Need some advice on setting up a home network.

[Sal]

I volunteered to help someone set up a wireless home network and need
some advice. Here's the situation: She wants to connect two laptops,
each WiFi capable, to each other and to a wireless printer. So the
network essentially would consist of two computers and a printer. Each
of the laptops has its own high-speed connection to the internet.
What's the best way to proceed with this? Since each computer has its
own internet connection, can it be set up as a peer-to-peer network of
two computers and a printer? Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

Sal

 

[Pegasus]

I volunteered to help someone set up a wireless home network and need
some advice. Here's the situation: She wants to connect two laptops,
each WiFi capable, to each other and to a wireless printer. So the
network essentially would consist of two computers and a printer. Each
of the laptops has its own high-speed connection to the internet.
What's the best way to proceed with this? Since each computer has its
own internet connection, can it be set up as a peer-to-peer network of
two computers and a printer? Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

Sal

If you wanted to connect the various devices via the Internet
then you would have to set up a VPN (Virtual Private Network).
While this is feasible, it is not trivial. Much simpler to connect
the devices to each other with a LAN (Local Area Network),
which could be wired or wireless. Try to walk before you run!

 

[Rock]

I volunteered to help someone set up a wireless home network and need
some advice. Here's the situation: She wants to connect two laptops,
each WiFi capable, to each other and to a wireless printer. So the
network essentially would consist of two computers and a printer. Each
of the laptops has its own high-speed connection to the internet.
What's the best way to proceed with this? Since each computer has its
own internet connection, can it be set up as a peer-to-peer network of
two computers and a printer? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Here are some links on networking:
http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/
http://www.onecomputerguy.com/networking.htm

Home Networking
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/using/howto/homenet/default.asp

Wireless Security
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/security/wireless.mspx
http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Security.html

There is a wireless networking newsgroup:
microsoft.public.windows.networking.wireless