Windows networking

Networking in Microsoft Windows lets two or more computers share files, printers and an internet connection. A local area network usually relies on Ethernet, where machines connect through a switch or router using network adapters, although early home setups also used dial-up links over a telephone line. Each device on a TCP/IP network is identified by an IP address, and the Domain Name System (DNS) translates human-readable names such as a website address into the numeric addresses computers actually use to reach one another.

Setting up a network involves configuring adapters, assigning addresses (often automatically through DHCP), and arranging how resources are shared. Across the Windows 98, Windows 2000 and Windows XP era, the operating system bundled tools for joining workgroups, mapping shared drives and managing connections. Dial-Up Networking (DUN) handled modem connections to the internet or to a remote office, while Remote Access Service (RAS) on server editions answered incoming calls from remote users.

Broadband links such as ADSL and other DSL variants later replaced dial-up for many users, delivering an always-on connection over existing telephone wiring. For secure connections across the public internet, a Virtual Private Network (VPN) creates an encrypted tunnel between a remote computer and a private network; the Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP) was one early method of building such a tunnel. Direct Cable Connection (DCC) offered a simple way to link two nearby machines without a full network. Improving a network often means checking addressing, cabling and adapter settings to resolve connection problems.

Frequently asked questions

What does DNS do on a network?

DNS translates readable names, such as a website or server name, into the numeric IP addresses that computers use to locate each other.

What is a VPN used for?

A VPN creates an encrypted tunnel over the public internet, letting a remote computer connect securely to a private network as if it were local.

How does dial-up differ from ADSL?

Dial-up uses a modem to place a temporary call over a phone line, while ADSL provides an always-on broadband connection over the same wiring at much higher speeds.