Many users mistakenly believe that creating a home local network is an impossible task for a person with average PC skills, and this cannot be done without the help of specialists. Actually this is not true. In the case of an office or corporate network, this is one thing. Here you need not only to correctly map the network, think through all the nuances of routing, and also work on data protection.

But in the case of the home version, everything is much simpler, and some nuances can be ignored altogether. Thus, connecting a home network is many times easier than a work one, and today we will try to do this with you.

You will need:

Why do you need a home network?

Many people ask this question. First of all, a home network is needed not only so that all computers and other devices located at home have access to the Internet. If you put in a little effort and create a home network, you can get a lot of benefits.

For example, if you wish, you can open access to other computers, which simplifies the process of exchanging information. Also, you can connect a printer to the network, and use remote printing, and many other equally useful things. So don’t be lazy - making a home network is not so difficult, and its advantages are obvious.

How to create via router

Most Internet providers now do not have any special IP or DNS settings. The era of L2TP connections, very popular until recently, is gradually becoming a thing of the past. So now, in order to configure the router, it is enough to switch it to automatic mode and enable the DHCP service. This can be done in the device’s web interface by opening the address 192.168.1.1 or 196.168.0.1 in the browser.

Right-click on the network connection icon and select “Network and Sharing Center.” In the “Change adapter settings” tab we find our LAN connection and open its properties. There we look for the column “Internet Protocol version 4 (TCP/IPv4)”, select it and click the “Properties” button. We make sure that all settings, as expected, are in automatic mode. If this is not the case, change them and click OK.

Why are local networks needed, and what are they? How to connect several computer devices to one Internet channel at once? What equipment is required to build home network? You will receive answers to all these and other equally important questions in this material.

Introduction

Before you learn how to design and configure home local networks yourself, let’s immediately answer the most important question: “Why are they needed?”

The concept of a local network itself means the unification of several computers or computer devices into a single system for the exchange of information between them, as well as the sharing of their computing resources and peripheral equipment. Thus, local networks allow:

Exchange data (movies, music, programs, games, etc.) between network members. At the same time, to watch movies or listen to music, it is absolutely not necessary to record them on your phone. HDD. The speeds of modern networks allow you to do this directly from remote computer or multimedia device.

Connect several devices simultaneously to the global Internet through one access channel. This is probably one of the most popular functions of local networks, because these days the list of equipment that can use a connection to the World Wide Web is very large. In addition to all possible computer equipment and mobile devices, now TVs, DVD/Blu-Ray players, multimedia players and even all kinds of Appliances, ranging from refrigerators to coffee makers.

Share computer peripherals , such as printers, MFPs, scanners and network attached storage (NAS).

Share the computing power of computers of network participants. When working with programs that require complex calculations, such as 3D visualization, to increase productivity and speed up data processing, you can use the free resources of other computers on the network. Thus, having several weak machines connected to a local network, you can use their combined performance to perform resource-intensive tasks.

As you can see, creating a local network even within one apartment can bring a lot of benefits. Moreover, having several devices at home that require an Internet connection is no longer uncommon, and combining them into a common network is urgent task for most users.

Basic principles of building a local network

Most often, local networks use two main types of data transfer between computers - via wire, such networks are called cable and use Ethernet technology, and also using a radio signal over wireless networks built on the basis of the IEEE 802.11 standard, which is better known to users under the name Wi -Fi.

Today, wired networks still provide the highest bandwidth, allowing users to exchange information at speeds of up to 100 Mbps (12 Mbps) or up to 1 Gbps (128 Mbps) depending on the equipment used (Fast Ethernet or Gigabit Ethernet). And although modern wireless technologies, purely theoretically, can also provide data transfer up to 1.3 Gbit/s ( Wi-Fi standard 802.11ac), in practice this figure looks much more modest and in most cases does not exceed 150 - 300 Mbit/s. The reason for this is the high cost of high-speed Wi-Fi equipment and low level its use in current mobile devices.

As a rule, all modern home networks are designed according to the same principle: user computers (workstations) equipped network adapters, are connected to each other through special switching devices, which can be: routers (routers), switches (hubs or switches), access points or modems. We will talk in more detail about their differences and purposes below, but for now just know that without these electronic boxes, it will not be possible to combine several computers into one system at once. The maximum that can be achieved is to create a mini-network of two PCs by connecting them to each other.

At the very beginning, you need to determine the basic requirements for your future network and its scale. After all, depending on the number of devices, their physical placement and possible ways connection, the choice of necessary equipment will directly depend. Most often, a home local network is combined and can include several types of switching devices. For example, desktop computers can be connected to the network using wires, and various mobile devices(laptops, tablets, smartphones) - via Wi-Fi.

For example, consider the diagram of one of the possible options home local network. It will involve electronic devices designed for various purposes and tasks, as well as using different type connections.

As can be seen from the figure, in single network Several desktop computers, laptops, smartphones, set-top boxes (IPTV), tablets and media players and other devices can be combined at once. Now let's figure out what equipment you will need to build your own network.

LAN card

A network card is a device that allows computers to communicate with each other and exchange data on a network. All network adapters can be divided into two large groups by type - wired and wireless. Wired network cards allow you to connect electronic devices to a network using Ethernet technology using a cable, while wireless network adapters use Wi-Fi radio technology.

As a rule, everything is modern desktop computers already equipped with built-in motherboard Ethernet network cards, and all mobile devices (smartphones, tablets) - Wi-Fi network adapters. At the same time, laptops and ultrabooks are mostly equipped with both network interfaces at once.

Despite the fact that in the vast majority of cases, computer devices have built-in network interfaces, sometimes it becomes necessary to purchase additional boards, for example, to equip system unit wireless module Wi-Fi connections.

Based on their design implementation, individual network cards are divided into two groups - internal and external. Internal cards designed for installation in desktop computers using interfaces and corresponding PCI and PCIe connectors. External cards are connected via USB connectors or legacy PCMCIA (laptops only).

Router (Router)

The main and most important component of a home local network is a router or router - a special box that allows you to combine several electronic devices into a single network and connect them to the Internet through one single channel provided to you by your provider.

A router is a multifunctional device or even a minicomputer with its own built-in operating system, which has at least two network interfaces. The first one is LAN (Local Area Network ) or LAN (Local Computer Network) serves to create an internal (home) network, which consists of your computer devices. The second - WAN (Wide Area Network) or WAN (Wide Area Network) is used to connect a local network (LAN) to other networks and the World Wide Web - the Internet.

The main purpose of devices of this type is to determine the routes of data packets that the user sends to or requests from other, larger networks. It is with the help of routers that huge networks are divided into many logical segments (subnets), one of which is the home local network. Thus, at home, the main function of a router can be called organizing the transfer of information from a local network to a global one, and vice versa.

Another important job of a router is to limit access to your home network from the World Wide Web. Surely you are unlikely to be happy if anyone can connect to your computers and take or delete from them whatever they want. To prevent this from happening, the data flow intended for devices belonging to a specific subnet must not go beyond its boundaries. Therefore, the router selects and directs it from the general internal traffic generated by local network participants global network only the information that is intended for other external subnets. This ensures the security of internal data and saves overall network bandwidth.

The main mechanism that allows the router to limit or prevent access from the public network (outside) to devices on your local network is called NAT (Network Address Translation). It also provides all users of the home network with access to the Internet, thanks to the transformation of several internal addresses devices to one public external address provided to you by your Internet service provider. All this makes it possible for computers on a home network to easily exchange information with each other and receive it from other networks. At the same time, the data stored in them remains inaccessible to external users, although access to it can be provided at any time at your request.

In general, routers can be divided into two large groups - wired and wireless. Already from the names it is clear that all devices are connected to the first ones only using cables, and to the second ones, both with the help of wires and without them using Wi-Fi technology. Therefore, at home, wireless routers are most often used to provide Internet access and network computer equipment, using various communication technologies.

To connect computer devices using cables, the router has special sockets called ports. In most cases, the router has four LAN ports for connecting your devices and one WAN port for connecting your ISP cable.

In order not to overload the article with redundant information, consider in detail the main specifications We won’t talk about routers in this chapter; I’ll talk about them in a separate article on choosing a router.

In many cases, a router may be the only component needed to build your own local network, since there is simply no need for the rest. As we have already said, even the simplest router allows you to connect up to four computer devices using wires. Well, the number of equipment that receives simultaneous access to the network using Wi-Fi technology can be in the tens, or even hundreds.

If, at some point, the number of LAN ports on the router is no longer enough, then to expand the cable network, you can connect one or more switches to the router (discussed below), which act as splitters.

Modem

In modern computer networks, a modem is a device that provides access to the Internet or access to other networks through regular wired telephone lines (xDSL class) or using wireless mobile technologies(class 3G).

Conventionally, modems can be divided into two groups. The first includes those that connect to the computer via USB interface and provide network access to only one specific PC, to which the modem is directly connected. In the second group, the already familiar LAN and/or Wi-Fi interfaces are used to connect to a computer. Their presence indicates that the modem has a built-in router. Such devices are often called combined, and they should be used to build a local network.

When choosing DSL equipment, users may encounter certain difficulties caused by confusion in its names. The fact is that often in the assortment of computer stores, two very similar classes of devices are located side by side: modems with built-in routers and routers with built-in modems. What is the difference between them?

These two groups of devices practically do not have any key differences. Manufacturers themselves position a router with a built-in modem as a more advanced option, equipped with more additional functions and having improved performance. But if you are only interested in basic capabilities, for example, such as connecting all computers on your home network to the Internet, then there is not much difference between modem-routers and routers where, as an external network interface using a DSL modem, no.

So, to summarize, a modern modem with which you can build a local network is, in fact, a router with an xDSL or 3G modem as an external network interface.

A switch or switch is used to connect various nodes of a computer network and exchange data between them via cables. The role of these nodes can be either individual devices, for example a desktop PC, or entire groups of devices united into an independent network segment. Unlike a router, a switch has only one network interface - LAN and is used at home as an auxiliary device primarily for scaling local networks.

To connect computers using wires, like routers, switches also have special socket ports. In models aimed at home use, usually their number is five or eight. If at some point the number of ports on the switch is no longer enough to connect all devices, you can connect another switch to it. Thus, you can expand your home network as much as you like.

Switches are divided into two groups: managed and unmanaged. The first, as the name suggests, can be controlled from the network using a special software. Although they have advanced functionality, they are expensive and not used at home. Unmanaged switches distribute traffic and regulate the speed of data exchange between all network clients automatically. These devices are ideal solutions for building small and medium-sized local networks, where the number of participants in the exchange of information is small.

Depending on the model, switches can provide a maximum data transfer speed of either 100 Mbit/s (Fast Ethernet) or 1000 Mbit/s (Gigabit Ethernet). Gigabit switches are best used for building home networks where you plan to frequently transfer large files between local devices.

Wireless access point

To provide wireless access to the Internet or local network resources, in addition to a wireless router, you can use another device called a wireless access point. Unlike a router, this station does not have an external WAN network interface and is equipped in most cases with only one LAN port for connecting to a router or switch. Thus, you will need an access point if your local network uses a regular router or modem without Wi-Fi support.

Using additional access points in the network with wireless router may be justified in cases where a large Wi-Fi coverage area is required. For example, the signal strength alone wireless router may not be enough to completely cover the entire area in a large office or multi-story country house.

Access points can also be used to organize wireless bridges, allowing you to connect individual devices, network segments or entire networks with each other using a radio signal in places where laying cables is undesirable or difficult.

Network cable, connectors, sockets

Despite the rapid development wireless technologies, many local networks are still built using wires. Such systems have high reliability, excellent throughput and minimize the possibility of unauthorized connection to your network from the outside.

To create a wired local network in home and office environments, Ethernet technology is used, where the signal is transmitted over the so-called “twisted pair” (TP-Twisted Pair) - a cable consisting of four copper pairs of wires twisted together (to reduce interference).

When building computer networks used predominantly unshielded cable category CAT5, and more often its improved version CAT5e. Cables of this category allow you to transmit a signal at a speed of 100 Mbit/s when using only two pairs (half) of wires, and 1000 Mbit/s when using all four pairs.

To connect to devices (routers, switches, network cards, and so on), 8-pin modular connectors, commonly called RJ-45 (although their correct name is 8P8C), are used at the ends of the twisted pair cable.

Depending on your desire, you can either buy ready-made (with crimped connectors) network cables of a certain length, called “patch cords”, at any computer store, or purchase twisted pair cables and connectors separately, and then make your own cables of the required size in the right quantity. You will learn how this is done in a separate material.

Using cables to connect computers into a network, of course, you can connect them directly from switches or routers to connectors on the PC’s network cards, but there is another option - using network sockets. In this case, one end of the cable is connected to the switch port, and the other to the internal contacts of the socket, into the external connector of which you can subsequently connect computer or network devices.

Network sockets can be either built into the wall or mounted externally. Using sockets instead of protruding cable ends will give a more aesthetically pleasing look to your workspace. It is also convenient to use sockets as reference points for various network segments. For example, you can install a switch or router in the hallway of an apartment, and then thoroughly route cables from it to sockets located in all the necessary rooms. Thus, you will receive several points located in different parts of the apartment, to which you can at any time connect not only computers, but also any network devices, for example, additional switches to expand your home or office network.

Another little thing that you may need when building a cable network is an extension cord that can be used to connect two twisted pairs with already crimped RJ-45 connectors.

In addition to their intended purpose, extension cords are convenient to use in cases where the end of the cable ends not with one connector, but with two. This option is possible when building networks with throughput 100 Mbit/s, where it is enough to use only two pairs of wires to transmit the signal.

You can also use a network splitter to connect two computers to one cable at once without using a switch. But again, it is worth remembering that in this case the maximum data exchange speed will be limited to 100 Mbit/s.

For more information about crimping twisted pair cables, connecting sockets and the characteristics of network cables, read the special material.

Now that we've become familiar with the basic components of a local area network, it's time to talk about topology. If we talk in simple language, then a network topology is a diagram that describes the locations and methods of connecting network devices.

There are three main types of network topologies: Bus, Ring and Star. With a bus topology, all computers on the network are connected to one common cable. To unite PCs into a single network using the “Ring” topology, they are connected in series to each other, while last computer connects to the first one. In a star topology, each device is connected to the network through a special hub using a separate cable.

Probably, the attentive reader has already guessed that to build a home or small office network, the “Star” topology is predominantly used, where routers and switches are used as hub devices.

Creating a network using the Star topology does not require deep technical knowledge and large financial investments. For example, using a switch that costs 250 rubles, you can connect 5 computers into a network in a few minutes, and using a router for a couple of thousand rubles, you can even build a home network, providing several dozen devices with access to the Internet and local resources.

Another undoubted advantage of this topology is good expandability and ease of upgrading. Thus, network branching and scaling is achieved by simple addition additional concentrators with the necessary functionality. You can also change the physical location of network devices or swap them at any time in order to achieve more practical use of the equipment and reduce the number and length of connecting wires.

Despite the fact that the Star topology allows you to quickly change the network structure, the location of the router, switches and other necessary elements must be thought out in advance, in accordance with the layout of the room, the number of devices being connected and how they are connected to the network. This will minimize the risks associated with purchasing unsuitable or redundant equipment and optimize the amount of your financial costs.

Conclusion

In this material, we examined the general principles of building local networks, the main equipment that is used and its purpose. Now you know that the main element of almost any home network is a router, which allows you to network many devices using both wired (Ethernet) and wireless (Wi-Fi) technologies, while providing them all with an Internet connection through one single channel.

Switches, which are essentially splitters, are used as auxiliary equipment for expanding connection points to a local network using cables. To organize wireless connections, access points are used, which allow, using Wi-Fi technology, not only to connect all kinds of devices wirelessly to the network, but also to connect entire segments of the local network together in a “bridge” mode.

To understand exactly how much and what kind of equipment you will need to purchase to create a future home network, be sure to first draw up its topology. Draw a diagram of the location of all devices participating in the network that will require a cable connection. Depending on this, select the optimal location for the router and, if necessary, additional switches. There are no uniform rules here, since the physical location of the router and switches depends on many factors: the number and type of devices, as well as the tasks that will be assigned to them; layout and size of the room; requirements for the aesthetic appearance of switching nodes; possibilities for laying cables and others.

So, as soon as you have a detailed plan for your future network, you can begin to select and purchase the necessary equipment, install it and configure it. But we will talk about these topics in our next materials.

Hello. Recently responding to a comment on a blog, I promised to write an article about that how to set up a local network via Wi-Fi router . And since I have TP-Link TL-WR841N installed, I will write instructions using this router as an example. Although in setting up a local network between computers, the router will practically not be configured, so even if you have a different Wi-Fi router, this article will be useful to you.

The local network, a useful thing. You can exchange files, you can play games, especially since setting up a network through a router is not very difficult. If you have two or more computers accessing the Internet through one router, then there is already a network between them. And it doesn’t matter how they connect, both via a network cable, Wi-Fi, or one via cable and the other via a wireless network. Let's get started with the setup process. I will write in order what we have and what needs to be configured. Go.

Setting up a local network via a Wi-Fi router

What we have:

• Wi-Fi router is connected to the Internet. Distributes IP and DNS automatically.
• Computer No. 1. operating room Windows system 7. Connected to the router via a network cable, the Internet is working.
• Computer No. 2. Windows 7 operating system. Connects to the router wirelessly Wi-Fi networks, the Internet is working.

Target:

Set up a local network between two (you may have more) computers. Open general access to a specific folder or local drive. Get the ability to share files.

We work:

Before starting to set up the network on the computers, I decided to ping from one computer to another to see if there was a connection between them. Read more about ping. If you want to do this too, then you need to go to the router settings from one computer and see what IP address the router assigned to another computer on the network. I recently wrote an article about that, you can read it.

Well, I’ll quickly write how to do it. We type 192.168.1.1 (192.168.0.1) in the browser and go to the router settings. Go to the “DHCP” and “DHCP Clients List” tab, we see there the devices that are connected to the router. We look at the IP address that is assigned to the second computer with which we want to set up a local network.

Now we ping to it. Click “Start” and write in the search bar cmd, in the search results, run the utility “ cmd.exe“.

A window will appear in which we write the command ping “IP address of another computer” and press “Enter”. Let's look at the result, if you see that packets are being exchanged, then everything is fine, there is a network between the computers.

I think I’ll do another ping from a laptop that is connected via Wi-Fi, and I see that packets are not being transferred. And if the ping does not pass, then the network will not work. And then it started, for a long time I changed different settings until it dawned on me that it was installed on the laptop and computer ESET Smart Security , yeah! He completely checks the network.

If during setup or operation you encounter problems with network connection, then the first thing you need to do is check and disable antiviruses and firewalls. I also advise you to disable Windows Firewall.

I open the antivirus, go to the “Settings” tab, “Network”, select “Change mode network security computer" and celebrate “Allow sharing”. Click “Ok”, repeat the ping, everything works. Half the job is done, let's continue.

Setting up a local network

Now you need to check which one on each computer working group they are connected and give them a name. If the name has already been set, then it is better to change it by writing the word in English letters.

Right click on "My computer" and select “Properties”. Further “Additional settings” and go to the tab “Computer name”. Click the “Edit” button. Enter a new name and, if necessary, a group.

Important! So that all the computers that you want to connect to the network work in one group.

I had a registered group “WORKGROUP”, and I left it.

After making the settings, click “Ok” and restart the computer.

Let me remind you that we perform all actions on both computers.

We continue the setup, go to “Start”, "Control Panel", “Network and Sharing Center”.

Let's look at what network your network belongs to, what you need is "Home network", if you have for example “Community Network”, then click on it and select "Home network".

Now click on the right “Ready to Create”.

Click.

Select the items you want to share and click “Next”.

A window with a password will appear, just click “Finish”. In the window that appears, click .

We also need to disable the password request when accessing a computer on our local network. Scroll the page and find the item “Sharing with password protection”, select “Disable password protected sharing”. Then open the “General” tab, look for the same item, and disable the protection. Don't forget to press the button “Save changes”.

That's it, the network settings are complete. Restart both computers, or however many you have. For some reason, it then seemed to me that the Home Group could not have been set up, everything would have worked just the way it was, but oh well.

Let's see if our computers can see each other. Let's go to "My computer" and on the left click “Network”. Everything works for me, both my computer and laptop that are connected to the router via Wi-Fi are displayed. The network works the same way on a laptop.

If we log into a computer on the network, we will only have access to the Public Folder. In order to open general access to, for example, the entire “D” drive, you need to make some more settings.

If you have different computers OS, let's say Windows XP and Windows 7 and you have problems setting up the network, then read the article.

Opening shared access to folders on the local network

Go to the folder, or to local disk, which you want to share and click the button at the top "General access", “Advanced sharing settings...”.

A window will open in which click “Advanced setup”. Check the box next to “Share this folder” and click “Ok”. If you want, you can also specify the name of the share.

Now all devices connected to the network will be able to share access to this folder.

What we got. We have set up local network via Wi-Fi router TP-Link TL-WR841N. One computer is connected to the network via a network cable, the second via Wi-Fi. Basically, you can have more computers, and they can be connected in different ways.

How to connect an Android smartphone (tablet) to a local Wi-Fi network?

I was already thinking about finishing this article, but I decided to try connecting my HTC One V to the newly created network. To do this, I advise you to install the “ES Explorer” program. Really cool program. Launch it and go to the tab "The local network" (phone number must be ), click the “Search” button.

My smartphone found two of my computers on the local network, I can connect to them and go to folders that have public access. I even started the movie on my phone from my computer, wow technology :).

Now that’s all for sure, well, it took a while to write this article :), I hope it’s useful to you. For some reason, I’m sure that many questions will arise about that article, ask, we’ll try to figure it out. Good luck friends!

Wi-Fi is rapidly bursting into our lives. Module wireless communication equipped with laptops, tablets, smartphones, and even equipment that is obviously not designed for this: refrigerators, vacuum cleaners, irons, washing machines, stoves, air conditioners. You may not have such an abundance of smart technology, but if you have several PCs at home, the question may arise of how to create a home network.

A home network will allow you to easily exchange data between devices

Previously, this would have required laying meters of wires, getting confused in them, and stumbling. Now that many people have a Wi-Fi router at home, you can organize and configure a local network using it very quickly. Let's take a closer look at this process.

Why is this necessary?

When working with several PCs, sometimes you will need to transfer files between them, print a document on a remote printer, watch a video or listen to music from another device. In order not to run around the house with a flash drive, it is recommended to deploy a local network through a router.

Setting up the router

If you are already using at home wireless connection, you can skip this point. If you are still going to configure the router, enter the settings using a browser (192.168.0.1, 192.168.1.1), add a login and password (initially in most cases it is admin/admin, admin/parol).

In the " Wireless network» change the connection name, password, and encryption protocol. We recommend choosing WPA2-PSK, it is the most secure. Save the settings, reboot the router.

Changing the network type

In Windows 7, the network types are “Home”, “Enterprise network” and “Public”, and in Windows 8, 8.1, 10 - “Private” and “Guest or public”. It is possible to create a home group only if the type is “Home” or “Private”. When you connect for the first time, the OS makes a discovery request, agree to it.

• In the tray, right-click the connection icon - Network and Sharing Center.
• In the line “View active networks” you will notice the name of the connection and its type.
• To configure the required type:
• Windows 7
• Click on the Internet icon - “Home Network”.
• Windows 8, 8.1
• Open the side menu by pressing Win+I or moving the mouse cursor to the right edge of the screen.
• Changing computer settings - Network - Connections - name of the connection.
• Activate "Search for devices and content."
• Windows 10
• Start - Settings - Network and Internet - Ethernet (Wi-Fi is the name of your connection).
• If connecting via cable, click on the name of the connection and activate the “Make this computer discoverable” slider.
• When connecting via Wi-Fi, under the list of connections, click " Extra options" and make your computer discoverable.

From now on, it is possible to set up a local group through a router at home.

Changing the PC name

This item is optional, but it is better to replace the PC name, since it is automatically assigned in the form of an alphanumeric code, then it will be difficult for you to navigate the names. To configure the laptop name, follow these steps:

• Right-click on the “My Computer” icon on the desktop (Windows 7) or launch Explorer - My Computer (on Windows 8–10).
• System properties - Additional system settings - Computer name - Edit.
• Come up with a convenient name - OK - Apply, and then restart Windows.
• Repeat the procedure on each device.
• Create a HomeGroup
• Go to Network Sharing Center.
• In the line " Home group» select "Ready to Create".
• Create a homegroup - Next - Select files and devices to share - Next.
• Write down the password and click "Done".

The group with access via the router is ready. You can connect other devices.

Connecting to a home group

To add other devices to the newly created group via Wi-Fi, on the connected PC in the Network Control Center in the lower left corner, click on “Home Group” - Join. Enter the password and specify the shared folders. Restart all connected devices.

To make sure that the connection between laptops is working at home, go to Explorer and all available devices will be presented in the “Network” tab. If you have a printer at home, you can even print documents from any connected device.

Create a shared folder

In addition, if you do not need network printing at home, you don’t have to create a group at all. Simply use File Explorer to share the required folders on each laptop.

Login from other devices

You can access your home network from any Android or iOS device. It is enough to use file manager with function remote access. Scan available devices, connect to familiarize yourself with shared folders.

Conclusion

Please also note that various errors may occur from time to time. Try turning off your antivirus with Windows Firewall and repeat all over again.

Do you use it at home? local group via router? Did our guide help you? We are glad to receive your comments.

Connecting devices into a home network and connecting it to the Internet, at first glance, seems difficult. But those who have done this at least once cope with the task in 20–30 minutes.

Do you want to learn how to create local networks quickly? So, this instruction is for you.

Creating a wired local network through a router

Preparation

To network desktop computers and other devices equipped with Ethernet network adapters, prepare:

• Sections of twisted pair cable with 8P8C (RJ-45) connectors - one for each device. You can buy connectors separately and crimp the cable yourself. For a computer-router connection, a direct crimp circuit is used.

• A router with enough LAN ports for all computers on the network. If there are not enough ports, some machines will have to be connected through an additional network device - a switch. Or via Wi-Fi.

The procedure for connecting devices to a computer local network:

• Insert one twisted pair connector into the computer's network card connector, and the other into one of the LAN ports on the router. Find out exactly which ports are intended for the LAN from the instructions of your router.
• If your apartment or office is connected to the Internet, connect the provider’s network cable to the WAN (INTERNET) port of the router.

Port activity is indicated by blinking LED indicators. About the signal being received LAN card The PC is also indicated by a blinking diode in the connector area.

Setting up the router

Let's look at setting up a local LAN network using the D-Link DIR 300 router as an example. To open the control panel, enter the router's IP address, which is listed on its bottom or in the documentation, into the address bar of your browser.

After connecting, the network will appear in the folder " Network connections" If you wish, you can change its IP address and DNS server. This is done in the same way as when connecting to a wired network, which we discussed above.