How to connect 3 windows pcs to create one network?

My friend wants to connect his 3 windows xp pcs together to form a network. The Requirement is to share some file basically one drive of a system. How can we create a network and what are the hardwares are required for this?

Basic LAN Setup

üCreate a simple LAN with multiple PCs using an Ethernet switch and a straight-through cable to connect each workstation.
üMap a logical Drive and use Universal Naming Convention (UNC) to share available resources.
üUse the Control Panel / Network utility to verify and configure the network settings.
üUse the ICMP Ping command to verify the TCP/IP connection between the two workstations.
üUse the IPCONFIG.EXE utility to verify all IP configuration settings

A. Two PCs (or workstations) will be connected directly to each other from one Network Interface card (NIC) to the other NIC using a crossover cable. This can be useful to allow you to create a minilab for testing purposes without the need for a hub. Since the NICs on the workstations are directly connected you will not be able to connect any additional workstations.

B. All PCs on the same row will be connected with a switch. Using a switch allows for more than just two workstations to be connected. Switches can have anywhere from four to twenty four ports.

Tools / Preparation:
The following resources will be required:

üTwo Pentium-based workstations with a NIC in each (Make sure that you boot up with the Windows 2000 Server image.
ü A- One CAT 5 Crossover cable to connect two workstations without a hub.
ü B- An Ethernet switch (12 or 24 port) and a CAT 5 straight through cable for each work station.

NOTE:
Steps 1 (physical LAN connections) will be different between A and B. The steps from 2 on should be the same.

Step 1 - Check Local Area Network (LAN) Connections

Verify that you are using the right type of cable.

A - A single CAT 5 crossover cable is used to connect two workstations together.

B - Each work station will connect to the switch using a straight through cable.

Step 2 – Identifying NICs and Windows Networking Options

Go to Control Panel, Network and dialup connections. You should be able to see three icons:
1.Highest-Numbered NIC which is used to connect your PC to the college network. This NIC is enabled by default; however, you have to disable it before you do any labs. Right-click on it and choose disable from the short cut menu. Now you are disconnected from the college network (you can’t browse the web and you can’t print)

2.The Lowest-Numbered NIC which is used to connect you to the Cisco lab. This NIC is disabled by default and has to be enabled when you do the labs. Right-click on it and enable it. Notice that you might get the IP address conflict message. If so, just click OK out of it as this problem will be fixed in Step 4.

3.The third NIC will not be used.

Right click on the lowest-numbered NIC and choose properties from the shortcut menu. Check to be sure that you have the following networking Components installed:
üClient for Microsoft Networks.
üThe NIC adapter (small NIC icon).
üThe TCP/IP Protocol (small network cable connection icon).
üFile and Printer Sharing for Microsoft

Step 3 - Change the NetBIOS Name

Right-click my computer icon and choose properties. Select the network identification tab. Click the properties button. In the computer name textbox, change the name to Station# (where # could be anything from 1-24 depending on the location of the PC).Leave the default workgroup name as WORKGROUP.

Step 4 - TCP/IP Protocol Settings

For this lab, use the Class C network address of 200.150.100.0 and set the value of the last octet to equal that of the PC #. Set the default subnet mask on each workstation to 255.255.255.0. Make sure that you are configuring the lowest-numbered NIC

Step 5 - Check the TCP/IP Settings with the Ipconfig /all Utility

Click on Start, Programs and then select the MS-DOS Prompt. Enter the
ipconfig /all command to see all TCP/IP related settings for your workstation.
Fill in the blanks below using the results of the IPCONFIG command from your workstation:

Host name___________________
MAC Address________________
IP address____________________
Subnet Mask_________________

Step 6 - Check the network connection with the Ping Utility

Click on Start, Programs and then the MS-DOS Prompt. Enter the Ping command followed by the IP address of the other workstation
(Example - ping 200.150.100.1).
Explanation: This will verify that you have a good OSI Layers 1 through 3 connection.
Was the Ping successful? ______________________

Step 7 - Creating and Sharing File Folders

üRight-click on my computer icon and choose explore from the short-cut menu.
üSelect local disk (C)
üFrom the file menu select new then folder. When the new folder Is created, name it using your first initial and your last name.
üRight-click on the folder and select share
üSelect the share this folder option button
üClick on the Permissions button and change Everyone’s permission to read only.
üOpen notepad and create a new file. Name the file using your NetBIOS name_Test. Save the file in the shared folder.

Step 8 - Finding Other Computers and Sharing Resources on a Peer-To-Peer Network
üSharing Resources by using Universal Naming Convention (UNC):
[FONT=&quot]o[/FONT]From Start select Run
[FONT=&quot]o[/FONT]In the provided textbox type the path to the shared resources that you want to access on your neighbor’s machine, using the following format :
[FONT=&quot]o[/FONT]\\NetBIOS name\folder name\file name
üSharing resources through mapping logical network drives:
[FONT=&quot]o[/FONT]Right-click my computer icon, then select map a network drive
[FONT=&quot]o[/FONT]Select P as the drive letter, then click on the browse button
[FONT=&quot]o[/FONT]Double-click on the VMWARE workgroup to collapse it
[FONT=&quot]o[/FONT]Select your neighbor’s station then select the shared folder. Click OK, then Finish
[FONT=&quot]o[/FONT]Double-click on my computer icon to make sure that the logical drive has been created
[FONT=&quot]o[/FONT]If the need for connection to your neighbor’s PC seizes to exist, then you could disconnect the logical drive by right-clicking on the logical drive icon from my computer window, then selecting disconnect.
üSearching for computers on the network:
[FONT=&quot]o[/FONT]Right-click on my network places, then select search for computers
[FONT=&quot]o[/FONT]In the computer’s name text box type the name of your neighbor’s computer that your are trying to find
üViewing all PCs in your workgroup:
[FONT=&quot]o[/FONT]To view all the PCs in your workgroup double-click on my network places, then select entire network.
[FONT=&quot]o[/FONT]Double-click on entire network. Double click on Microsoft Windows Network, then click on VMWARE workgroup button.

debiprasad_sahoo said:
My friend wants to connect his 3 windows xp pcs together to form a network. The Requirement is to share some file basically one drive of a system. How can we create a network and what are the hardwares are required for this?

1) ) one hub/ switch
2) 3 straigt climped LAN wires.
3) LAN card on all Pcs.

debiprasad_sahoo said:
My friend wants to connect his 3 windows xp pcs together to form a network. The Requirement is to share some file basically one drive of a system. How can we create a network and what are the hardwares are required for this?

i missed the figure of exact switch and Cat5 in above post, give your mail-id i will attach figure

Thanks dear

. Good Description. You can email me debiprasad [dot] s [at] gmail.com

Can you give the price of cables and switch, if you have any idea?

debiprasad_sahoo said:
Can you give the price of cables and switch, if you have any idea?

Buy Dlink, Linksys swith.
8 post swith will cost your around Rs. 700-800/-

LAN wire will cost you Rs. 10-12 per meter.