Optional Activity -- LAN Party - Boy Scouts Troop 11

This activity provides an introduction to the field of computer networking.

The party site must have a UTP ethernet switch or hub with plenty of free ports and lots of ethernet patch cables of various lengths.

Several scouts each bring a computer to the party.

Each computer must have a network card with an RJ45 ethernet connector. (Have a spare network card or two on hand; if all computers don't have acceptable network cards, you can install one of your spares.)
Wire the physical network.
Plan an IP address space for the network (a subnet and net mask for the network, a unique IP address for each computer, and a name resolution mechanism.)
Implement the IP address plan on each computer.
Verify the network using IP utilities (ping).
Run a multi-player game.