A network is an elaborate attempt to fool your computer. A well-fooled network computer thinks that every other computer and printer is attached to it just like its own hard drive. There are so many types of networks on the market that it would take almost a year to write about all of them. So I will stick to the most common network, called Ethernet, which uses cabling similar to conventional telephone wire. When buying a hub, look for one with more ports than you have computers, to allow for later expansion.
Hubs are common networking components and can be purchased from almost any computer dealer.
Next, you need to buy network cards. For a small network, ask your supplier for 10 megabit per second cards. Go for recognised brand names such as 3Com, Intel or SMC, or at least one with a lifetime warranty. Recognised products ensure hassle-free installation and usually come with easy instructions. Buy cheap products and you may find yourself with manuals in a foreign language.