How Long Did It Take to Install Your Home Network?

I guess the question is how complicated of a home network do the users have. A single WAP plus wireless NIC can take me minutes to setup, but I have a complicated home network that integrates several wireless access points plus detailed security. Since the documentation for some of my gear was poor, it took me more than a day just to get the information needed to properly secure my complicated setup.

I agree with Mark. If your just doing it “plug and play” style with one machine and one computer, it better not take you more than an hour. However, I,similar to Mark, have a little more extended network. I have laptops in my bedroom, and both my kids rooms, a desktop in the basement and in the living room, a wireless print server and a unix box that I set up. Plus encryption/security and it took me about 4 hours to set all of it up. The UNIX box kicked my butt almost!

Another “Which Time” type comment. The first time I did it it took me @ 2 hours because I was not used to reading Japanese & the English instructions were not in the box. I do disagree with Jim & Mark in that first time even with Plug and Play can take more time though it is getting easier. Since then I’ve moved a couple of times and the number and complexity of the nodes have increased. I’m getting READY to install a Windows 2003 Small Business Server which should prove interesting. Last time I did the system I set up 3 workstations in the upstairs wired area a Wireless router w/ 2 laptops and a wireless range extender for a couple more laptops. In that I had to pull all the cable etc. I thought the weekend it took wasn’t bad.

I have 2 desktops and a laptop. Brand new Linksys router, and cards. After 2 “days” on the phone with MS, still don’t share files. Running XP Pro and XP Home on the desktops.
Have shared the cable internet connection from the first hour of installation. Both see the work group. Both show share indicators on folders. Even MSN Messenger states my system doesn’t support file sharing.

Installing the wireless network was a snap using Bradley Mitchell’s notes and the wizard. My problem was getting the file and printer sharing working. Norton stopped me and I had to turn off some of the rules to make everything work.

I have tried to install 3 different networks over the last few years – phoneline, wireless, and wired with a switch – and my son’s box never showed up right in My Network Places. Finally after about 3 days of effort I was able to find a RestrictAnonymous setting in his registry that seemed to be the problem. Typical Microsoft experience for me – potentially everything is great but if one checkbox has gone wrong for whatever reason it gets tough.

This site was a big help – http://winhlp.com/wxnet.htm

Like it has been said, it depends. I have been doing this from Win 3.1 & 3.11 with everything from coax to the CAT6 standard. Todays plug and play helps alot, but not all the time. I have 5 Desktops and a laptop with both a Wired and Wireless routers and switches. Not rocket science, but I am bald from all of the problems that can develop over our wirless broadband connection. I also run everything from Windows 95 to Media Center to ubuntu Linux. Until the next power outage…

Yes it took me around 1 hour the finer points and some security aspects took me a little longer.
Hardware 1 x Dynalink RTA300 4 port DSL Router – 1 x D-Link DI-524 Wireless with 4 ports – 1 x D-Link 1008D 8 port switch. 5 x PC’s and 1 x laptop.

I don’t have an advance knowledge with regards to networking. But I’d like to try this out. Is it possible to setup 1 router and 2 switches or 2 router with 2 switches each? How?

For install I say 1 hour to 1 day…but my install never seems to end as I am constantly “adding and making it better”.

someone answer this question please how long do it take to install a network for a company with 16 branches into 100 computer