setup the Gateway Device

Gateway device – There are different gateway devices available from different companies like
dlink.com, linksys.com, netgear.com and Cisco systems. Each device has difference setup configurations but the basic purpose of all these devices is the same.
The Gateways have a number of common features and functions such as NAT (Network Address Translation) that translate your public IP address into the private IP address on your network, DHCP server, PPP. Before buying any gateway device, make sure gateway device must have all these features.
Some advance gateways have the following features.
• wireless access point
• VPN
• print server
• DMZ (make one PC available to the Internet but still protect it through the firewall
• multi-port
• Content filtering
Most advance gateways comes with integrated hubs or switches and if your gateway don’t have the functionality of a hub/switch then you will have to buy a hub/switch for your home network. Before buying a hub/switch you should consider the two main things 1. it should support dual
speed i.e 10mbps and 100mbps and 2. it should have maximum available ports.
Cat5 cable – For setting up a home network, you will need a several pieces of the CAT5 Ethernet cables. These cables can be used in the different scenarios like for connecting the two PCs (if you have a two computer network) and if you have more than two computers then each computer will be directly connected with the hub/switch or gateway device. The most commonly used cable for computer networking is Cat5 cable.
Once you have all the required things like cables, hub/switch, LAN cards etc. then install a network card in each PC. You must make sure that each card is properly installed and is not showing any signs of conflict with the other network devices.
How to connect two computers wirelessly
In some recent years, wireless networking solutions have became very popular. There are several wireless technologies exists to support the wireless networking.
These technologies include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and infrared.
Wi-Fi connections can reach at a greater distance than the other wireless solutions that are mentioned above. Many new PCs and Laptops now have the built-in capability of the Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi can be used with or without network fixture. In the two computers Wi-Fi networking minus a fixture also called ad-hoc Wi-Fi.
Bluetooth technology supports high speed wireless connectivity and communication between the two computers without the need of a network fixture. Bluetooth is commonly used when networking a computer with the consumer’s cell phone or handheld device. Bluetooth works well if both the devices are in the same room or location. While networking among the handheld devices consider the Bluetooth technology solution.
Infrared networking exists before the Wi-Fi or Bluetooth technologies on the Laptops. Infrared wireless connections only work between two computers and do not require a fixture. Infrared networking is relatively fast so consider using it if your computer supports it and you don’t have
the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth features in your computer.