How to set up network devices in your laptop

In order to connect to the network, you need to install a network interface card or a network interface card inside the laptop.
Most laptops sold today come with the NIC standard. You can tell it’s there by looking for an RJ-45 slot or something on the sides or back of your laptop case. If you see this hole, then your laptop is ready to communicate. You just need to use a network cable to connect your laptop to the network socket in the wall, to another computer, or directly to the network hub, switch, or router.
If your laptop lacks a Network Interface Card (NIC) or an RJ-45 slot, you can easily add one, either with a PC card or with a USB-Ethernet adapter.

>> The cable you use to connect your laptop to the network is known as an Ethernet cable. Also known as CAT-5. You can buy it in a variety of lengths, colors, and flavors. It is available at any computer or office store.

>> The holes for the RJ-45 look like the holes for a phone jack, but they are a little bigger. Do not confuse them! If the Ethernet cable does not fit into the slot, then that particular slot is a telephone or modem jack, not an RJ-45.

>> A hub, switch, or router is a device designed as a central location for all computers on a network. Everything is connected to the hub, switch, or router.

>> A hub is simply a place where Ethernet cables from different computers (or printers or modems) are connected.

>> Switch is a faster version of the hub.
>> A router is a faster, smarter version of a switch.
>> No, you don’t really need a hub-router thing. If you’re just connecting two computers, Ethernet, or CAT-5, and cable into each computer’s NIC, then you can do what’s called peer-to-peer networking. This is the fastest and most effective way to connect two computers to exchange information.