Home Networking

The Smith FamilyThis is the house the Smiths live in. Can you spot their digital devices?

The Smith family want to be able to:

• send files to the printer from any PC in the house• access the internet from anywhere in the house• play computer games with each other and with friends • listen to music stored on the desktop PC in other rooms of

the house apart from the study• access files stored on any PC in the house irrespective of

where they are stored• watch films downloaded from the internet on the desktop

PC on the TV in the lounge

•what will be needed to enable the Smiths to achieve their objectives?

In this lesson students are learning about:

• reasons for having a home network• equipment needed to set up a home network• wired and wireless methods of connecting

devices in a network• network security measures

At the end of this lesson students will be able to:

• describe the benefits of a home network• identify components needed to create a home

network and explain their purpose • explain the benefits and drawbacks of wired

versus wireless connections• describe security measures that should be

taken to prevent unauthorised access to a home network

The networked home

• All the digital devices in the house must be connected together if they are going to be able to communicate with one another.

• The Smiths can either use cable to create their network or they can opt for a wireless solution.

How does a Wired Network work?

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HppQyv5z47k

How does a Wireless network work?

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okzrdZyKe-M

Benefits and drawbacks of Wireless

• The obvious benefit of a wireless network, i.e. not having cables trailing everywhere!

• Benefits: • easy to set-up,• access from anywhere in house/garden providing within range,• mobile devices such as smart phones can access the network

• drawbacks: • speed,• range,• security,• not all devices have WiFi support built-in

Some more facts

• It is not uncommon to have a mixture of wired and wireless connections in a network, e.g. cable to the printer and desktop computer, WiFi for the kids’ netbook, etc.

• Sometimes powerline adapters (home plugs) as a alternative to WiFi can be used how they work and their benefits and drawbacks.

• http://computer.howstuffworks.com/power-network.htm

Every device on a network needs to be uniquely identified!• Each device on a network to be uniquely identified• This is done by using the devices MAC address (Media

Access Control). It is a unique identifier assigned to network interfaces for communications on the physical network segment. Usually manufacturers assign this and it is stored within the hardware of the device

• This is why that even if I gave you the Wireless password for school you wouldn’t be able to connect because our network wouldn’t recognise your devices MAC address!

•

Network components

Task: how would you set up the Smith’s Network? (5 mins)

Security

This shows the wireless networks in the vicinity of the Smith’s house. What does it tell you about these wireless networks? (signal strength, security, type of encryption, visibility).

Have we achieved?

• describe the benefits of a home network• identify components needed to create a home

network and explain their purpose • explain the benefits and drawbacks of wired

versus wireless connections• describe security measures that should be

taken to prevent unauthorised access to a home network

P

P

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Homework

• Complete the worksheet entitled “Home Networks.doc”