Today, people more and more people are using 802.11n wireless routers, NAS, netbooks and Apple iPad. One thing all these devices have in common: they need to be connected to your home network. The introduction of a new piece of hardware is the perfect time to establish or reorganize your home network. For many people, it’s the most painful part of tech experience.
No matter what network equipment manufacturers tell you, setting up your home network involves more than buying a router and plug. But that does not mean that it must be a nightmare, either. You can set up a network centrally managed and controlled in a few (relatively) easy steps. You just have to know what you do and do it the right way.
And it’s worth getting it right. It’s worth learning how to configure IP addressing, to lock the network from intruders, create accounts for everyone who has access, and set up sharing of files and folders. If you can do these things (and you can) you will have a centralized control network with greater security. Also, having a good handle on your network allows more effective control of remote access equipment and network data. For parents, the ability to see what children are accessing and control what they can access.
Of course, the wireless router is, in many respects, the center point of a home network. While vendors such as Cisco / Linksys router configuration are easier than ever with products such as the Cisco Valet, you can always dig deeper into the router configuration pages to establish security, access controls and granular management.
You can set up a rigorous, secure home network. All you have to do is follow these five steps.
First: Connect Your Router
The router is the gateway between the Internet and your home network. It is also the means by which all devices on your network to communicate with each other.