Android on local network. Local network on Android
If users think about distributing the Internet via Wi-Fi for their Android phone/tablet first of all, then after a while there is a desire to transfer their files to a computer via the same Wi-Fi. This approach will allow you to get several advantages - quick access to remote media (including playback of audio/video files), and... there is no need to use a Bluetooth or USB cable!
In this guide I will describe how to implement:
1) Connecting a mobile device to the hard drives of a Windows PC;
2) General principles of creating a home local network (LAN).
Connecting an Android device to LAN
So, here's what we need (standard set):
- Mobile device (in my case, an Asus Nexus tablet);
- Android application ES Explorer;
- The computer whose hard drives we will connect to;
- A router to which a computer and an Android device are connected;
It is assumed that your mobile device is already connected to the router via Wi-Fi, since this topic deserves a separate discussion, we will not consider it in this article.
Setting up a local network
Usually, when connecting through a router, there are no problems, everything happens automatically, dynamic IP addresses for devices are issued. But it is important that all your computers are in the same workgroup. How to do it?
Go to “Control Panel > System”, look for the section “Computer name, domain name, workgroup name” and click “Change settings” and “Change” again.
In the "Work group" field write "WORKGROUP". Then click “OK” and reboot the PC.
Go to "Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center" and share the folders.
If for some reason we receive an error about the RPC server being unavailable, then go to “Management (right-click on the “My Computer” icon) > Services and Applications” and start the services:
- Remote procedure call (RPC);
- Server;
- DCOM server process launcher;
We try to detect our PCs in EN Explorer, if unsuccessful again, move on to the next section.
Setting up IP addresses
If it is difficult to connect devices on a local network, it is recommended to register the IP addresses of devices manually. The task is tedious, but not difficult :)
1. On your computer, go to “Control Panel > Network and Internet > change the view to “Large icons” in the upper right corner > Network and Sharing Center > Change adapter settings.”
We select our connection, my laptop is connected to the router via an Ethernet cable (“Local Area Connection”), so I’m setting it up. You can configure “Wireless connection” in the same way.
2. To simplify your task, right-click on the icon of our connection and select “Status”, in the window that opens, click the “Details” button.
We are interested in the current IP address of the computer and the main gateway. We will need them in the next step. Leave this window open for now.
3. Again, right-click on “Local Area Connection” (step 2). Select "Properties" from the list. And go to the properties "Internet Protocol Version IP (TCP/IPv4)".
The principle of creating a local network in any version of Windows (XP, 7, 8, 10) is practically nothing is not different. Exceptions are complex multi-level corporate networks, where several subnets, proxy servers and VPNs are used.
But in this article we will look at how to create home network without resorting to purchasing expensive equipment, but using a regular switch or router with Wi-Fi support.
What is needed to create a network
First of all, to create a local network of a certain number of computers, we need equipment:
note: if a direct connection is used (i.e. we insert a twisted pair cable into both devices without using a router), then you will need not a standard cable, but cross— over, except when modern network cards with MDI-X support are installed. In this case, you can use the standard crimping method.
How to create a local network
Now let's proceed directly to creation. First we need to prepare:
- Install all equipment in its place - computers, routers, etc.
- We crimp cable, if necessary.
- Let's do wiring, i.e. we extend the twisted pair to the equipment.
- Connecting twisted pair equipment.
Costs note, that when the connection is made and all devices are started, the connection connectors on the computers should shine. The same applies to routers with routers, only they have light bulbs located on front panel. If any light is not lit, then the connection has been made. wrong.
When the connection is made, you need to configure the network in the operating system.
To start checking working group, for which we go to properties " My computer" You don’t have to open the properties, but use the combination Win+
R and enter in the window sysdm.
cpl.
On all devices working group must be is the same, otherwise the computers will not see each other.
To change the group, just click on the button change and enter the group name. Name must be entered Latin alphabet, and match on all devices. 
Then we look for network icon in the notification area and with its help we get to Network and Sharing Center.
Here we are interested in the link change additional parameters, it's third from the left and will allow you to edit sharing settings. In each profile we select: Enable network discovery, auto-tuning And general access to files and printers. 
Scrolling page and below turn off shared access with password protection. All other settings can be left. Click Save changes and exit.
This completes the setup. The network should work, but only if your router distributes dynamic addresses.
If you used a router, or the devices were connected directly with a cable, then you need to make a few more settings.
Network settings
When direct connection or using a router, we need change IP addresses of computers. For this necessary:
We will not describe what each setting is responsible for, because... This is quite a large topic. It is enough to enter the addresses described above on all computers.
After making all the above settings, the network should work. However, do not forget that a firewall or antivirus software can completely block the network. Therefore, if nothing works, check their settings or temporarily disable them altogether.
Local network via WiFi router
Setting up a network through a router is absolutely nothing is not different from what we described above.
If the device is configured to distribute dynamic addresses, then there is no need to change the addresses. Well, what if IP users static, then you will have to use the previous section.
Also, there will be no difference between whether the device is connected by cable or via Wi-Fi; in most routers, the settings for distributing addresses are configured simultaneously and wireless and on wired connection.
How to make shared folders
After everything is configured, you need to create shared folders for information exchange.
However, this is not enough yet. Now on the folder properties window you need to find the bookmark safety. And then press successively Change – Add.
If you often transfer files from your Android smartphone or tablet to your computer, and vice versa, then you most likely do this via a USB cable. Today I will talk about a way in which you can transfer files (photo, video, music) to the phone from the computer (and vice versa) via a Wi-Fi network, through a router.
We will have full access to files on a smartphone or tablet and will be able to copy, delete, and create new files, just like when connecting to a computer via cable. Only in our case, we will connect over the air, without wires. And the connection will be configured via FTP.
All you need is an Android mobile device, a computer or laptop, and a router. The computer and phone must be connected to the same router. We connect Android via Wi-Fi network, this is understandable, and the computer can be connected either via cable (LAN) or via Wi-Fi.
On your phone or tablet, we will launch an FTP server using the ES Explorer program (this is done in a few clicks), and on the computer we will connect to the FTP server, which we will launch on Android. And that’s it, you can transfer files. Please note that you will not have access to files that are located on your computer. And there will be access only to files on the mobile device, as to a storage device. If you want to access files on your computer, you need to set up a local network. There is some information in the article.
Setting up an FTP connection between an Android device and Windows
Before moving on to the setup, you need to decide whether you want to establish such a connection only occasionally, and after each disconnection and connection of your smartphone to the router, enter a new address on your computer, or you will often use an FTP connection and want to create a connection to your device on your computer. Then you can simply launch the server on your mobile device and immediately view the files on your computer.
If you want to create an FTP connection to your Android device on your computer, and not enter the address each time, then you must reserve a static IP address for your phone (tablet) in the settings of your router. So that the router for your device always gives the same IP.
This is done differently on different routers. I will definitely prepare separate instructions for different routers later. Here, for example:
Go to the router settings, and on the main page click on the “Clients” tab
Next, click on the device for which you want to reserve an address, set the switch opposite “MAC and IP address Binding” to the “ON” position, and click the “Apply” button. Everything is ready, now our phone, in my case Lenovo, will always receive the address 192.168.1.178.
Launching an FTP server on Android using the ES Explorer program
Perhaps there are other programs for these tasks, but I didn’t even bother checking. Everything works fine through ES Explorer. And in general, I think this file manager is the best for Android.
If you do not yet have ES Explorer installed, install it through the Google Play Store. You can install directly from your device. Here, I’ll give you another link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.estrongs.android.pop&hl=ru.
Update: The ES Explorer app is no longer available on Google Play. You need to search for and download it from third-party sites as an .apk file. But at your own peril and risk.
Next, launch ES Explorer. Open the menu (swipe from left to right), and select "Remote access". Under "Status" there should be the name of your Wi-Fi network. Click on the button "Turn on".
The address that we will now enter on the computer will appear.
This completes the FTP setup on Android. If you click on the button in the form of a “gear”, the settings will open. There are not many of them, but they are useful. For example, you can prevent the server from shutting down after closing the program, you can configure the port, set the root folder, change the encoding. See more information on settings under the spoiler.
There is an account setup there. By default, an unsecured FTP server is created with anonymous access. If desired, you can specify a username and password, which you will then need to specify when connecting to your computer. But this is optional. And yet, there is an item “Create a shortcut”. After clicking on it, a shortcut will appear on the desktop with which you can launch the FTP server with one click.
Let's move on to the settings on the computer.
Connect from your computer to your phone or tablet via Wi-Fi
I tested the connection from a laptop on Windows 7 and Windows 10. If you have Windows 8, everything will work the same. The laptop easily opened the FTP server that was running on the smartphone, and I had full access to the files and could manage them.
Everything is simple here. Open Explorer on your computer, or go to “My Computer”, “This Computer” (in Windows 10), and in the address bar enter the address that appeared in the “ES Explorer” program on your mobile device. Mine is "ftp://192.168.1.221:3721/". You will most likely have a different address.
Look carefully and enter without errors. When entered, press Enter. You will remove all files on your mobile device. In Windows 10 everything is exactly the same.
Now you can manage files: copy them from your phone to your computer, and vice versa. Delete, move, create folders, etc.
But, if you close the Explorer window, you will need to enter the address again, which is not very convenient. Therefore, you can create a connection to an FTP server in Windows. After this, a folder on your device will appear, opening which you will immediately have access to the files. Provided that the server on the phone is turned on.
You can establish a connection to FTP using a standard Windows tool. If for some reason the standard tool does not suit you, then you can use third-party programs, for example the "FileZilla" client.
Create a permanent folder with an FTP connection to your smartphone
Note! This method will only work if you have reserved a static IP address for your mobile device in the router settings.
Go to Explorer ("My Computer"), and click on "Map network drive".
On Windows 10, this step looks a little different:
Another window will open in which we click “Next”. In the next window, double-click on “Select a different network location.”
An account setup window will appear. If you did not specify a username and password in the ES Explorer program, then leave a checkmark next to “Anonymous login” and click “Next”. And if you specified connection information, then indicate it.
In the next window you need to specify a name for the network connection. I wrote something like "My Lenovo". You can enter any name and click "Next". In the last window, click on the “Finish” button.
A folder with files located on your Android device will immediately open. A shortcut to this folder will always be in Explorer. And the files in this folder will always be available when the FTP server is enabled on the mobile device (remote access).
When you want to upload a song to your phone, or look at a photo, you just need to enable “Remote Access” on your mobile device and go to the folder we created.
Is it possible to connect a laptop to a phone via Wi-Fi, but without a router?
Yes, you can. If you don't have a router and want to transfer files between your Android mobile device and your laptop wirelessly, then everything can be set up a little differently. Or rather, the settings will be exactly the same, you just need to organize the connection differently.
If it is not possible to connect through a router, then you need to organize a direct connection between the laptop and the mobile device. To do this, just start distributing the Wi-Fi network on your phone. It seems to me that every smartphone can do this. This function is called differently. Something like "Access Point".
Launching an access point on a smartphone (you don’t even have to turn on the mobile Internet so that the laptop doesn’t eat up all the traffic), and connect our laptop to this access point. Continue according to the standard scheme that I described above. Everything works, I checked it.
Afterword
If you don't often connect to your mobile device to share files, you can, of course, use a USB cable. But, if you often need to copy something, then the method described above definitely deserves attention. We click on the icon on the mobile device, and on the computer we immediately get access to the files. It's convenient.
How do you use this connection? What pros and cons do you see? Share your experience in the comments, and of course ask questions.
Today we will talk about a seemingly very banal topic, namely the local network.
The local network, LAN(slang. local; English Local Area Network (LAN) is a computer network covering a relatively small area or group of buildings (home, office, company, institute).
Ask: “What is the connection between LAN and smartphones?” Everything is very simple. When I bought my first Android smartphone (HTC Wildfire), I was very interested in how this “smart guy” was able to tightly “communicate” with computers without the help of a synchronization cable, using only the Wi-Fi module.
Having studied it inside and out, I noticed that the firmware was not suitable for a network environment. Only later versions of Android introduced DLNA.
D digital L iving N etwork A lliance is a standard that allows compatible devices to transmit and receive various media content (images, music, videos) over the home network, as well as display it in real time.
But I wanted to transfer not only music, but also documents and other files. And many thanks to the third-party developers who came up with a cool program for Android that helped me turn my wish into reality, “This program combines a file manager with its own archiver, multimedia support and so on and so forth. But her trick lies elsewhere. Using ES Explorer, it is very simple and convenient to share files over the network and with cloud services (Google Drive, Sky Drive, Drop Box, etc.).
So, we will need a computer (OS - Windows, Linux, possibly OS X), a smartphone (Android OS) and a shared Wi-Fi point (router).
Download the application from Google Play (it is free) and install it on your smartphone.
At the top you see three bookmarks. By default there are four of them, but I removed one (FTP) because I don’t use this protocol. Let's talk about the LAN and “Network” bookmarks. Let's start with LAN.
When you click on the bookmark, you see the following picture:
Here I added the computers that I use. To do this, you need to click on the second button from the right (with a plus sign), and then a window will appear in which you will be asked to create a server or scan your network environment. Let me note right away that the scanning process can be lengthy and not always effective. So select the “Server” item.
Here you are asked to specify a domain name (if you have a DNS server), server IP address (for example 192.168.0.100), login and password (if your computer requires it), check the “Anonymous” checkbox (more on that later) and, in fact, enter the name of the connection (the name that will be displayed on your smartphone; it can be anything, for example, “Home computer”).
If you check the Anonymous checkbox, it will look like this:
All you have to do is enter the computer's IP address and connection name, which is enough to exchange documents between your smartphone and PC. Now you need to share folders or drives on your computer.
The smartphone and PC must be on the same Wi-Fi network
Now take your smartphone and go to your computer, select a folder or file, and press the icon.
Now select an action (for example, copy or cut) and go to the PDA tab.
Select the folder where you want to paste the file, and voila, it’s on your phone.
The same can be done with cloud servers. Select the “Network” tab.
We add a server in the same way as we added a computer, only here you will have to enter the credentials of your account in the cloud service.
After adding cloud servers, you can do the same file sharing activities as you would with a PC. You can also exchange directly between the cloud and a PC using a smartphone (without downloading information to it).
If, unlike me, you use an FTP server somewhere, then know that adding and setting up are similar. The only thing is to check the correctness of the port, login and password (if required). It is much more interesting to get through a browser to a smartphone using FTP. To do this, you need to go to the ES Explorer settings.
Select remote access settings (Root rights are not needed).
And we set everything up: select the port (any port is possible, but let it stand as it is) and the root folder (the folder into which the first login will be made). Next, we set up accounts (this is if you want to limit access to your smartphone), then set up the encoding (if the browser shows hieroglyphs), and quickly launch the FTP server (creates a shortcut on the smartphone’s desktop). To get to your smartphone from a computer, you need to type ftp://192.168.0.102:3721 in your browser (just enter the IP address of your phone, it is listed in the “Remote access” section).
P.S. And advice to students. If you have a Wi-Fi network deployed at your university, buy yourself a Wi-Fi adapter. This will greatly simplify the task of copying information.
If you find an error, please highlight a piece of text and click Ctrl+Enter.
We expand the possibilities of data exchange between a home computer and a device on the Android platform using a file manager. While preparing the material “File Manager for Android” I came across a cool function for connecting Android to the Windows local network. So, let's look at an example of how to do this.
Given: Wi-Fi access point, a computer with a Windows operating system (in my case it’s Windows 7), an Android gadget with an installed file manager that has a SAMBA server function (I have ES File Explorer).
Step one: create a new user on the computer
This is not a mandatory step, you can use the data of already created users, but I decided to make a new one, specifically for authorization through my Android phone.
To create a new user, go to: Start – control panel – adding and deleting accounts.
Everything is simple here, the only thing is to create an account with normal access. Then be sure to create a password in your account settings.
Step two: create a shared folder on your computer
It doesn’t have to be a folder, you can connect an entire partition, for example drive C. Right-click on the document or folder to which we want to open access, go to the “Access” tab and click “Sharing”. In the drop-down menu, select the username you created in the previous step, and do not forget to set the permission level to read and write.
The general section to which we will connect from the Android system has been created.
Step three: create a server in the file manager
Launch ES File Explorer and go to the LAN tab. Press the “Menu” hardware key, then “Create” in the dialog box and click “Server”.
There are a lot of incomprehensible settings here, but if you look at them, there is nothing wrong with them.
Now let's talk about everything in order:
Domain: leave empty
Address: here we enter the IP of our computer (this parameter can be found by writing the ipconfig command in the Windows console; how to get into the console can be seen in the screenshots below)
Login: account name from step one
Password: account password from the first step
Name: leave it blank, or come up with any name for our server
After you have entered all the data, click “OK”. Congratulations! The server has been created, now we can access the computer directly from our phone (or tablet).
This is how easy it is to set up a network between Windows and Android :) If you have any questions, ask in the comments, I will definitely answer.
UPD: It is not always necessary to use a network to exchange data; it is often necessary to play some media files from a computer; for this purpose, .