1. Computers Are Your Future © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc.

2. Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 3 © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc.Slide 2 Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 3 Home Networks

3. Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 3 © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc.Slide 3 Home Networks  2/3 of all households own a computer.  20 million households have more than one computer.  Multi-computer households:  Can share data  Can share scanners and printers  Can share a single Internet connection

4. Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 3 © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc.Slide 4 Home Networks A home network enables users to quickly and conveniently share files and resources using network connections between computers and peripheral devices.

5. Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 3 © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc.Slide 5 Home Ethernet Networks Ethernet is a communications standard that specifies how physically connected computers in a network send data.  Send data in packets, over wires  Most popular wiring is twisted pair  CAT-3  CAT-5

6. Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 3 © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc.Slide 6 Home Ethernet Networks  A hub is an external communications device with multiple connectors (ports).  An Ethernet network adaptor or home interface card (NIC) is an internal communications device that uses electrical signals to communicate.

7. Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 3 © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc.Slide 7 Home Ethernet Networks  A switch is like a hub, but more efficient.  A switch knows about all computers connected to it and transmits data only to the computer to which the data is addressed.

8. Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 3 © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc.Slide 8 Home Phone-Line Networks Use a home’s existing telephone wiring:  Simple installation  Reliability  Compatible with other home networking technologies  Works with all computer makes and models

9. Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 3 © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc.Slide 9 Home Phone-Line Networks Disadvantages  Special hardware/software may be needed  May need to install home phone-line NIC  May need to run new phone wiring

10. Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 3 © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc.Slide 10 Home Power-Line Networks Uses existing electrical wiring  Inexpensive and easy to install  Peripherals can be located anywhere

11. Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 3 © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc.Slide 11 Home Power-Line Networks Disadvantages  Need 110-volt electrical wiring  Takes up a lot of space  Connection speeds are slow

12. Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 3 © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc.Slide 12 Wireless Home Networks  HomeRF  Wi-Fi  Three factors to determine which type you want  Cost of hardware/software  Speed of data  Range within which you can transmit between devices

13. Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 3 © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc.Slide 13 Home Radio-Frequency Networks  Home RF systems are wireless networks in which each computer on the network broadcasts its information to another using radio signals.  Network access points send and receive data between computers.

14. Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 3 © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc.Slide 14 Home Radio-Frequency Networks  Peer-to-peer relationship exists among all computers in the network.  Three standards:  802.11b  802.11a  802.11g

15. Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 3 © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc.Slide 15 Home Wi-Fi Networks Ad hoc:  No access point or server  Wireless data exchange cards Client/server:  2.4 GHz  Recommended for Macs

16. Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 3 © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc.Slide 16 Planning  What are you trying to accomplish with your network?  Small business or personal use?  One computer or many?  Hardware in one room or many?  What wiring technology will you use?  What hardware/software do you need to buy?

17. Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 3 © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc.Slide 17 Configuration  Designate PCs that will be part of the network.  Install the hardware and software.  Designate how files, folders, peripherals, and Internet connection will be shared.

18. Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 3 © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc.Slide 18 Maintenance and Support Set up a regular maintenance schedule.  Clean dust and lint from around router.  Clean contacts on network cards.  Refresh network settings.

19. Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 3 © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc.Slide 19 The Future of Home Networking  Convergence:  Using home networks to control appliances  Home security  Central control unit  Wireless Technologies