Hooking Up a Network of Personal Computers
Connecting two or more personal computers into a local area network offers several advantages. Co-workers can share resources such as printers and hard disks, send electronic mail and use programs and data stored on each other’s disks. You can even use a network schedule program to arrange meetings at mutually available times.
Setting up a network of IBM-compatible machines requires special hardware and software, including a network adapter card. Apple Macintosh users have an advantage because their machines come with the hardware and software needed to share printers and exchange files.
With an office network, a receptionist could send electronic mail to let people know they have a phone call holding. An office manager could check everyone’s schedule before setting a meeting time. A manager could create a consolidated sales report from each salesperson’s files. Individuals could back up their files to other people’s shared disks.
There are a lot of networking options for IBM-compatible PCs. Novell, Banyan and 3Com, for example, offer sophisticated networking schemes that generally require installing an extra computer, called a “server,” to act as the network hub. These networks, which are popular in large organizations, are typically installed and maintained by trained technicians.
“Peer-to-peer” networks are well-suited for many smaller organizations. They don’t require a dedicated server and are easier to install and maintain. All computers on the network can be configured to share or access resources on other computers. As with dedicated networks, users have control over whether their data can be accessed over the network.
Several companies make peer-to-peer network software and adapter cards. Artisoft, at (602) 293-6363, is a pioneer with its popular LANtastic network. Novell, at (800) 453-1267, the leader in traditional networks, now offers NetWare Lite peer-to-peer software. Sitka, at (800) 445-8677, offers the 10Net program for MS-DOS and Windows.
Microsoft, at (206) 882-8080, the publisher of MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows, is the newest player. Its recently introduced Windows for Workgroups is a special version of Windows 3.1 with a built-in peer-to-peer network. If you already have Windows on your machine, it updates your current version with the networking software. If you don’t have Windows, it installs it for you.
The network is very easy to install and set up. You just take apart the machines, plug in the adapter cards, connect the cables and run the software’s setup program.
In addition to my two desktop machines, I connected a portable notebook PC by plugging the $399 Xircom Pocket EtherNet II adapter into the machine’s parallel port. Only a 386 or higher machine can share its files or printers for others to use. Any type of PC can be used to access network resources.
Once installed, the network has been a dream to use. All the file-sharing commands are accessed via the Windows File Manager. You use the Print Manager to share printers.
The software comes with an electronic mail program that lets you exchange messages. There is also a scheduling program that allows you to maintain your own schedule and check when others are available. You can even use it to set up meetings at mutually agreeable times. Users aren’t required to share their schedules or any other resources. Privacy can be further maintained by optional passwords.
With Windows for Workgroups, it’s possible for programs to share data files that reside on different machines. Someone using a word processing program in one office, for example, could use data from someone else’s spreadsheet.
Windows for Workgroups is an excellent product for offices that have standardized on Windows. Companies that primarily run MS-DOS programs will have more flexibility if they stick to LANtastic or 10Net.
The Windows for Workgroups Starter Kit ($849.95) comes with two Intel Ethernet cards, connectors, 25 feet of cable and the software. Owners of Windows 3.1 can purchase the software for $99.95 or pay $275 per machine for the software, adapter card and cables.
