How to setup LAN connection in office or cyber café for sharing internet , printer & files.

A local area network (LAN) is a group of computers and associated devices that share a common communications line or wireless link to a server. Typically, a LAN encompasses computers and peripherals connected to a server within a distinct geographic area such as an office or a commercial establishment.

With a rapid growth of computer & internet technology , starting from a small office of school, college, computer labs, cyber café etc  to large  office  of multinational companies each of them are  getting fully  computerized  , since all the paper works are being done on computer , and in every office several people work together and they require to share files and folders , internet connection , printer dvd drive etc . hence we need to connect  all computer of the office in such a manner so that all the requirements should be fulfilled in order to use the office resources in best possible way , hence this problem can be solved by proper networking . Hence it is very important to know the basic computer hardware and networking , and here  I am going to explain you step by step procedure from the scratch to set up a networking in office or cyber café.

In order to set up a network in office / internet café , we need the following  items :

1 – Computers / Laptops  – For making server/ host computer  and workstation / client computers

2- ADSL Router – Used for creating PPPoE  Connection for Routing & sharing internet from the DSL Modem  .

3 – Network Hub / Switch – For connecting workstations to the network

4 – Lan Cable – for making the connection between computers

5 – Lan cable Punching Machine – used for fixing and joining the lan clip to the cable.

6 – Lan cable Tester – for testing the lan cable wires connection

7 – Windows xp CD/ windows 7 DVD / windows 8 DVD – for installing operating system on computers

8 – Printer & its driver software – for sharing on network to get print from each work stations.

9-  Scanner – Used for converting the hard copy of documents and share on network

10 – Electric wire and switch board for power supply – for supplying power connectivity to System

11- High Speed DSL Broadband internet connection – for supplying internet connectivity to computers.

Lets begin with the networking procedure :

Step 1 – Operating system installation : Install operating system and their corresponding drivers on each computer / laptop which has to be used on the network.

Step 2 – Hub connection with systems : Connect all the workstations and the host computer to the slot of network hub / switch and power on the switch / hub

Step 3 – Procedure of  Setting & configuring Router : Now connect the ADSL router output to the input of hub / switch , and connect the broadband DSL connection wire to which comes from the DSL Splitter to the input port of ADSL Router . Now power on the ADSL Router and the host computer . Now login to the software of the ADSL Router by entering the address in browser url / address bar ( for most of the router it is 192.168.1.1 , please check it on the manual guide which comes with the router . Once you get login in to the Router software , Create a PPPoe Internet sharing connection , whene you proceed for creating PPPOe connection , router will ask you to configure the settings , where you need to enter the name of your internet service provider , now you need to key in the username and password of your connection which is provided by your network provider. Once you make successfully settings in the router you need to save the settings in the router and reboot the router.

Step 4 – Checking internet connectivity on each computer : Now when you restart the router you wil find some light glowing on the router which indicates , power led indicate that router is getting proper power supply , check whether the DSL signal is blinking  or it is constant . if it is blinking then it means there is some problem with your ISP ,but if the DSL signal is constantly glowing that means , everything is correct from ISP , now the last LED  indicates the  INTERNET connectivity status .if this LED is glowing green means your every computer is connected to internet , now start your each workstation and check whether they are working or not , open the browser on each workstations and check the internet connectivity , if internet is not connected on any workstation check the lan cable connectivity and the hub.

Step 5  : Process of Sharing files & folders on network : In every office file and folder sharing is very important , which is very difficult to handle via pen drive , hence to get rid from that problem , we create shared folder on desktop which is visible to every workstation on their desktop , the employees need to just put the important files and folders which they want to share in that shared folder , and these files and folders will be visible to every  workstation , we can also setup permission from the host computer that the shared files and folders could by only viewed or whether they can also be edited from the users of other workstations .

Process of sharing files and folders :  in order to do this first of all we need to go to Host computer control panel > create a home or office network > turn on the printer and file sharing – ON . Now go to the desktop of host computer , create a folder on desktop and rename the folder as – shared folder , go to its property and check box to allow sharing , and also check box to make permission to read & write the files in folder by workstation . Now go to client computers one by on , go to my network places > view work group computers and then you will find your all computers connected to the network , just double chick on the host computer icon and now you will find their your shared folder which you had kept on the desktop of host computer .Just drag and drop the shared folder on the desktop of each workstations.

Step 6 :Process of  Installing & Sharing Printer on network : It will be really very costly to install a separate printer for each workstation in office , hence to over come this problem we need to share a single printer on the whole network , so that any one could print from any workstation , from the same printer connected to the host computer.

Process of sharing a printer on the network : install the printer on host computer , power on and install the driver of printer , if the printer is working then go to control panel > printer & faxes option > There you need to select the printer and go to the property of printer and click on share this printer on network , once you do this you will find that a shared symbol of small hand will be created below the printer .

Now go to each client computers , control panel > printer and faxes > add a printer > select a network printer and choose the printer name and click on install printer , once the printer will successfully installed of that work station , you can print any documents from that workstation from the shared printer.

Step 7 : Internet bandwidth sharing : Usually this problem arises in office and internet cafes that if some body on the network start watching videos on youtube or start downloading big files or videos fro the internet the speed sucks on the rest of work stations , hence in order to overcome with this problem , we need to distribute a fixed amount speed / bandwidth to each workstation , by doing this we can over come this problem , hence this can be done by configuring the settings inside your router , under quality services tab , however this option is not available in all routers , don’t worry if your router don’t have this option you can make use of software’s like – handy café filter or you can use – Traffic Shaper xp. Once you install it on server and client you can easily control the bandwidth and speed in office or internet café.

Step 8 : Blocking unwanted websites in office : Social networking websites like facebook , twitter and youtube must be blocked in office or , just what you can do is only allow the limited sites to access in the office , means only those websites can be accessed in the office which are of employees use and block rest of other websites , hence to do this make a list of all the websites which you wish to open in office and login to the software dashboard of the router and there would be an option called url filter  , Under this settings select option – only allow access to the below mentioned websites , enter the url of each website which you want to open in office . and save the settings and reboot the router , you will see not other websites will open on any client computer rather than those which you had mentioned in the list.