Connecting personal computers to a network allows you to exchange data without wasting Internet traffic. Also, the local network makes it possible to use the shared Internet and printers.
Instructions
Step 1
Purchase network cards. Install them on your personal computers. Next, download the updated drivers from the manufacturer's website and "install" them.
Step 2
Pull a patch cord from one computer to another (a special cable for connecting computers to a local network). Connect them. The light on the network cards should come on.
Step 3
Now you need to configure the network cards on both PCs. Go to "Start", then to "Control Panel" and "Network Connections". Open the properties of the local network connection and then TCP / IP. You need to set an IP address. On the first computer, you need to register 192.168.0.1, on the second - 192.168.0.2. The default subnet mask for both computers is 255.255.255.0. Save.
Step 4
Right-click on "My Computer" and go to properties. You need to set up the same workgroup for both computers, for example, Work. Note that the computer names must be different.
Step 5
It is necessary to check the connection of computers. Go to Start -> Run and type ping 192.168.0.1 -t for the second computer or ping 192.168.0.2 -t for the first computer. If a "Reply from …" appears, then the computers are successfully connected.
Step 6
You can set up file sharing. On the folder, right-click and go to properties. Check the "Share this folder" checkbox.
Step 7
Go to "Control Panel", then to "Printers and Faxes". Select the required printer and go to its properties. Check the box to give a second computer access to this printer.
Step 8
You can also set up Internet sharing. On a computer with the address 192.168.0.1, go to the properties of the Internet connection and allow general access. On the second computer, set the address of the first computer in the “gateway” line, that is, 192.168.0.1. Also specify the DNS server 192.168.0.1.
