I'm taking all sorts of computer classes online and trying to learn as much as I can. I've been learning all the details about switches and routers and IP addresses, DNSP and subnet masks and default gateways. So my subnetmask allows for 255 clients on my home network, or maybe 254. My question is I don't know how to set this up at home where one computer or device can see and talk to each other, like at work. I want to set up my computers, devices and clients so that they can see and talk to each other on my LAN, on this side of the router. I hope I'm not confusing the terminology. Is there a way to see my android data (if it's turned on) on my windows 10, and vice versa, along with my printer and maybe my fire stick?
I know there are other ways sync files via the WWW, the WAN, but at least part for learning purposes, I'd like to be able to quickly set something up on my LAN.
Also out of curiosity- I pretty much only use the physical ethernet port on my 'router' for my home security console. The rest of my and my roommates devices use the wireless access point. Assuming I don't have that home security, would my switch even perform any function, does the WAP bypass the switch, and is it, itself like a switch or at least a hub?
I want to be able to take advantage of all the theory I'm learning by actually practice setting something I think very basic up and I can't find the simple instructions online. If you could point me to a good article that would be helpful. Also, I only want my devices to be able to connect- not my roommates. They don't even need to know this functionality exists. I assume that's easy with password authentication and so on. I assume this is not difficult to do.
When they teach us everything on these courses about networking, do they have the business environment in mind, primarily? Thanks for your help with my many questions!!