How to set up a small network with Windows XP Home Edition (PART 1)

This article includes Part 1 of the "Set Up a Small Network with Windows XP Home Edition" guide. Part 1 introduces this topic.

Note To view the other topics of the "Set Up a Small Network with Windows XP Home Edition" guide, see the Microsoft Knowledge Base articles that are listed in the "References" section of this article.

The "Set Up a Small Network with Windows XP Home Edition" guide includes the following topics:

Part 1. Introduction: Set Up a Small Network with Windows XP Home Edition

The "Set Up a Small Network with Windows XP Home Edition" guide describes how to quickly set up a small network that is practical for home users. It only takes one day to set up shared access to hard disks, folders, CD-ROM drives, printers, and the Internet.

Your new network can connect up to six workstations in a workgroup. A workgroup divides the corresponding tasks among the workstations. As a result, newer computers can provide disk space on their larger hard disks, and older computers can handle print jobs, set up Internet connections, or back up data. Larger networks distinguish between servers that provide services and client computers that use these services. As a result, the computers are specialized for their specific tasks. Your small network does not require this division of tasks. Every computer can take over server functions and use the workgroup's resources at the same time. Because all the computers have the same rights, this configuration is known as a peer-to-peer network.



In a peer-to-peer network, all the computers share their resources.

To view other topics in the Set Up a Small Network Guide, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

This article is a translation from German. Any subsequent changes or additions to the original German article may not be reflected in this translation. The information contained in this article is based on the German-language version(s) of this product. The accuracy of this information in relation to other language versions of this product is not tested within the framework of this translation. Microsoft makes this information available without warranty of its accuracy or functionality and without warranty of the completeness or accuracy of the translation.