Feature: Set up the ultimate home network

For example, a broadband router can share your internet connection wirelessly or via cables for around £50, while a £60 device such as the Linksys NSLU2 lets you connect two USB hard drives and make them available to the network.

If you already use an external drive, just add the Linksys box, and you have an instant file server, accessible from all your computers.

Perhaps you have an old PC that struggles with the latest applications; there’s a good chance it’ll still have enough horsepower to run Linux, and it can be pressed into service as a file server, or even an email server.

Unless you have a very tight budget, it really is worth building your network with servers in mind.

But should it be wired, or wireless? A wired Ethernet network has the advantage of being secure, and most modern PCs will work at 100Mbits/sec.

Many even offer Gigabit speeds, making it a breeze to deal with multimedia files, or even stream video.

And in some environments, such as buildings with lots of steel or thick walls, wireless might not work very well, leaving you no option.

But you’ll need a cable connecting each device on the network back to a hub, switch or router (note that most domestic broadband routers are routers combined with a switch, usually up to four ports).

If you don’t want to spend ages installing Ethernet cables, a wireless network may seem very attractive, but remember that you need to make sure it’s secure or you could be giving a free ride to your neighbours.

And while the headline speeds of the latest Wifi gear may look impressive, remember that in real use, you’re likely to see less than half that.

Performance can be even worse if there are lots of networks in the area, or if you have thick walls.

Remember too that, while some products may boast speeds of double the standard 11 or 54Mbits/sec, they usually only achieve anything like that when used with other devices from the same manufacturer.

So if the wireless card in your laptop is from someone else, you could be wasting money buying a double-speed access point.

Wireless and cabled Ethernet aren’t the only options, however.

Homeplug uses your electrical cabling to pass network data, with maximum speeds just a little slower than Ethernet, though with prices for a two-station starter kit not far short of £100, it’s more expensive than other options.

But it does avoid cables, works faster than wireless and some adapters will even let you use the electricity cables to extend the range of USB devices.

If the distances involved are short, remember that other technologies, such as Bluetooth, can be used to link computers, printers and other devices as well, which may be an option if you just want to link devices from time to time.

Bluetooth can be added to a desktop or laptop computer with a £15 USB dongle.

Of course, there’s nothing to say that a network can only work in one way, either. You can mix and match as well.

For example, use Ethernet for the computer in your home office, connected to a file server and broadband router, with most of the equipment in one place.

Then add Homeplug or Wifi to extend it to cover other parts of your home. You can even use two wireless access points as a bridge, giving you better mobile coverage and effectively joining two wired networks together.

The configurations are limited only by your imagination and, of course, your budget.