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The first thing you will need to do after checking to make sure you have the required computer is connect your Ethernet card into one of the data ports located in your room. Many rooms have two ports. One located under the telephone and the other located on the opposite side of the room.
What is a LAN
LAN stands for Local Area Network. A network is nothing more than 2 or more computers connected together and a LAN is one that covers a small geographic area, such as the Fort Lewis College campus. On the other hand, a WAN (Wide Area Network) is a network that covers a very large area. The internet is a WAN.
What is Ethernet?
Ethernet is a standardized way of connecting computers together to create a LAN network. You can think of Ethernet as a kind of municipal building code for networks: It specifies what kind of cables should be used, how the cables should be connected together, how long the cables can be, and how the computers transmit data from one to another. Other popular network protocals include Token Ring and VG AnyLan.
What is an Ethernet Card?
An Ethernet Card, also known as a NIC (Network Interface Card) is a board that that provides network communications capabilities to and from your computer. Some newer computers have built in Ethernet ports, in which case you would not need to buy a separate card. If you do need to buy an Ethernet board, make sure the board is compatable with your particular PC. Another alternative to buying a NIC card is to purchase a USB to Ethernet Adapter. Your computer must be equipped with a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port to use this device. However, installation is much easier since you don't have to open up your PC and, best of all, no tools required!
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What kind of cable will I need?
You will need a patch cable long enough to connect your Ethernet Card to the network jack on the wall. The cable must be Catagory 5 and have RJ-45 connectors on each end. This is a very common cable and is available at the book store.
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