Wireless Home Networking - Index of

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Part IV: Using a Wireless Network
Setting up a workgroup in Windows XP
To set up networking on any Windows-based computer, you need to decide on
a few basic networking options. Many of these are decided for you, based
on the equipment you happen to be using on your network. As an example,
if you have a server on your wireless network, you have many more options
concerning the type of network you may create. With a server on your network,
you gain the ability to centralize your security policies and to use
domains to control devices. In Windows, a domain is a set of network
resources (applications, printers, and so on) for a group of users. The user
only has to log on to the domain to gain access to the resources, which may
be located on one or a number of different servers on the network.
If you don’t have a server (which most of us don’t on our home networks),
you end up using the most common type of network: a workgroup.
The distinction between a workgroup and a domain can best be summed up
in one word: security. Domains make managing, maintaining, and modifying
security much simpler. In many cases, the domain controller — the server
that controls the domain — can set up security on each device on the network
remotely, and security can be managed in groups so that you don’t have
to add every family member to every machine or device on the network. Of
course, all this great management comes at a price. Servers tend to be expensive
and require a much higher skill level to maintain. The initial setup of a
domain can take lots of planning and time to implement. We don’t take you
through setting up your own domain because you can find more detailed
books already written on the subject. If you do happen to choose some type
of domain for networking, keep in mind that the security of your domain is
only as strong as the security on each individual piece of equipment attached
to your network — and that includes all your wireless devices.
On the other hand, setting up a workgroup is relatively simple. All that’s really
required is to decide on the name of your workgroup. Many people use family
names or something similar. Microsoft has a default of Workgroup for Windows
XP Pro and MSHome for Windows XP Home, for example.
To set up a workgroup in Windows XP, start by right-clicking the My
Computer icon (in the upper-left corner of your desktop) or by choosing
Start➪Settings➪Control Panel and then double-clicking the System icon. On
the Network Identification tab of the System Properties window that opens,
you can click the Network ID button to have a wizard walk you through the
process of setting up your networking options. A simpler method is to click
the Properties button and just enter the computer name, description, and
workgroup name. (This is also a handy way to quickly check — and rename
if necessary — workgroup names on the computers on your network.)