CCNA Discovery

Networking for Home and Small Businesses

Lab 3.1.5 Building a Peer-to-Peer Network

Objectives
• Design and build a simple peer-to-peer network using a crossover cable supplied by the instructor.
• Verify connectivity between the peers using the ping command.

Background / Preparation
In this hands-on lab, you will plan and build a simple peer-to-peer network using two PCs and an Ethernet
crossover cable.
The following resources are required:
• Two Window XP Professional PCs, each with an installed and functional Network Interface Card
(NIC)
• An Ethernet crossover cable

Step 1: Diagram the network

a. A network diagram is a map of the logical topology of the network. In the space below, sketch a
simple peer-to-peer network connecting two PCs. Label one PC with IP address 192.168.1.1 and the
other PC with IP address 192.168.1.2. Use labels to indicate connecting media and any necessary
network devices.

b. A simple network like the one you designed can use a hub or switch as a central connecting device,
or the PCs may be directly connected. Which kind of cable is required for a direct Ethernet connection
between the two PCs? _________________________________________________________

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CCNA Discovery
Networking for Home and Small Businesses

Step 2: Document the PCs

a. Check the computer name settings for each PC and make adjustments as necessary. For each PC,
select Start and Control Panel. Double-click the System icon, then click the Computer Name tab.
Write down the computer name that is displayed following Full computer name:

PC1 Name:

PC2 Name:

b. Check to see if the two PCs have the same name. If they do, change the name of one PC by clicking
the Change button, typing a new name in the Computer name field, then clicking OK.
c. Click OK to close the System Properties window.
d. Why is it important that each PC on a network have a unique name?
____________________________________________________________________________

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CCNA Discovery
Networking for Home and Small Businesses

Step 3: Connect the Ethernet cable

a. Use the Ethernet crossover cable provided by the instructor. Plug one end of the cable into the
Ethernet NIC of PC1.
b. Plug the other end of the cable into the Ethernet NIC of PC2. As you insert the cable, you should
hear a click which indicates that the cable connector is properly inserted into the port.

Step 4: Verify physical connectivity

a. After the Ethernet crossover cable is connected to both PCs, take a close look at each Ethernet port.
A light (usually green or amber) indicates that physical connectivity has been established between the
two NICs. Try unplugging the cable from one PC then reconnecting it to verify that the light goes off
then back on.
b. Go to the Control Panel, double click the Network Connections icon, and confirm that the local
area connection is established. The following figure shows an active local area connection. If physical
connectivity problems exist, you will see a red X over the Local Area Connection icon with the words
Network cable unplugged.

c. If the Local Area Connection does not indicate that it is connected, troubleshoot by repeating Steps 3
and 4. You may also want to ask your instructor to confirm that you are using an Ethernet crossover
cable.

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CCNA Discovery
Networking for Home and Small Businesses

Step 5: Configure IP settings

a. Configure the logical addresses for the two PCs so that they are able to communicate using TCP/IP.
On one of the PCs, go to the Control Panel, double click the Network Connections icon, and then
right click the connected Local Area Connection icon. Choose Properties from the pull-down menu.
b. Using the scroll bar in the Local Area Connection Properties window, scroll down to highlight
Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). Click the Properties button.

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CCNA Discovery
Networking for Home and Small Businesses

c. Select the Use the following IP address radio button and enter the following information:

IP Address 192.168.1.1

Subnet Mask 255.255.255.0

d. Click OK, which will close the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties window. Click the Close button
to exit the Local Area Connection Properties window.
e. Repeat steps 5a – 5d for the second PC using the following information:

IP Address 192.168.1.2

Subnet Mask 255.255.255.0

Step 6: Verify IP connectivity between the two PCs

NOTE: To test TCP/IP connectivity between the PCs, Windows Firewall must be disabled temporarily on both
PCs. Windows Firewall should be re-enabled after the tests have been completed.
a. On PC1, on the Windows XP desktop, click Start. From the Start menu, select Control Panel, and
double-click Network Connections.
b. Right-click the Local Area Connection icon and select Properties. Click the Advanced tab. Locate
and click the Settings button.

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CCNA Discovery
Networking for Home and Small Businesses

c. Make a note of whether the firewall settings are ENABLED (ON) for the Ethernet port or DISABLED
(OFF) for the Ethernet port. ____________________________________________________
d. If the firewall settings are enabled, click the Off (not recommended) radio button to disable the
firewall. The setting will be re-enabled in a later step. Click OK in this dialog box and the following to
apply this setting.
e. Now that the two PCs are physically connected and configured correctly with IP addresses, we need
to make sure they communicate with each other. The ping command is a simple way to accomplish
this task. The ping command is included with the Windows XP operating system.
f. On PC1, go to Start, then Run. Type cmd, and then click OK. A Windows command prompt window
will appear as shown in the figure below.
g. At the > prompt, type ping 192.168.1.2 and press Enter. A successful ping will verify the IP
connectivity. It should produce results similar to those shown in here.

h. Repeat Steps 6a-6c on the second PC. The second PC will ping 192.168.1.1.
i. Close the Windows command prompt window on both PCs.

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CCNA Discovery
Networking for Home and Small Businesses

Step 7: Verify connectivity using My Network Places

a. A PC can share its resources with other PCs on the network. PCs with shared resources should be
visible through My Network Places. On PC1, go to Start, click My Network Places, and then click
View workgroup computers in the left panel.

b. Do you see an icon for the other PC in your peer-to-peer network? _______________________
c. What is the name of the other PC? ________________________________________________
d. Is it the same name you recorded in Step 2? _________________________________________
e. Perform Step 7a on the second PC.
f. Close any open windows.

Step 8: (Optional – Use only if the Firewall was originally ENABLED) Re-enable the firewall
a. If you disabled the Windows Firewall in Step 6, click Start, select Control Panel, and open the
Network Connections control panel.
b. Right-click the Ethernet network connection icon and select Properties. Click the Advanced tab.
Locate and click Settings.
c. If the firewall settings are disabled (and they were enabled before this lab began), click the On radio
button to enable the firewall. Click OK in this dialog box and the following one to apply this setting.

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