Routers, Hubs, ethernet cards *

Manufacturer	Part #	Description	Price*

Hubs

Netgear	EN104TP	4-port 10 Mbps hub	$30
Linksys	EFAH05W	5-port 10/100 Mbps hub	$50

Switches

Netgear	FS605	5-port 10/100 switch	$50
Linksys		5-port 10/100 switch	$50
Compaq		5-port 10/100 switch	$50
Netgear	FS108	8-port 10/100 switch	$70
Linksys	EZXS88W	8-port 10/100 switch	$70
Linksys		16-port 10/100 switch	$150

Cable/DSL routers

Linksys	BEFSR11	cable/DSL router w. 1-port 10/100	$70
Linksys	BEFSR41	cable/DSL router w. 4-port 10/100 switch	$80
DLink		cable/DSL router w. 4-port 10/100 switch	$70
Linksys	BEFSR81	cable/DSL router w. 8-port 10/100 switch	$150
DLink	DI-704P	cable/DSL router w. 4-port 10/100 switch + printer server	$90
Netgear	FVS318	cable/DSL router w. 8-port 10/100 swithc + VPN firewall	$150

Wireless 2.4 GHz routers	802.11b Routers	Wireless Access Point (WAP) router 11Mbs

Netgear	MR314	2.4 GHz Wireless AP router + 4-port 10/100 switch	$120
Linksys	BEFW11S4	2.4 GHz Wireless AP router + 4-port 10/100 switch	$165
DLink	DI-713P	2.4 GHz Wireless AP router + 3-port 10/100 switch	$150
Compaq	iPAQ CP-2W	2.4 GHz Wireless AP router + 4-port 10/100 switch	$200

Wireless 5 GHz routers	802.11a Routers	Wireless Access Point (WAP) router 72Mbs
DLink	DWL-5000AP	5 GHz Wireless AP router + 10/100 switch	$330

Wireless Notebook PC cards	Laptop PCMCIA	2.4 GHz 802.11b, 11Mbs card

Linksys	WPC11	Wireless 802.11b PCMCIA card	$80
Netgear	MA401	Wireless 802.11b PCMCIA card	$90
Compaq	iPAQ	Wireless 802.11b PCMCIA card	$100

Wireless Desktop PCI cards	Desktop	2.4 GHz 802.11b, 11Mbs card

Linksys	WMP11	Wireless 802.11b desktop PCI card	$90
Linksys	DWL520	Wireless 802.11b desktop PCI card	$100

Wireless 5 GHz cards	72Mbs cards

DLink	DWL-A650	Wireless 802.11a Notebook PC card, 72Mbs	$150
DLink	DWL-A650	Wireless 802.11a Desktop PCI card, 72Mbs	$170

Wireless USB adapters	"External" Wireless	802.11b plugs in thru USB port, instead of wireless card

Linksys	WUSB11	Wireless 2.4 GHz 802.11b USB Adapter	$90
Netgear	MA101	Wireless 2.4 GHz 802.11b USB Adapter	$100
Compaq		Wireless 2.4 GHz 802.11b USB Adapter	$100

* Price survey from Best Buy, Durham, NC, June 10, 2002
Intended to show ball park figures for equipment costs, since prices are subject to change and specials

Prices Table for Dialup Ethernet routers **

Manufacturer Part # Description Price
3Com 3C886A OfficeConnect 56K V.90 LAN Modem w 4-port 10Mbs hub $200
Netgear RM356 Netgear 56K Router w/4 port 10Base-T hub $240

** Prices from www.warehouse.com on June 11, 2002 in order to show ball park figures for equipment costs, since prices are subject to change and specials.

Manufacturer	Part #	Description	Price
3Com	3C886A	OfficeConnect 56K V.90 LAN Modem w 4-port 10Mbs hub	$200
Netgear	RM356	Netgear 56K Router w/4 port 10Base-T hub	$240

Satellite service providers URL's:

Optistreams Optistreams satellite router + DirectWAY (Hughes DirectPC)
Skycasters

CTCNet Conference 2002 Presentation Topic: Networking 1 What is a Network and How Can it Help You? Basic Explanation of Computer Networks in a Community Center Environment, Emphasizing Cost-effective Solutions