Network Know-How: An Essential Guide for the Accidental Admin

by John Ross

Overview

Are the machines in your office living isolated lives? Do you have a few computers at home that you want to connect to each other and the Internet? The best way to share files on a group of computers is to create a network. But how do you do that?

Network Know-How is your guide to connecting your machines, filled with practical advice that will show you how to get things done. You'll learn the nitty-gritty of network setup, design, and maintenance, from running cables and placing wireless access points to configuring file sharing and printing. This practical and comprehensive guide will teach you how to implement security, create intranets, and more. You'll learn how to:
–Connect Windows, Macintosh, and Linux computers
–Implement network addressing
–Configure your network adapters, hubs, switches, and router
–Share music, photos, and documents
–Automate household appliances and stream digital audio and video to your home entertainment center
–Troubleshoot network slowdowns and failures

No matter which operating system you use, and even if you’ve never installed or run a network before, you’ll get what you need to know in Network Know-How.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781593272302
Publisher:	No Starch Press
Publication date:	02/15/2009
Sold by:	Penguin Random House Publisher Services
Format:	eBook
Pages:	288
File size:	5 MB

About the Author

John Ross has worked as a consultant on wired and wireless networking for several manufacturers, including Motorola and AT&T. He is the author of more than two dozen books, including Internet Power Tools (Random House), Connecting with Windows (Sybex), Wiring Home Networks (Sunset Books), and The Book of Wireless (No Starch Press).

Table of Contents

Dedication;
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS;
INTRODUCTION;
Chapter 1: HOW A NETWORK WILL IMPROVE YOUR LIFE;
1.1 What's a Network?;
1.2 Sneakernet;
1.3 Data Networks and What You Can Do with Them;
Chapter 2: TYPES OF NETWORK CONNECTIONS;
2.1 Packets and Headers;
2.2 Ethernet;
2.3 Wi-Fi;
2.4 Powerline Networks;
2.5 Other Alternative Wiring Methods;
2.6 DTE and DCE Equipment;
2.7 Point-to-Point Networks;
2.8 Connections Through a Telephone Line;
2.9 Remote Terminals;
2.10 Clients and Servers;
Chapter 3: HUBS, SWITCHES, AND ROUTERS;
3.1 Hubs and Switches;
3.2 LANs and WANs;
3.3 Bridges and Routers;
3.4 Combination Boxes;
Chapter 4: HOW COMPUTER NETWORKS ARE ORGANIZED;
4.1 TCP/IP Networks;
4.2 Network Tools;
Chapter 5: DESIGNING YOUR NETWORK;
5.1 Identifying Current and Future Nodes;
5.2 The Control Center;
5.3 What About Wi-Fi?;
Chapter 6: INSTALLING THE NETWORK CONTROL CENTER AND ETHERNET CABLES;
6.1 Connectors, Wall Plates, and Surface Boxes;
6.2 Ethernet Cable;
6.3 Pushing Cable Through Walls;
6.4 The Control Center;
6.5 Tabletop Control Centers for Small Networks;
Chapter 7: ETHERNET NETWORK INTERFACES;
7.1 Built into the Motherboard;
7.2 Adding a Network Interface to an Old Computer;
7.3 Status Lights on Network Adapters;
Chapter 8: WI-FI NETWORKS;
8.1 Types of Wi-Fi Networks;
8.2 Operating Channels;
8.3 Access Points;
8.4 Network Interface Adapters;
8.5 Wi-Fi Control Programs;
8.6 Hybrid (Wired-Wireless) Networks;
8.7 Wi-Fi Security;
Chapter 9: FILE SERVERS;
9.1 Choosing a Computer to Use as a File Server;
9.2 Windows, Mac, Linux, or . . . ?;
9.3 Using a Server for File Storage;
9.4 Using Network-Attached Storage;
9.5 Backing Up Files to a Server;
9.6 Using a Server at Home;
Chapter 10: CONNECTING YOUR NETWORK TO THE INTERNET;
10.1 The Internet: From the Cloud to You;
10.2 Configuring the Network Gateway;
10.3 Summary;
Chapter 11: CONNECTING YOUR COMPUTER TO A NETWORK;
11.1 Connecting Your Windows Computer to a Network;
11.2 Connecting Your Macintosh Computer to a Network;
11.3 Connecting Your Linux or Unix Computer to a Network;
11.4 Summary;
Chapter 12: SHARING FILES THROUGH YOUR NETWORK;
12.1 File Sharing in Windows XP;
12.2 File Sharing in Windows Vista;
12.3 File Sharing on a Macintosh;
12.4 File Sharing in Linux and Unix;
12.5 Using Shares;
Chapter 13: NETWORK SECURITY;
13.1 Keeping Intruders Out;
13.2 Virtual Private Networks;
13.3 Wireless Security;
13.4 Physical Security;
13.5 Windows Update and Patches;
13.6 Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer;
13.7 Controlling Your Own Users;
13.8 Denial of Service Attacks;
13.9 Conclusion;
Chapter 14: PRINTERS AND OTHER DEVICES ON YOUR NETWORK;
14.1 How to Connect a Printer to Your Network;
14.2 CUPS: The Common Unix Printing System;
14.3 All-in-One Devices;
Chapter 15: OTHER THINGS YOU CAN CONNECT TO YOUR NETWORK;
15.1 Using a Microphone and Camera with Your Network;
15.2 Home Entertainment Networks;
15.3 Music Through a Home Network;
15.4 Video Through a Home Network;
15.5 Game Consoles;
15.6 Connecting Home Appliances to Your Network;
15.7 Home Automation;
15.8 Remote Sensors and Controls;
15.9 Bar Code Readers and Remote Data Entry;
15.10 If You Can Convert It to Digits, You Can Put It on the Network;
Chapter 16: OTHER NETWORK APPLICATIONS;
16.1 Remote Desktop;
16.2 MaxiVista: Adding a Screen;
16.3 Synchronizing Files;
16.4 Instant Messaging and Live Communication;
Chapter 17: TROUBLESHOOTING;
17.1 General Troubleshooting Techniques;
17.2 Viruses and Other Nasties;
17.3 Other Common Problems;
17.4 An Alternate Connection to the Internet;
17.5 The Collective Wisdom of the Internet;
17.6 Software for Troubleshooting;
17.7 ISP Problems;
17.8 Don't Panic;
COLOPHON;
UPDATES;