Why set up a network at home?

If you have more than one computer at home and you want to be able to share resources between them like a printer or a single internet connection or if you want to be able to access files on one computer that are on another one, a network is what you need.

What do I need?

  1. A Network Interface Card (NIC) for each computer.
  2. A hub (interconnection box). This is required if you're connecting more than two computers but is optional if you have only two computers.
  3. One cross-over cable to connect 2 computers without a hub OR One standard cable for each NIC if you are connecting two or more computers with a hub.

How much will it cost?

Depending on how much of it you do yourself, as little as $89 for 2 computers. Equipment and Services are available as follows:

Networking Kit 1 (2 Kingston PCI 10/100 Network cards and 1 40' Crossover cable) $89
Networking Kit 2 (2 D-link or Netgear 10/100 PCI Network cards, 2 cables and 1 5-port hub). $94
On-site setup of network (includes establishing communication, sharing drives and printers and verifying operation). $49
Proxy Server / Firewall (includes software and setup for 2 computers). $150
Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) (no firewall but is included with Windows 98, Second Edition. With XP, a firewall is included). Free!
ICS Setup on site (requires One computer with an Internet connection (telephone or broadband) and Windows 98 or XP, a second computer with Windows 95 or 98 or XP, networking setup and working and an Internet account) $49

If I want to do it myself, what do I do?

Microsoft's Internet Connection Sharing comes with Windows 98 Second Edition. InfiniSource has produced a fairly good explanation of how to install & troubleshoot ICS.

InfiniSource-98
With the advent of Windows XP, installation and use of ICS is faster and easier. Again, Infinisource has a good explanation of how to install and use it.

InfiniSource-XP