What is a network server?

A network server is a computer system, which is used as the central repository of data and various programs that are shared by users in a network. If you have a computer that you’re no longer using due to its slow speed, you can turn it into a network server for other computers in your household. You’ll have to make sure you have a big enough hard drive (at least 100 GB) to store all the data you’ll be putting on it, especially if you’ll be using it to store videos, images, music or other files that take up a lot of room. It’s better not to use a wireless connection to attach the computers to each other.

Plug your computer into a home networking router, and while your computer is running, click on the start button, then Settings. Click Control Panel, and double click Network Setup Wizard (icon of a house with a red roof). On the first two screens that the Wizard will offer you, click Next; then click the second choice, “This computer connects to the Internet through a residential gateway or through another computer on my network.” Then click Next.

You’ll then get a screen that prompts you to enter a computer description; then click Next. The next screen you get says to name your network by specifying a workgroup name, which you should leave as MSHOME, unless the other computers in your house are using a different workgroup name. Click Next. The next screen gives you the option of turning on or off file and printer sharing, so click the top choice (turn on file and printer sharing). Click Next twice more, and then wait for the Wizard to finish. Click the last option in the dialog box (Just finish the Wizard) and click Next. Click Finish to close the Wizard. Repeat this process for any other computer that you want to hook up to your home network server.