Project family Home Network Setup
1- Network Planning for Hypothetical small Family: Layout
• Family Information:
- Family size: 4 (2 adults, 1 son)
- House type: 2-story single-family home with approximately 185 m2 of living space
• Network Devices:
- Laptop1 : Adults' devices for work and browsing.
- Pc 1: Child device for gaming and schoolwork (in his bedroom).
- Smartphone 1: Used by all family members for communication, browsing, and
streaming.
-
• Desired Services:
- Reliable internet access for all devices (browsing, streaming, downloading).
- Wireless network coverage throughout the entire house.
- File sharing capability between laptops and desktops.
- Secure network environment to protect devices and data.
• Network Layout Plan:
- Router Placement: Central location on the first floor, near the ISP connection point
for optimal Wi-Fi coverage.
- Wired Connections:
Ethernet connection from the router to an adult's desktop in the home office for
stability and speed.
Optional network switch in the basement or utility closet for additional wired
connections.
- Wireless Connections:
All other devices connect wirelessly to the router's Wi-Fi.
Strong password and WPA2/WPA3 encryption for security.
• Network Switch (Optional):
- Connect the switch to the router via ethernet.
• Printer Sharing:
Connect the printer to the router's USB port or a designated print server computer.
Other devices can access the shared printer through the network.
• Considerations:
- The network plan for the hypothetical family's home includes a central router
placement, wired connections for stability, wireless connections for most devices,
optional network switch for extra wired connections, and printer sharing.
- Considerations are made for signal obstructions and future needs.
- The plan ensures reliable internet access, wireless coverage, file sharing, and network
security.
2- Equipment Selection
- Based on my network plan I selected the following networking equipment
• Router
- Model: WRT 300N- Features:
- Dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) for better performance and range.
- Provides adequate coverage for a typical 2-story home (around 185 m2 / 2000 sq ft).
- User-friendly web interface for easy configuration.
- Parental controls and guest network access (optional features, depending on your
needs).
- Budget: Mid-range router, suitable for most home users. - Ease of Setup: Simple
web interface or mobile app for configuration.
• b) Switch:
- Model: like TP-Link
- Features: Unmanaged switch with 5 ethernet ports, ideal for expanding wired
connections beyond the router's capacity.
- Budget: Affordable option for basic needs.
- Ease of Setup: Plug-and-play; connect the router and other wired devices with
ethernet cables.
• c) Cables:
- Type: Cat5e ethernet cables are sufficient for most home networks.
- Quantity:
- 2 cables for the wired desktops connection (around 5 meters/Desktop). - 1 cable for
switch (around 3 meters).
• d) Budget and Performance:
- TP-Link offers a good balance of features, performance, and budget for a typical
home network.
- TP-Link TL-SG105 is a simple and affordable switch for basic wired network
expansion.
- Cat5e ethernet cables are sufficient for typical home network speeds and relatively
inexpensive.
3- Network Setup
• Router Setup:
- Place the router in the central location on the first floor, near the ISP connection point
for optimal Wi-Fi coverage.
- Connect the router to the modem provided by the internet service provider using an
ethernet cable.
- Power on the router and wait for it to boot up.
• Wired Connections:
- Connect one end of an ethernet cable to the WAN (Internet) port of the router.
- Connect the other end of the ethernet cable to the modem's ethernet port.
- Connect one end of an ethernet cable to the LAN port of the router.
- Connect the other end of the ethernet cable to the ethernet port on the adult's desktop
in the home office.
- In Network switch, connect one end of an ethernet cable to any available LAN port
on the router.
- Connect the other end of the ethernet cable to one of the switch's ports.
- Repeat the previous step for any additional wired devices that need to be connected to
the switch.
• Wireless Connections:
- On each device (laptop, smartphone, PC), access the Wi-Fi settings.
- Locate the network name (SSID) of the router and select it.
- Enter the network password (WPA2/WPA3 encryption) as per the plan.
- Repeat this process for all wireless devices in the home.
• Printer Sharing:
- Connect the printer to the router's USB port or a designated print server computer
following the printer's instructions.
- Ensure the printer is powered on and ready for network connection.
- On each device that needs access to the printer, install the printer drivers and software
as directed by the printer manufacturer.
- During the installation process, select the "network" or "shared" printer option and
follow the prompts to connect to the shared printer on the network.
• Network Configuration:
- - Accessed the router’s configuration interface by entering the router’s IP address
into a web browser (192.168.1.1).
- - Logged in using the router’s default administrator credentials or the ones
configured during the initial setup.
- - Followed the router’s user manual or online documentation to adjust additional
settings, including Wi-Fi channel selection, guest network setup, and security
preferences.
- - Applied the changes and verified that the router’s settings were successfully
saved.
• Testing and Troubleshoot:
- Verify that all devices have successfully connected to the network and have internet
access.
- Test file sharing by transferring a file between the laptops and desktops.
- Check the printer connectivity and perform a test print from each device.
- If any connectivity issues arise, ensure all cables are securely connected, devices are
within range of the router, and the router's firmware is up to date.
5- Documentation
• Internet Service Provider (ISP)
• Modem (connected to ISP via coaxial cable)
• Router (connected to modem via ethernet cable)
• Access Point
• Desktop (wired) (connected to router via ethernet cable)
• Network Switch (connected to router via ethernet cable)
• Additional Wired Devices (connected to switch via ethernet cables)
• Laptops (wireless)
• Smartphones (wireless)
• Tablet (wireless)
• Smart TV (wireless)
• Shared Printer (connected to router's USB port OR designated print server
computer) Equipment Used:
• Router (model: TP-Link Archer C6 or similar)
• Network Switch (optional) (model: TP-Link TL-SG105 or similar)
• Cat5e Ethernet Cables (quantity depends on wired device connections)
Configuration Settings:
Router: • Access the router's web interface using its IP address (usually
192.168.1.1).
• Login using the router's default credentials or the ones set during initial setup (refer
to the router's manual).
• Security: Enable strong WPA2/WPA3 encryption and set a unique Wi-Fi password.
• Wireless Settings Adjust the Wi-Fi channel to minimize interference from other
networks.
Network Setup:
1. Placement: Place the router centrally on the first floor near the ISP connection point for
optimal Wi-Fi coverage.
2. Wired Connections:
• Connect the modem's ethernet port to the router's WAN (internet) port using an
ethernet cable.
• Connect the adult's desktop ethernet port to an available LAN port on the router using
another ethernet cable.
• In network switch, connect it to the router's LAN port with an ethernet cable. Then,
connect additional wired devices to the switch's ports using ethernet cables.
1. Wireless Connections:
• On each wireless device (laptops, smartphones, tablet, smart TV), locate the Wi-Fi
settings and connect to the router's SSID (network name).
• Enter the Wi-Fi password you created earlier.
1. Printer Sharing:
• Connect the printer to the router's USB port.
• Ensure the printer is powered on and ready for network connection.
• On each device that needs to access the printer, install the printer drivers and software
provided by the manufacturer.
• During installation, select the "network" or "shared" printer option and follow the
prompts to connect to the shared printer on the network.
