How To Set Up A Home Network In 5 Simple Steps

Networking a new tech toy has become the modern equivalent of the dreaded "some assembly required." But setting up a secure, robust network isn't hard—if you know what you're doing.

Since you're a PCMag.com reader, chances are you got a shiny new tech toy as a holiday gift. Maybe it was an 802.11n wireless router, a NAS device, a new netbook, or an Apple iPad. One thing all of these devices have in common: they need to be attached to your home network. The introduction of a new piece of hardware is the perfect time to set up or reorganize your home network. For many people, this is the most painful part of the tech experience. Let's face it, networking a new piece of tech you got for the holidays is the latter-day "some assembly required." No matter what networking hardware makers tell you, setting up your home network involves more than just purchasing and plugging in a router. But that doesn't mean that it has to be a nightmare, either. You can set up a managed and centrally controlled network in a few (relatively) easy steps. You just have to know what you're doing and do it the right way. And it's worth doing it right. It's worth learning how to configure proper IP addressing, lock down the network from intruders, create accounts for everyone who gets access, and set up sharing for files and folders. If you can do those things (and you can) you'll have a centrally controlled, robust network with better security. Plus, having a good handle on your network allows for more efficient control over remote access to devices and data on the network. For parents, the ability to see what children are accessing and control what they access is possible, if you've got a structured home network. Of course, the wireless router is, in many respects, the center point of a home network. Although vendors such as Cisco/Linksys are making router setup easier than ever with products such as the Cisco Valet router, you can still burrow deeper into the router's configuration pages to establish security, access controls, and granular management. You can set up a tightly managed, secure home network. All you have to do is follow these five steps.