Gateway setting up window networks User Manual

							15
Learning the Basics
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Equipment you need for a peer-to-peer 
wireless Ethernet network
For a peer-to-peer wireless Ethernet network you need:
■A wireless Ethernet PCI card installed in each desktop computer
- OR -
A wireless Ethernet USB adapter attached to each desktop or notebook 
computer
- OR -
A notebook or tablet PC with wireless Ethernet built-in
- OR -
A wireless Ethernet PC Card installed in each notebook that does not have 
wireless Ethernet built-in
Setting up a peer-to-peer wireless Ethernet 
network
To set up a peer-to-peer wireless Ethernet network, read the following chapters:
■“Configuring Windows for a Wireless Network” on page 51
■“Creating a Peer-to-Peer Wireless Network” on page 99
■“Turning Your Wireless Emitter On or Off” on page 125
■“Sharing Your Resources” on page 131 
						

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Networking Basics
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For more information
For more information about purchasing equipment for your home or office 
Ethernet network, discuss your particular needs with your Gateway store 
representative. In addition, several books and Internet sites are dedicated to 
networking. See these sources for more information about networking your 
home or office with wired or wireless Ethernet.
Help and 
SupportFor more information about networking in Windows XP, 
click Start, then click Help and Support.
Type the keyword networking in the HelpSpot Search 
box  , then click the arrow. 
						

							B
17
Wired Ethernet
Networking
Read the following chapters to learn how to set up and use 
a wired Ethernet network.
■“Creating a Wired Ethernet Network” on page 19
■“Configuring Windows for a Wired Network” on 
page 29 
						

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19
Creating a Wired
Ethernet Network
This chapter describes how to set up the hardware for a 
wired Ethernet network. Read this chapter to learn about:
■“Determining if your computer has wired Ethernet 
already installed” on page 20
■“Installing Ethernet cards and drivers” on page 20
■“Setting up a peer-to-peer wired Ethernet network” on 
page 22
■“Setting up a network using a hub or switch” on 
page 23
■“Setting up a network using a router and optional hub 
or switch” on page 25 
						

							20
Wired Ethernet Networking
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Determining if your computer has 
wired Ethernet already installed
Many Gateway computers are shipped with wired Ethernet built in.
To determine if wired Ethernet is already installed on your computer:
1In Windows XP, click Start, then click Control Panel. The Control Panel 
window opens. If your Control Panel is in Category View, click 
Performance 
and Maintenance
.
-OR-
In Windows 2000, click 
Start, Settings, then click Control Panel. The Control 
Panel window opens.
2Click/Double-click System, click the Hardware tab, then click Device 
Manager
. The Device Manager window opens.
3Click the plus (+) in front of Network adapters. The wired Ethernet card 
installed in your computer is listed. If one is not listed, you must install 
one.
Installing Ethernet cards and 
drivers
If you have decided to use wired Ethernet for your network and your computers 
do not have wired Ethernet already installed, you need to install the necessary 
cards and drivers in your computers. To order Ethernet PCI or PC cards, visit 
the Accessories Store at accessories.gateway.com
.
Use the documentation that comes with your Ethernet cards for instructions 
on installing the card. 
						

							21
Creating a Wired Ethernet Network
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Setting up the hardware
If you are setting up a:
■Peer-to-peer network using two computers, see “Setting up a peer-to-peer 
wired Ethernet network” on page 22.
■Network using a hub (with no shared access to the Internet), see “Setting 
up a network using a hub or switch” on page 23.
■Network using a hub and a router (with shared access to the Internet), see 
“Setting up a network using a router and optional hub or switch” on 
page 25.
We recommend, and describe, the use of category 5, unshielded, twisted-pair 
cable (approximately 1/4” in diameter with a thin outer-jacket, containing eight 
color-coded wires), and equipment compatible with this type of cable. This type 
of cable is equipped with RJ-45 connectors (like a large telephone jack 
connector, but with eight pins) on each end.
ImportantCategory 5 cables are available in two different types; 
straight-through cables, used to connect computers to a 
hub, and crossover cables, used to connect two computers 
or two hubs.
To determine which type of cable you have, hold both ends 
of the cable with the connectors facing away from you and 
with the spring clip on the bottom. For straight-through 
cable, the wires on both connectors are attached to copper 
pins in the same order (same colors, left to right). For a 
crossover cable, the wires on each connector are attached 
to the copper pins in a different order (different colors, left 
to right). 
						

							22
Wired Ethernet Networking
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Setting up a peer-to-peer wired Ethernet 
network
Setting up a peer-to-peer network requires only two computers, with wired 
Ethernet available on each computer, and a single crossover cable. Use this type 
of network if you are setting up a temporary network to transfer files from one 
computer to another.
To set up a peer-to-peer network:
■Connect the ends of a network crossover cable to the network ports on 
both of the computers.
Crossover cable 
						

							23
Creating a Wired Ethernet Network
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Setting up a network using a hub or switch
If you are setting up a network with more than two computers and your network 
does not access the Internet, you need a hub or switch. A hub or switch has 
ports that allow four, eight, or more computers to be connected to the same 
network. The hub or switch allows the computers to communicate on the 
network. In addition to a hub or switch, you need a straight-through cable for 
each computer you want to connect to the network.
To set up a network with a hub or switch:
1Plug one end of the power adapter into the AC connector on the hub or 
switch and the other end into a grounded, 110V electrical outlet.
2Turn on your computer.
Hub or 
switch
Power adapter 
						

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Wired Ethernet Networking
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3Plug one end of a straight-through network cable into any numbered port 
on the hub or switch (except the uplink port), then plug the other end 
into the network jack on the computer. Green indicators on the front of 
the hub or switch should light to indicate a good connection.
4Repeat Step 2 through Step 3 for each computer on the network.
Hub or switch