Windows 7 Networking

It doesn't matter whether at home or at the office, networking has gone mainstream. There was a time, a computer had value as a standalone machine running programs, but that time has gone. Without an ability to access the Internet, retrieve email, chat via instant messaging, and connect with file shares and software, the computer is little more than an expensive paperweight.

So the trend is toward remote and mobile computing, and it's very important for an operating system to offer the utilities necessary to remain connected and productive from anywhere. Microsoft has added a variety of new networking features in Windows 7 that simplify connectivity and help users access network resources no matter where they are connecting from. Here we'll take a closer look at some of the enhanced networking features to be found in Windows 7.

Let's begin with an enhancement targeted primarily at home users and home businesses: With Windows 7, Microsoft came with the concept of HomeGroup. The HomeGroup tool serves two primary purposes: to make sharing files and resources between devices on a home network easier, and to protect shared files and resources from guests or wireless network intruders.
Many users have multiple computers at home, and users want to be able to share music and pictures, or network all of the computers so as to print to a single printer. This type of local area networking has been possible in Windows for years, but it has often been easier said than done, leading to many hours of user frustration.
Access HomeGroup from the Control Panel. Click on Create a HomeGroup in order to proceed. You can choose the types of files or content that you want to share with the HomeGroup by checking or unchecking the appropriate boxes.

After you click Next to create the HomeGroup, Windows 7 will automatically generate a password that other users will use in order to join the HomeGroup and share the resources. Windows 7 Starter and Windows 7 Home Basic editions cannot create a HomeGroup, but computers running any version of Windows 7 can join a HomeGroup. One significant drawback to the HomeGroup concept is that it works only with Windows 7, so any Windows XP or Windows Vista systems in the home will not be able to participate.

Running a HomeGroup simplifies the process of sharing files, folders, and other network resources with trusted devices on your home network. At the same time, it allows you to enable visiting guests to connect to your wireless network for Internet access, without also granting them access to the shared content and resources. It also prevents any unauthorised rogue wireless connections from gaining access to shared resources.

You can also share your USB connected printers through Homegroup. By virtue of this feature if you have a printer in the living room that is shared by HomeGroup it will be automatically installed on to your other HomeGroup enabled PCs. Domain-joined computers can also be part of a HomeGroup.

This application was also available in the Windows Vista but it has been improved further in Windows 7 by adding certain features including security and privacy of data and content of one user against other.