Oh hello, did not see you there, you scared the crap out of me. So, you want to know how to setup a LAN? Well you have to be more specific, this document will consist of the awesome efforts of me, Professor of Drunken sciences, Robert B. Lawrence. Welcome to How to setup a LAN! Together we will dive into the world of Lan parties and gaming; how to setup and hardwire a LAN, how it works, deals, what’s best, those sorts of things.

To begin, we will look at the dictionary’s definition of a LAN below:

-local area network
n : a local computer network for communication between computers; especially a network connecting computers and word processors and other electronic office equipment to create a communication system between offices [syn: LAN]

God I love computers. LAN stands for Local Area Network, locally setting up yours and your friend’s computers together through that of an object, which is called a ‘Hub’. We will look at the definition for that one as well:

-hub
<Networking> (By analogy with the hub of a wheel) a device
connected to several other devices. In ARC net, a hub is used to connect several computers
together.

Okay, we have LAN and a Hub, let us recap; LAN is Local Area Network and Hub is just well, Hub, it doesn't stand for much. The LAN is set up by taking an Ethernet cord, plugged into and leading from the broadband modem into the hub, then several other Ethernet cords plugged into the hub, leading from it to yours and your friend’s computers completing that of the LAN. This is where several computers all at once may experience an internet connection of high-speeds and see each other's computers in their Network settings allowing for fast and easy file sharing as well, but the point of the LAN is to be playing games amongst friends not the internet, though of course the option is there for those who LAN that have a clan in such games like Counter-Strike an whatnot.

That right there should pretty much tell you how it works, as for a few sites I'll give you the links here rather than having to search our website for them, but for future reference in that of the, 'Useful Links' section is where you should go for complete descriptions and all but first I plan to go about how you should plan one of these parties. First and foremost, for those of you whom still live under your parents roof, don't worry happens to the best of us. The best room for a Lan is a wide living room with barely any furniture, the bigger the dimensions you have to work with, the less of a problem heat will be, because you get a small room full of computers that generate heat it's bound to get somewhat uncomfortable and add on body heat, sweat, then the smell. Yeah, that tends to get very unpleasant very quickly. After you get your dimensions set, go out an get yourself a good hub, we got a decent eight port hub that does us fine and it doesn't hurt to have some friends with wireless laptop's either but this means you need some wireless equipment, which is more costly, but don't sweat it, that eight port hub will do fine for now.

After you've achieved the hub, settled the dimensions before hand, it's time to seek the rents and ask them. How should you go about doing this? Well, I asked mine and started off small, and everytime they went off for the weekend was always a keen opportunity for surpreme lannage. Wait though, you have to consider your friend's scheduals as well, some of them have girlfriends, if not, maybe they have jobs or even both. So, what does this mean? This means you need get some facts and permissions at least two weeks in advance to let your friends in on it. With that said, let's go over a checklist of supplies that you and your friends may need because if it's one thing we've ALL learned is that the parents are pleased when their money isn't spent, and when their groceries aren't used to feed everyone.

The Checklist!

Alright, first is the beverages. Bawls Guarana, and Mountain Dew should be on top of your list as they're the most caffeinated drinks and that's if you got money to spend as a 12-pack of Bawls will usually range between $15 and $18 dollars including sales tax, so Mountain Dew is cheaper, still highly caffeinated and gets the job done of keeping gamers alert and awake just as well, of course when used enough. I made an observation at the last Lan I went to, and that was a 24 pack and two 12 packs of Dew were bought and one can was left, seeing as one was left assume they were all used between the four friends and made the purchase of the Dew. That's fourty eight cans of Mountain Dew consumed between 8pm and 8am, that's 12 cans of Dew per person between a tweleve hour period, that's roughly one can of Mountain Dew per hour. I know, I know, why all the math. That's going to be helpful to you when you're deciding how many people are coming, if you know how many people are coming before hand, that have RSVP'd for sure then you know on the experience of fellow gamers that two twenty four packs should do four people good over a tweleve hour period.

Next is solid food, a resource of at least one major meal plus snacks. So what do I suggest? Why I suggest Domino's pizza you silly fucker. Domino's once had a deal, one large, one topping pizza, five dollars. Of course that deal was used to the extreme for a celebration of lan. Five dollars getting one person his own pizza plus another five concerning certain deals can get him his own 12 pack of Mountain Dew, so your friends are gonna spend about fifteen dollars but it's for a good cause or hell, you might be small and your friends too, a single large or even two could go a long way. Subs are good too if you're in to spending money, look around at deals first and then consider the prices and weigh your options, be a careful planner, it'll help keep you full, fit and awake for games during the party. Snack wise I'd suggest you go to the store and price check Dorito's, they're a good kind of chips, several different varities, and I don't know a single soul who doesn't like Dorito's and if people exist that do hate them they should be shot.

Coming to towards the end of the checklist have more to do with equipment than anything else. We got drinks an food covered and they're subject to review, but so far that's how this group likes it, you can do your own thing with coke and subs, or tea and pizza, the combos can be endless if there's enough deals out. The equipment checklist is easy, make sure everyone brings their own computer, their own monitor, own keyboard, own mouse, own mouse pad, own speaks, AND THEIR OWN ethernet cord. Yes, that one's a must and if you have a friend who can spare a few then God bless that guy or girl. Ethernet wires can get scarce at a lan party and sometimes get so mixed up and people will take someone else's cord home, so be sure you know what cord is your's at all times. Next is the hub, make sure the hub is functioning properly before hand so you can catch any grief or problems it might be giving you come time of the lan party. Headphones are good to have but not always an option for some and not even required.

So at the conclusion of this, I'll give you some tips. Feel your parents out when you're going to ask them to allow something like this, if they trust you and you don't have siblings spring on the opportunity when your parents may need to leave for the weekend. Don't argue with them, rather then provide them with facts and show them you have it planned. Promise to keep the noise down and stick to that promise, the less noise the happier the parents in the morning. Also promise to clean everything up because your friends will stay behind to help you, at least one of them will, I've had three lan's at my house and since we've cleared out our garage I'm hoping for another and so far my parents have yet to bitch about them. Well, I'm signing off, I hope this does you some good and happy gaming! ^-^