Computer network is connection of two or more computer
systems that are connected to perform a specific task or function.
Today, we are going to learn how to create a network with a
centralized mapped drive(a mapped drive) to share files and resources. We will
also be looking at how to configure the computers on the network to have equal
access level and discovery. Finally, we will be looking at how to establish a
remote connection using two computers on the network.
To establish the network, we will require two or more
computer systems depending on the number of PCs you want to have on the network
but we will be using three computers for this particular one, a switch, four
straight-through cables(Cat 6 or lesser), and then to have access to internet,
we will connect our network to a wall outlet(wall jack).
First and foremost you must connect the three PCs and the
switch to a power source and turn them on, Now connect the three straight-through
cables with one end to the Ethernet port of each PC, and the other end to an
empty port on the switch, now connect the last cable to the wall outlet and the
other end to an empty port on the switch.
Next is to configure all the
computers to have the same IP class( eg.192.168.10.4-7) respectively, to do
that, click on the Start menu and in
the search panel, type Network and
Sharing Center, click Ethernet/Local
Area Connection (window 8/windows 7) > Properties > double click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) >
click Use the following IP Address and
manually enter the IP address or select Obtain
an IP address Automatically and Obtain
DNS server address automatically for the PCs IP address automatically.
To establish remote connection click on the Start button > in the search panel type Allow Remote Access to your Computer and press the enter key > select Allow connections only from computers running… click Apply and Ok. (Make these configurations on the computer you want to access remotely).
On the computer you want to work from, ping the PC you want
to access remotely for reply, to do so press the windows key + R and type cmd
and press enter, type ping followed by the IP address of the computer you
want to access remotely (eg. ping
192.168.10.4).
Now Click the Start
button, in the search panel type Remote
Desktop Connection and press enter > type the IP address of the computer
you want to access remotely and click Connect
> enter the User Name and Password of the PC and click Ok > click Yes to connect to the PC.
To ensure equal access level and discovery amongst the computers
on the network, click the Start button
> type Manage advanced sharing center
in the search panel and press enter > select the following configurations:
- Turn on network discovery.
- Turn on file and printer sharing.
- Allow windows to manage homegroup connections.
- Turn on sharing so anyone with network access can read and write files in the public folders.
- Use 128-bit encryption to help protect file sharing connections.
- Turn off password protected sharing.
Click Save Changes.
Finally to map a drive to a PC in the network, click the Start button > right click My Computer > click Map network drive > select the drive
letter and click Browse to locate
the PC you want to map the drive to > click Finish.
To access the mapped drive, from the computer the drive was
mapped to, open My Computer from the Start Menu or desktop. Now click Network > double click the PC name
and double click the User Share folder
> double click the mapped Drive to access the drive.
In order to have a working and responsive network, these are
some precautions to take;
- Ensure that the straight-through cable are well terminated and that the cables are responding well as expected.
- Ensure that all the computers on the network are in the same IP class, and that they are all responding well to the ping command.
- To have a successful remote connection, ensure that the configurations mentioned above are made correctly on both computers( the two computers being used for the connection).
- To have equal access level and discovery, ensured that the configuration selected are correctly made.
