Among all topics that were discussed during the session, I'm interested in wireless network. Yup yup.. By using wireless network, you can connect to other computer or to the Internet without a wire.. As discussed in the class, currently, there are 3 most common type of wireless network defined by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers(IEEE) they are:
- IEEE 802.11a
- IEEE 802.11b
- IEEE 802.11g
Besides above types, there is a newest type in wireless network which is IEEE 802.11n. The newest type is announced in January 2007, however this type has not been finalized yet. According to IEEE, the final version of IEEE 802.11n will be released in April 2007. Let me give you differences between these protocols:
Ermm.. I think you guys don't like theoretical things right? Let's try something practical about wireless network. I'll give you a "How-To" to set up your own wireless ad hoc network.. So, if your friends visit your room, they can connect to the internet via your laptop or wireless adapter. :D
First let's start from the ingredients. To do this "How-To" what you need is
- At least 2 laptops
- Local Area Network(LAN) cable
- Network point
- 10 SGD... to be transferred to my bank account.. haha.. just kidding.. basically what you need are just above items. Ignore the last one :p..
Okay.... Ladies and gentlemen... Let's begin :D
- First, you must connect one of the laptop to the network point using LAN cable and this laptop act as a server that connect to the internet. So, just imagine this laptop is your own laptop and you connect it to the Internet using LAN cable. Don't forget to turn on the wireless adapter of your laptop :D
- Then, next step is to share your LAN connection. First, go to Control Panel -> Network Connections -> Local Area Connection. Then click it until new small windows called Local Area Connection Properties is popped up. In the Local Area Connection Properties windows, set the option like picture below. Don't forget to press OK after you finish all the required option below :D..
- Next, you need to set up the wireless connection. It's almost similar to above steps. You need to go to Control Panel->Network Connection-> Wireless Network Connection and new windows called Wireless Network Connection Status is popped up. Click Properties button, and Wireless Network Connection Properties is popped up as shown below.
- Okay, good job!!.. Here is the most difficult thing of this "How-To". In the Wireless Network Connection Properties, click Wireless Network tab, and then click Add.. button(button that I put circle around it). New windows is popped up (wow... so many windows..:D.. don't worry.. keep going.. you almost finish it). In this step, you need to fill in some parameters. The first one is Network Name, you can fill with any name that you like. Then untick option: The key is provided to me automatically but don't forget to tick the last option like what above picture shows. Fill in the network key with FIVE digits as you like.. it can be 12345, or 55555, or it's up to you, as long as 5 digits number. This number will be so called the "password" to enter and use your netowrk. Press OK button.. :D..
- Back to Wireless Network Connection Properties and click General tab, highlight the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) as shown below and click Properties button then new windows called Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties is popped up. Set up the IP address and subnet mask as shown below
- Then press OK... Wow.. almost done!!!! One last step.. Go to Control Panel -> Network Set Up Wizard. Click Next until you find this window shown below. Set the option like what the picture below shows. Choose the first option :D
- Okay, now it's time to the 2nd laptop to use your network, from Wireless Network Connection Status Windows, and click View Wireless Network button. Click your network and enter the network key (remember the 5 digit of number that you set above). And .... ABRACADABRA... your friend's laptop connect to the Internet!!!! :D... well done guys!!!
Congratulationss!!!! You finish this small "How-To".. hehehhe.. I think this example is just like a sand in the desert... There are many many many and manyyyyyyyyy ways to utilize the Internet and the infrastructure in it :D.. It's up to us to master it and keep our self in the same pace with the development of technology :D.. heheh....
Auf Wiedersehen... :D
ps. if you can't see the pictures above clearly, you can download the original snapshot in here
