Networking / Beginners

Creating a Peer-to-Peer Network

You have just two computers and don't need to share an Internet connection. Or, you plan to share the Internet connection on one of your computers using Internet connection sharing (ICS).

A peer-to-peer network has the dual benefit of being the least expensive and the easiest to set up. You just need two wireless network adapters ($30-$120 for 802.11b network adapters; slightly more for 802.11a or 802.11g).

The main problem with a peer-to-peer network is that its range is limited to the distance over which each network adapter can broadcast. To extend your range, you'll want to set up an infrastructure network, which we look at next.

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In this tutorial:

  1. Wireless Hardware and Software Setup
  2. Connection Options
  3. Setting Up Hardware
  4. Software Overview
  5. Using Ad-hoc Mode
  6. Working with Access Points
  7. Access Points with Built-In Routers
  8. Troubleshooting
  9. Placing Your Equipment
  10. Creating a Peer-to-Peer Network
  11. Creating an Infrastructure Network
  12. Setting Up a Hybrid Network
  13. Connecting Network Multimedia Devices
  14. Mixing 802.11 Equipment