Join or create a workgroup Applies to Windows 7 When you set up a network, Windows automatically creates a workgroup and gives it a name. You can join an existing workgroup on a network or create a new one. Note • Workgroups provide a basis for file and printer sharing, but do not actually set up sharing for you. In contrast, in this version of Windows you can create or join a homegroup, which automatically turns on file and printer sharing on home networks. If you have a home network, we recommend creating or joining a homegroup. For more information, search for homegroup in Help and Support. 1. Open System by clicking the Start button , right-clicking Computer, and then clicking Properties. 2. Under Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings, click Change settings. If youre prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation. 3. In the System Properties dialog box, click the Computer Name tab, and then click Change. 4. In the Computer Name/Domain Changes dialog box, under Member of, click Workgroup, and then do one of the following: • To join an existing workgroup, type the name of the workgroup that you want to join, and then click OK. • To create a new workgroup, type the name of the workgroup that you want to create, and then click OK. The Computer Name/Domain Changes dialog box If your computer was a member of a domain before you joined the workgroup, it will be removed from the domain and your computer account on that domain will be disabled. Notes • If your network includes computers running Windows XP, you might need to change the workgroup name on those computers to match the workgroup name on the computers running this version of Windows or Windows Vista so that you can see and connect to all computers on your network. Change your computer name Applies to Windows Vista Computers on a network need unique names so they can identify and communicate with each other. Its best to keep computer names short (fifteen characters or less) and easily recognizable. We recommend that you use only Internet-standard characters in the computer name. The standard characters are the numbers 0 through 9, uppercase and lowercase letters from A through Z, and the hyphen (-) character. Computer names cannot consist entirely of numbers, nor can they contain spaces. The name also cannot contain special characters, such as the following: < > ; : * + = \ | ? , Note • Some Internet service providers (ISPs) require you to use a specific computer name so they can identify your computer and validate your account. If your ISP requires a specific computer name, dont change the name they give you. 1. Open System by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Maintenance, and then clickingSystem. 2. Under Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings, click Change settings. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation. 3. On the Computer Name tab, click Change. 4. Under Computer name, delete the old computer name, type a new computer name, and then click OK. If your computer is part of a domain, you will be prompted to provide the name and password of an account with permission to rename the computer in the domain. Assigning IP-Addresses If you configure the networking software on your host for standalone operation (for instance, to be able to run the INN netnews software), you can safely skip this section, because you will need an IP-address just for the loopback interface, which is always 127.0.0.1. Things are a little more complicated with real networks like Ethernets. If you want to connect your host to an existing network, you have to ask its administrators to give you an IP-address on this network. When setting up the network all by yourself, you have to assign IP-addresses yourself as described below. Hosts within a local network should usually share addresses from the same logical IP-network. Hence you have to assign an IP-network address. If you have several physical networks, you either have to assign them different network numbers, or use sub-netting to split your IP-address range into several subnetworks. If your network is not connected to the Internet, you are free to choose any (legal) network address. You only have to make sure to choose one from classes A, B, or C, else things will most likely not work properly. However, if you intend to get on the Internet in the near future, you should obtain an official IP-address now. The best way to proceed is to ask your network service provider to help you. If you want to obtain a network number just in case you might get on the Internet someday, request a Network Address Application Form from [email protected]. To operate several Ethernets (or other networks, once a driver is available), you have to split your network into subnets. Note that sub-netting is required only if you have more than one broadcast network; point-to-point links dont count. For instance, if you have one Ethernet, and one or more SLIP links to the outside world, you dont need to subnet your network. The reason for this will be explained in chapter- . As an example, the brewerys network manager applies to the NIC for a class B network number, and is given 191.72.0.0. To accommodate the two Ethernets, she decides to use eight bits of the host part as additional subnet bits. This leaves another eight bits for the host part, allowing for 254 hosts on each of the subnets. She then assigns subnet number 1 to the brewery, and gives the winery number 2. Their respective network addresses are thus 191.72.1.0 and 191.72.2.0. The subnet mask is 255.255.255.0. vlager, which is the gateway between the two networks, is assigned a host number of 1 on both of them, which gives it the IP-addresses 191.72.1.1 and 191.72.2.1, respectively. Figure- shows the two subnets, and the gateway. Note that in this example I am using a class B network to keep things simple; a class C network would be more realistic. With the new networking code, sub-netting is not limited to byte boundaries, so even a class C network may be split into several subnets. For instance, you could use 2 bits of the host part for the netmask, giving you four possible subnets with 64 hosts on each. How to assign a static IP address to your computer We show you the right way to assign a static IP address By Orestis Bastounis | PC Advisor | 17 April 13 There are different ways to assign a static IP address to your computer, printer, NAS, IP camera or other network device and reasons why youd want to. A common example is that youre adding a NAS drive to your home network, but in order to access it from the internet it needs to always have the same IP address. How to assign a static IP address RELATED ARTICLES • How to find a printers IP address • A Hands-On Guide to Advanced FreeNAS Server Configurations • Buffalo LinkStation NAS drive • How to Convert an Old PC into a Modern Server • Synology DiskStation DS211 review If you dont assign a static IP address, it will be dynamically given an IP address by your router each time you turn it on. The simplest way to assign a static IP address to a PC is to manually enter an IP address in Windows.Similarly, in a NAS you can choose a static IP address via its web management interface. However, unless you know what youre doing, you might cause a conflict if the same address is already assigned to another device on the network. The correct way to assign a static IP address is to tell your router to always give the same IP address to a computer or other network device with a certain MAC address. This is a unique code - a bit like a cars registration number - which every networking device has. First, log in to your router. If you dont know its IP address, open a Command Prompt (search for cmd in Windows 7 or 8) and type ipconfig /all without the quotes and press Enter. Your routers IP address is the same as Default Gateway. You can also see the MAC address for each network adapter (its called the Physical Address) but make sure you note down the address for the right adapter (if there are several - laptops will usually have two, one for Wi-Fi and one for Ethernet) by looking at its description. Type this IP address into a web browser’s address bar, preceded by and log in with the username and password you set, or look in the manual or on the router itself for the defaults. The Thompson DG585 router has a menu called Home Network, but it may be called LAN or Network or something else such as Bind IP to MAC in your router. BTs Home Hub helpfully has a Static IP menu. When you find the right page, you might see a list of connected computers, or you might have to select your computer from a list, or enter its IP or MAC address manually. Read more: pcadvisor.co.uk/how-to/network-wifi/3442670/how-assign-static-ip-address/#ixzz2lghkFEud Dynamic IP Address Definition A dynamic IP address is an IP address that is assigned automatically by the system to a device, account or user when it is connected to the network; that is, it is assigned as needed rather than in advance. An IP address is a unique numeric identifier for a computer or other device on a TCP/IP (transmission control protocol/Internet protocol) network. TCP/IP is the set ofprotocols (i.e., agreed-upon formats) that is used by the Internet as well as for most LANs (local area networks) and other computer networks. Dynamic IP addresses are assigned by the dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP), which is one of the key protocols in the TCP/IP protocol suite. Dynamic IP addresses contrast with static IP addresses, which are assigned manually and semi-permanently to a device, account or user. With dynamic addressing, a computer, account, etc. will typically have a different IP address every time it connects to the network. In some systems, the devices IP address can change even while it is still connected to the network. The main advantage of dynamically assigning IP addresses is that it allows them to be reused, thereby greatly increasing the total number of computers and other devices that can use the Internet or other network. Another advantage is enhanced security for individual users because their IP address is different every time they log into the network. Still another benefit is simplification of network administration because the software keeps track of IP addresses and thus relieves the administrator from the very tedious task of having to manually assign a unique IP address to every computer as it enters the network. Dynamic IP vs Static IP Static IP addressing is for one customer on one IP address and Dynamic IP addressing assigns a different IP address each time the ISP customer logs on to their computer, but this is dependent upon the Internet Service Provider (ISP) because some ISPs only change the IP address as they deem it necessary. If you have Dynamic IP Addressing through your Website Host it means that you are sharing an IP Address with several other customers. If you are a beginner on the internet, an avid internet user, are entertaining the thought of starting your own website business, are a gamer, use VOIP or VPN there are several things you should know about IP Addressing. Static IP Addressing If you feel the need to always know what your IP address is then you need a Static IP address, because it is constant. Static IP addresses are more reliable for Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP), more reliable to host a gaming website or to play X-Box, Play Station, use Virtual Private Network for secure access to files from your company network computer, etc. Static IP addresses are also great if you use your computer as a server, as it should give your file server faster file uploads and downloads. Another plus with Static IPs, when hosting a website you are not sharing your IP with another company who sends out a lot of E-mail SPAM and not only has their website been shut down but in turn gets your IP address blacklisted. In contrast a static IP address can become a security risk, because the address is always the same. Static IPs are easier to track for data mining companies. Static IP addressing is less cost effective than Dynamic IP Addressing. Dynamic IP Addressing The biggest advantages of Dynamic IP Addressing are less security risk as the computer is assigned a new IP address each time the customer logs on, they are cost effective and there is automatic network configuration (the less human intervention with network configuration the better). Dynamic addressing is usually used by ISPs so that one IP address can be assigned to several users, however some ISPs use Sticky Dynamic IP Addressing and do not change the IP address very often. Dynamic IP Addressing can be used by families with several computers or by a small business owner who has a home office. The software that comes with a router allows for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) setup and assigns each computer attached to the router an IP address automatically. In contrast, Dynamic IP addressing should not be used for VOIP, VPN, playing online games or game hosting because Dynamic IP addressing is less reliable then Static IP addressing and could cause the service to disconnect while you are on a VOIP, VPN or gaming.
Posted on: Mon, 25 Nov 2013 03:44:30 +0000
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