Network Configuration

Notes

10
NETWORK CONFIGURATION

In the previous lesson you have learnt the basics of network. Now you are ready for
learning Network configuration. Network configuration describes a broad range of
activities associated with establishing and maintaining a network. In this lesson you will
understand how to configure wired and wireless networks on Windows and Unix
operating systems and also on how to configure network applications like Outlook
Express. This lesson will also expalin how to connect smart devices such as smart TV and
smartphone to your PC.

OBJECTIVES
After reading this lesson you will be able to:

z configure Windows operating system for networking.

z configure LINUX operating system for networking.

z configure network applications (Outlook Express).

z connect smart devices with the computer.

10.1 CONFIGURING WINDOWS OPERATING SYSTEM FOR

NETWORKING

10.1.1 Set up a broadband connection for a personal computer

Broadband connection is used by most of us for using Internet. For setting up DSL
(Digital Subscriber Line) broadband connection, you require a router, modem or a device
that combines these two devices (modem and router).

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To connect your computer for Internet connection do the following steps:

Wired Internet connection:

Notes
1) Connect your device(modem and router) to phone card or cable provided by Internet
service provider.

2) Supply electric power to your device (modem and router).

3) Plug Ethernet cable in to LAN port of device (modem and router) and other end of
Ethernet cable plug in to networking port (LAN Port) of computer.

4) Turn on or start your computer and verify LAN driver of your computer if it is not
installed then install LAN driver for your computer ( use LAN driver setup file for
your computer and double click on it and follow the steps and click ok).

5) Re-start your computer.

6) On command line type “ipconfig” if IP address is same as the IP address provided

by ISP’s range of IP address. Then click ok.

7) Now your computer is connected to Internet.

Fig.10.1 Internet connection

Wireless Internet connection:

1) Follow first two step of wired connection.

2) Your device (modem and router) and computer/laptop should have Wi-Fi facility.

3) Install Wi-Fi driver in your laptop/computer( Use Wi-Fi driver setup file for your
laptop/computer and double click on it and follow the steps and click ok).

4) Enable Wi-Fi in your laptop/computer.

5) Open connect to a network by clicking the network icon ( or ) in the

notification area.

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6) In list of network, select your device (Modem and Router) that you want to connect.

7) If security key required , enter key and connect to your device(modem and router). Notes
8) On command line type “ipconfig” if IP address is same as IP address is provided
by ISP’s range of IP address then ok.

9) Now your computer is connected to Internet.

10.1.2 Installation of Wired Network in Windows 7

In Windows 7 operating system, installation of a wired network is simpler than ever
before.

Following is the process of establishing a network.

1. All the computers should be turned off and unplugged.

2. All the peripherals of computers should be turned off.

3. If required network adapters should be installed.

4. If required, computers cases should be replaced and connect a network cable between
router and each computer’s adapter.

5. In the router’s WAN port, users of broadband Internet should plug their modems.

6. Select an appropriate network location.

All the newly attached network equipment are noticed by Windows 7 when it wakes
up. The level of security is determined by your choice.

7. Windows enquires about the Homegroup by choosing Home as your network

location.

Different files are shared between different PCs by the permission of Homegroup.

8. Run any necessary software for network adapter installation.

If things are not working properly, a new driver for your network adapter might be
required. If new networks are not been recognized by any of the computers, try restarting
them all again.

10.1.3 Network Configuration in Windows

Appropriate LAN driver should also be installed in computer for network configuration
in Windows.

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There two methods for configuring network in Windows7.

Notes 1) Click on Start→Control Panel→Network and Sharing Centre→Local Area

Network.

2) Open Connect to a Network by clicking the network icon ( or ) in the

notification area→Local Area Network.

After clicking on Local Area Network, follow the steps given below for manual
configuration of IP4 in Windows7 operating system.

a) Click on properties.

b) Select Internet Protocol Version 4 and click on properties.

Fig. 10.2 LAN Status

c) Select “use the following IP address” and enter IP address , Subnet Mask and
Default Gateway for network configuration.

d) Select “Use the following DNS server addresses” and enter preferred DNS server
and alternate server for network configuration.

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Notes

Fig.10.3 LAN properties

Fig.10.4 IPV4 properties

Now network is configured for wired network connection.

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10.2 CONFIGURING LINUX SYSTEM FOR NETWORKING

Notes
10.2.1 LINUX Networking Setup
In order to enable networking, network interface cards must be configured. The kernel
must have either modular or direct support for cards to compile in. The steps to configure
NIC are :-

From your network administrator:

1. Find out your computer’s IP address.

2. Determine network mask.

3. Network address is Internet Protocol address with network mask.

4. To deliver packets to every machine on your subnet your broadcast address is

used.

5. The address of the computer is a gateway to the outside world is gateway address.

6. Conversion of host names into IP addresses is nameserver address.

Configuration Tools

Various interactive GUI network configuration tools are available on Linux operating
system. Those are netconf, linuxconf, netconfig and ifconfig. These tools or programs
modify values in /etc directory.

Analysis Tools

z netstat – provides information about the systems network connections, (including

routing tables, port connections etc.).

z traceroute – It is used to find the network route from your machine to some other
machine on your network or the internet.

z nslookup – It is used to find more information about hosts from DNS servers.

z arp – Users read or modify their arp cache, using this program.

z tcpdump - Helps the user to check TCP traffic on their network.

z dig(1) - For debugging or testing, it sends domain name query packets to name
servers.

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10.2.2 Network Configuration in Ubuntu

Following is an example of network configuration of latest Linux based operating system
Notes
(UBUNTU)

1. Go to Network Connection by selecting system preferences → Network connection

Fig. 10.5 Network connections

2. Select the “Wired” tab and then click on “Auto eth0” and then click “Edit” to
check the IPV4 settings.

Fig. 10.6 Wire network connections

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3. IPV4 Settings. As shown in the following image select the method as manual if
you want to manually enter the DNS settings.
Notes

Fig. 10.7 IPV4 settings

DNS Server address is to be assigned. click on Add button to assign the address,
network and gateway adresses. Then provide the DNS server address as shown
below and click Apply.

Fig. 10.8 Assigning DNS server address

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For example to check the IP address settings.

1. Go to Applications → Accessories → Terminal

Notes

Fig. 10.9. IP address settings

2. Write "sudo ifconfig" (without quotes) command into terminal to find your new
address. The inet address broadcast addness, and mask address will be shown by
Ifconfig command.

Fig. 10.10. Sudo command

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Notes

Fig. 10.11 Ifconfig command

10.3 CONFIGURING A WIRELESS NETWORK WITH WINDOWS 7

To connect to a wireless network, each machine will need settings such as a network name
and network security key.

Follow these steps to create wireless network on machine with Windows 7:

1. From Control Panel → Networking and Internet → Network and Sharing Centre
→ Manage Wireless Networks, then click Add.

2. Choose type of profile you want to create. Select the “Create an ad-hoc network
profile” if you want to connect two computers (computer-to-computer) together.
Choose “Manually create a network profile” to connect to machine to a wireless
router or an access point. A screen will appear similar to the following figure.

Fig. 10.12 Manually connecting to a wireless network

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3. Type the name of the access point (also called SSID) in the network name field,
and select the settings.(ex: WAP)
Notes
4. Select the Next button.

5. When finished, select Close.

INTEXT QUESTIONS 10.1

1. What is the purpose of nslookup?

2. Why netstat tool is used?

3. Why do we use traceroute?

10.4 CONFIGURING NETWORK APPLICATIONS

10.4.1 Configuring Outlook Express for E-Mail Accounts

The following steps will explain how to configure outlook express.

1. Open Microsoft Outlook. Now select Accounts under Tools

Fig. 10.13 Configuring Outlook Express

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2. Click Mail under Add

Notes

Fig. 10.14 Adding email

3. Enter your user name as you like.

4. Enter the email address.

Fig. 10.15 Adding email address

5. Choose server type and enter incoming and outgoing mail servers.

Fig. 10.16 Entering incoming and outgoing mail server details

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6. Enter Account Name and password.

Notes

Fig. 10.17 Adding account name and password

7. Next → Finish → Select domain → Properties

8. Select My server requires authentication.

Fig. 10.18 Properties window.

9. Click Ok. Now outlook configured your E mail address.

10. Repeat these steps again to set up multiple accounts.

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Once you have completed these steps outlook will take some time for receiving all your
emails to your Inbox. Once the process is completed your outlook is ready to send / receive
Notes any emails.

10.4.2 To enable sharing of file

Below steps are to be followed for network discovery and file sharing:
1. Open Network and Sharing Centre, (go to Control Panel, then Network and Internet,
click on Network and Sharing Centre), Select option for Network Discovery and
Enable File sharing. Select if you want to share files and turn on printer sharing.
2. Now do one of the following to share the file:
z Select Share by right clicking the folder you want to share and then choose
from the given list all those with whom you want to share, and then press
Share.
z In the public folder on your system, place all files and/or folders to be shared.
Click Start button, and then click Documents to find the public folder. In the
Navigation pane, under Favorite Links, click Public.

10.4.3 Internet Explorer 8 - Browser Configuration

For configuring internet explorer (8), Open Internet Explorer → Tools → Pop-up Blocker
→ Add web site → In blocking Level, Allow pop-ups from secure sites → Close.

1. Pop up management
z If you do not want the pop ups to come up then you can select the blocking level as
high.
z If you want to allow pop-ups from secure sitls then keep the level as low: as shown
in Fig. 10.19.

Fig 10.19 Pop-up Blocker Setting

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2. Clean up / file system Management – In order to experience better browsing it is

recommended to keep deletion of copies at reguler intervals (1 week).
Notes
You should also delete temporary internet files, history to clean up lone space.

Goto Cookies: Tools → Internet Options. In Browser History → Delete

Fig 10.20 Deleting Brosing History

3. Security Management - Use security settings tab to define the level of security
you want while browsing.

Choose Custom Level Security in Internet Options under Tools menu.

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Notes

Fig 10.21 Security Settings

Fig 10.22 Internet options - customs level

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Select level by customising the level as shown in Fig. 10.22.

SSL Issue: While exploring a secured website on Internet Explorer 8 sometimes the
Notes
message Page cannot be displayed popped up. To resolve this problem go to internet
options of tools menu and select the content tab, after that select Clear SSL state button
and press OK.

10.5 CONNECTING SMART DEVICES

10.5.1 Connecting Your TV to a PC

Now-a-days with smart TVs one can browse the Internet in the same way as on computers
and are able to access all online features. Wireless technology provides simple solutions
to connect your TV to a personal computer.

Connecting Wi-Fi PC and Wi-Fi TV

If you have Wi-Fi network and having a television with Wi-Fi and personal computer with
Wi-Fi then you can connect both of them using the following steps:

1. Turn on the system and television.

2. Enable the Wi-Fi mode and select Wi-Fi as its input on the television.

3. Activate the Wi-Fi mode on your system.

4. On your computer, select WiFi connection to the TV. To connect the television
with your Wi-Fi, if required provide the security key or password and re-boot the
network.

5. Four-digit Pin that is generated by television is to be feed on the system. After this
a connection is established between television and system.

6. Adjust screen resolution if needed.

7. Select extend desktop onto this monitor.

8. Windows desktop screen will be displayed on television. If required adjust the

screen resolution.

9. If required drag the open windows of the system on television.

10.5.2 Connect Smartphone to Desktop

You can also connect your smartphone to computer/laptop by using a USB cable. Once
you connected your smartphone to computer/laptop you will be able to view all the files
present in your smartphone. And also you can transfer the files from your smartphone to
your computer or laptop.

You can connect a smart phone to your computer with Bluetooth technology, if you do not
want to use USB cable.

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WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNT

Notes
In this lesson you have learnt how to configure wired networking systems running on
Windows 7 and Ubuntu. It also illustrated how to configure various network applications
such as outlook express, file sharing and Internet Explorer browser. You have also learnt
about connecting smart devices such as smart TV to personal computer and smartphone
to PC.

TERMINAL EXERCISE
1. Discuss the steps for installing a wired network in Windows 7.

2. Setup your machine running on Ubuntu for networking.

3. Discuss the steps for setting network in LINUX.

4. Configure your machine running on Windows 7 for wireless network.

5. Configure Outlook Express on your machine.

6. What are the various options to be set while configuring Internet Explorer?

7. How can we connect a Wi-Fi television to a Wi-Fi computer?

8. What should be done to connect Smartphone to desktop?

ANSWERS TO INTEXT QUESTIONS

10.1
1. nslookup is used to find more information abouts hosts from DNS servers.

2. Netstat is used for providing information about the systems network connection.

3. the network route from one machine to antoher machine.

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