How to Configure Your PC to a Local Area Network

                       If you work in an office or home setup that has a local area connection and would like to setup your PC to the LAN to connect to the internet, then look no further. Here are steps and guidelines on how to configure your PC to a local area network.

1). Attach the RJ-45 connector to the Ethernet network port on your PC.

2). Start - Run (or win + r) - Type "ncpa.cpl" (without quote) 

3). In the new Window that appears, under the LAN or High-Speed internet, right on ‘Local Area Connection’ and select properties in the popup menu that appears.

4). In the local area connection dialog box that appears under the connection box, scroll down and select ‘Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and click on ‘Properties.

5). To configure your PC, you can opt for obtaining the configuration settings automatically or manually. To obtain the settings automatically, select ‘Obtain an IP Address Automatically’. However, to use this option, you will need to have a DHCP server that will function in allocating and managing IP address to ensure that there are no conflicts. To configure your PC to the network manually, follow the procedures listed below: Click the option ‘Use the following IP Address’. Enter the IP address to use. It is important that you consult your network administrator on the IP to use so as to avoid conflicts occurring in the network, i.e. a situation where two PCs have similar IP addresses. Thereafter, enter the Subnet Mask and Default gateway. #*The subnet mask is used to identify the network level you are in while the default gateway identifies the router connection

or if you want to connect two pc for file sharing give an ip 192.168.1.5 and 2nd PC as 192.168.1.6 and click on subnet and click on apply ok.

6). Thereafter, enter the Preferred DNS server and Alternate DNS server address.(Not necessary while file sharing)

7). Click ‘OK’ to accept the changes or ‘cancel’ to exit the setup

8). Check the option ‘Show icon in notification area when connected’ and #click ‘OK”. This will enable you to know if the local area connection is connected or disconnected.