Gateway Desktops, User Manual

Page: 110 / 198

CHAPTER 9: Networking Your Computer
www.gateway.com
102
6
Click the General tab.
7
Click Obtain an IP address automatically .
8
Click OK to close the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties dialog box.
9
Click OK to close the Local Area Connection Properties dialog box.
10
Click X to close the Network Connections window.
11
Repeat this procedure for every computer on your network.
Setting up an Ethernet network
Important
Category 5 cables are available in two
different types; straight-through cables,
used to connect computers to a router,
and crossover cables, used to connect
two computers.
To determine which type of cable you
have, hold both ends of the cable with the
connectors facing away from you and
with the spring clip on the bottom. For
straight-through cable, the wires on both
connectors are attached to copper pins in
the same order (same colors, left to right).
For a crossover cable, the wires on each
connector are attached to the copper
pins in a different order (different colors,
left to right).
We recommend using category 5, unshielded, twisted-pair cable
(approximately 1/4” in diameter with a thin outer-jacket, containing eight
color-coded wires), and equipment compatible with this type of cable. This type
of cable is equipped with RJ-45 connectors (like a large telephone jack
connector, but with eight pins) on each end.
Setting up a network using a router
If you are setting up a network for more than two computers and you will be
connecting your network to a high-speed Broadband Internet connection
(cable or DSL modem), we recommend the use of a router. A router lets you
access the Internet connection from any network computer. The router can
assign IP addresses to the computers on the network and can provide firewall
protection for your network as well.
8511629.book Page 102 Wednesday, July 19, 2006 9:38 AM