Transcript Local Area Networking

Local Area Networking
[email protected]
July, 2013
TAX-AIDE
TAX-AIDE
NETWORK – BASICS
Scope of Presentation
● Applies to TaxWise Online (TWO) configurations
● Overview and configurations of networking for TWO
● Covers necessary terminology, various network
configurations, and provides references for more
detail
TAX-AIDE
NETWORK – BASICS
Benefits of Networking TaxWise Online
● Conservation of Resources: Sharing of Input/Output Devices
(such as printers).
● Backups: No Backups are required
● Internet Access: Networking allows Internet access for all
network computers via a single router

Note: it isn’t even necessary for other Tax-Aide computers to “see” each
other
TAX-AIDE
NETWORK – BASICS
Terminology - Local Area Network (LAN)

Definition: A group of computers and network devices that
share a common communications connection and typically
share the resources of computers or a server within a small
geographic area (an office, office building, organization).

A Tax-Aide local area network may serve as few as two or
three users or as many as 20 on a Windows 7 Professional
network.
TAX-AIDE
NETWORK – BASICS
Terminology – Wide Area Network (WAN)
● Definition: A long-distance communi-cations
network that covers a wide geographic area, such
as a state or country.
● Example: The Internet is the world’s largest WAN
TAX-AIDE
NETWORK – BASICS
Terminology - IP Addresses

For computers to communicate with each other using a router,
they must have a unique identifier – that identifier is the IP
Address

Similar to a telephone network
● To communicate sensibly, there must be a unique IP
Address in the format 127.0.0.1

This IP Address is assigned automatically by network router –
always unique on the Network


Devices such as printers can also be assigned a specific IP address –
called Static IP Address.
Devices can be assigned random IP addresses – called Dynamic IP
Address
TAX-AIDE
NETWORK – BASICS
Connection Options
● Network switch

Acts much like an extension cord

Allows more computers/devices to connect to a router by adding more
ports

Can’t connect to other networks or the Internet

Not software configurable
● Router

Contains a network switch

Also provides a “bridge” to other networks and the Internet

Highly software configurable

Can be Wireless or Wired or Combination
TAX-AIDE
NETWORK – BASICS
Router
● A Router is the device used to create a computer Local Area
Network (LAN) when connection to the Internet is required.
● Router default settings use Dynamic IP Address to automatically
assign an IP address to each connected computer or device to
create a network.
● Network printers can be connected to the router
● Resources can now be shared among devices
TAX-AIDE
NETWORK – BASICS
Router
● Router adds the capability to attach a network or wireless printer
to the LAN rather than having a shared printer connected to a
workgroup computer.
● Network printer

Printer has a network port

Connects directly to the router

More responsive

Doesn’t take resources from a computer
● Provides wireless WPA security on the Network
TAX-AIDE
NETWORK – BASICS
Wired versus Wireless (TWO)
● Wired

Most secure

Cluttered installation – many cables
● Next slide shows wired network configuration

Wired network printer and shared printer shown

Switches as extension to provide additional ports shown

All computers wired to router either directly or via network switch
TAX-AIDE
Wired Router
All cables Cat 5 or higher
unless specified differently.
N/W Switch
N/W Switch
W/L Router
N/W Printer
Laptop
Laptop
Shared
Printer
USB cable
TAX-AIDE
Laptop
NETWORK – BASICS
Wired versus Wireless (TWO)
● Wireless with router

Is permitted with TWO

“Clean” installation – few cables
● Next slide show sample setup configuration

Router is connected to modem via ethernet cable

All computers connect wirelessly

Printers can be wireless, wired, or shared
TAX-AIDE
Wireless Router
W/L Laptop
Wireless N/W Printer
W/L Router
W/L Laptop
N/W Printer
Shared
Printer
TAX-AIDE
USB cable
W/L Laptop
NETWORK – BASICS
Wired versus Wireless (TWO)
● Wireless and Wired with router

Wired and Wireless used simultaneously

Is permitted with TWO

“Clean” installation – few cables
● Next slide show sample setup configuration

Router is connected to modem via ethernet cable

Computers use combination of wired and wireless

Printers can be wireless, wired, or shared
TAX-AIDE
Wireless/Wired Router Hybrid
All cables Cat 5 or higher
unless specified differently.
W/L Laptop
Wireless Printer
N/W Switch
N/W Switch
W/L Router
N/W Printer
Laptop
Laptop
Shared
Printer
USB cable
TAX-AIDE
Laptop
NETWORK – BASICS
Wired And Wireless Configurations
● Wireless using Host Facility router

This connection is permitted for use with TWO

“Clean” installation – no cables

May require host network setup from N/W administrator

File and printer sharing MUST be turned off
● Next Slide shows network configuration with all
computers and printers connected directly to Host
Facility router
TAX-AIDE
Wireless, No Router or Switch
Wireless Printer
W/L Laptop
W/L Laptop
TAX-AIDE
NETWORK – BASICS
Wired And Wireless Configurations
● Wireless with Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) (TWO)
● ICS is found in Windows Networking properties

In this case, the ICS connects to the host Wireless network

Computers can connect directly to ICS computer to acquire Dynamic IP
Address from the computer

Router can be configured as wireless Access Point

Shared printer(s) can be used

Hard-wired or wireless network printer(s) can be used
TAX-AIDE
Internet Computer Sharing
All cables Cat 5 or higher
unless specified differently.
W/L Laptop connected to Host Facility Network
Wireless Printer
N/W Switch
N/W Switch
N/W Printer
W/L Router*
Laptop
Laptop
Shared
Printer
USB cable
W/L Laptop
* Configured as an
access point
TAX-AIDE
NETWORK – BASICS
Router Warning
● Routers that are suitable (and affordable) for the Tax-Aide program
are “technology challenged”
● Not meant for heavy usage, consequently they’re severely limited in
the number of connections they can route – especially, when they are
configured to use WPA security which is required by Tax-Aide
● The routers are prone to overheating and dropping connections when
8 to 12 computers are connected
● Keep them cool and in an open space
TAX-AIDE
NETWORK – BASICS
Typical Equipment Costs
NETWORK
Device
Router
4-8 Port
TYPE:
~COST:
Where To Buy:
Switch
5-8 Port
NIC
14’ or 25’
(longer if
Computers required)
$35 & Up $15 & Up Included $4 & Up
Included
with Most
www.tigerdirect.com www.newegg.com
LOOK FOR www.cdw.com
www.bestbuy.com
DEALS!
www.cnaweb.com
www.microcenter.com
www.geeks.com
www.amazon.com
There are many other websites that sell network hardware.
TAX-AIDE
Patch Cables
NETWORK –
AARP Tax-Aide Network Documents
● Find AARP Tax-Aide Network procedures on the Volunteer Portal
at: https://volunteers.aarp.org/portal/core/welcome.htm
● Select Volunteer ShareNet link

Click the TECHNOLOGY HARDWARE link, choose

Click the NETWORKING group, choose
● NETWORKING TAXWISE FOR TAX-AIDE

Click the TECHNOLOGY SOFTWARE link

Click the TAXWISE ONLINE group, choose
● USING WIRELESS SITE CONNECTIONS FOR TWO
TAX-AIDE