RE: I Need Help With Networking!!! I Am Anymore Confused!!!

Hello. I have a question. I am ROYALLY CONFUSED when it comes to networking anymore, I was starting to get a little grasp of it with Windows XP, but now that I have upgraded to Windows 7 Professional and I am blown away now! I hear Windows 7 is advanced. I guess it is. Homegroups for one??? Do you have to use it or do you don't have it too and still have Windows 7 network for you if you want too? I'll admit, I am weak here! I will share what I know.

I have 3 ways on how I can setup and configure a network at home. That is what I know. I can use Windows 7 (The one I am confused on.), my Linksys router program that came with it, and even my security solutions software Bit Defender Total Security 2011 that has network setup as long as other computers within the home network you want to set up have the same Bit Defender software installed on those other computers. Actually Windows 7 I believe needs to be installed for "shared networking" (What's that?) on all computers in order to use it or the Linksys program needs to be on all computers too. So what one should I use for a home network over the others if I have to choose? Can I use more than one or not?

Setup is an ABSOLUTELY A MESS for me? Of my choices, what do I need to do? Example, if use Windows 7, how? Do I to just setup one of them (of my 3 ways I said above), or two of them, or all of them to get this whole networking thing to work smoothly?

Oh, if I DO NOT use my Bit Defender as my networking controller, but one of the other two, will this cause issues with BitDefender since it has a firewall in itself?

To assist you in provided me a better decision with possible solutions; I will provide to you my hardware components. I have a powerful desktop with Windows 7 Professional installed; a laptop computer with Windows 7 Professional installed; a Linksys Router that has both G and N Wireless Networks; an inkjet printer with scan, photo, copy, and print WITHOUT networking; a B&W laserjet with scan, photo, copy, fax, and print that HAS network capability built-in; another older B&W laserjet with scan, photo, copy, fax, and print WITHOUT network capability. I have recently purchased one print server (with 3 ports) I plan to connect to the B&W lasterjet without networking.

If you need more information, please reply.

Please help me!!!

Thanks!

 

Hi

As far as connecting your computers to each other, Windows 7 Homegroup works flawlessly, and there are plenty of options as to what to share, etc. If you had multiple versions of Windows running, Homegroup wouldn't run so well, but you have both computers running Win7, so Homegroup will be your new best friend. You should be able to configure Bit Defender's firewall to allow the computers to talk to each other (firewall exceptions).

Networking through the router itself should be automatic, but Windows still needs to understand what's going on -- hence, the Homegroup function. Homegroup is password protected, too (and automatic... the password is only to prevent additional computers from being able to connect without the proper authentication).

If I were you, I'd configure Bit Defender on both computers for the network, and then setup the Homegroup. Your router's function should be transparent through the whole operation.

As to your printers, I only have experience with a wireless printer I'm using, which works fine since it has its own IP address to my router. If your print server connects to the router, the function should be similiar. The only concern I have, is whether the print server will work for your printer without networking function... some printers can be finicky about connecting directly to a computer in that case. Your print server is better addressed by someone else that has experience with it, though.

Good luck!

 

@mcsmc:

Hello. Thank you for your reply. So basically don't worry about the setup program that comes with my Linksys router then? Ignore that one then? Just be concerned with the 2 other network programs?

Configure BitDefender first on all comptuers and then configure Windows 7 Homegroup on all computers? In that order?

I have been asked if I were to hardwire the destop computer to any of printers through the router not? I said the printers are in the same room as the desktop computer so I can run USB wires from each of the printers to the router.

Yah, I am told that if the printer is not network compatible or has no networking built-in, then you have to use a print server. The issue I have read is that the issue is between the printer and the print server at times. It is good to ask both companies (printer manufacturer and printer server manufacturer) if both are compatible with each other.

I was wondering if you have more ports (accept more non-networking printers) on your print server, the more likely you are to have problems?


I am wondering:

Can you have your router wired from your modem directly and then have your desktop wireless and your printers wireless as well? (Understand the router is NOT connected to any computer like a desktop.) I think the desktop needs some sort of wireless receiver attached to it in this case to connect to the Internet, correct? Let me ask, does a printer server need some sort of receiver too for the non-networking printers to work as well? Does it need a second router connected to the print server or not? What could be used in that case besides a router to the print server?


Please reply mcsmc or anyone too.

Thank you!

 

Short answers: yes, and yes. :major

 

About.com has a very good, straightforward tutorial for wireless networking.