Brilliant Home And Wireless Networking

Description

What you need to know and how to do it

Brilliant guides allow you to find the information that you need easily and without fuss. Using a highly visual, step-by-step approach, Brilliant books will solve your technology problems and guide you through essential tasks, providing you with exactly what you need to know, just when you really need it.

Spend less time reading and more time doing with a visual step-by-step approach to

Brilliant Home andWireless Networks provides the quick, easy-to-access information that you need...

* Accessible full colour design throughout
* Practical tasks presented on one or two pages
* Numbered steps guide you through each task or problem
* Numerous screenshots illustrate each step
* See Also ... boxes point you to related tasks and information in the book
* Did you know?... sections alert you to relevant expert tips, tricks and advice
* Troubleshooting guide to help you sort out most common problems and queries

Brilliant Home and Wireless Networks will help you to make the most of yourhome computersby networking them together and sharing their resources. It will show you how to

* Understand common network configurations and decide which is the right one for you.
* Get your PCs connected to the Internet and to each other.
* Optimise your use of a wired or wireless home network and to make it a more integral and essential part of your life.
* Understand and choose from the vast array of software and peripheral hardware available to you, allowing you to make the right choices for how you want to work
* Keep your network secure from hackers, viruses and other threats.

About the Author

Greg Holden is an experienced technical consultant and author who has written nearly 40 books, many of which have to do with configuring and securing computer networks, including Guide to Firewalls and Network Security and Internet Security in Easy Steps. Prior to becoming a full-time writer, he helped set up and maintain a network for the University of Chicago.

CONTENTS:

Contents

1. Getting started with wireless networks

Viewing your network

Discover components of a home network

Viewing your network connection

Understanding key concepts and terms

Changing your workgroup name

Network standards: what the numbers mean

Blueprinting your network, options 1: wired Ethernet

Blueprinting your network, options 2: wireless

Blueprinting your network, options 3: hybrid

Blueprinting your network, options 4: direct

Blueprinting your network, options 5: phone line/hybrid

Blueprinting your network, options 6: powerline/hybrid

2. Networking options

Task: Create a client-server network, option 1: repurpose an old PC

Peer-to-peer networks

Set up a shared network folder

Task: Create a client-server network, option 2: use a hard disk

Task: Choosing your network type: wired or wireless?

Create an ad-hoc network

Inventory of hardware and software you need

Enable DHCP

3. Improving your Internet connection

Test your current Internet connection speed

Research your Internet service provider

Optimising packet size and other parameters

Choose a better Internet access option

Reset your broadband modem

Check your distance to your local exchange

Troubleshoot a broken connection

Get a better broadband modem

4. Getting the equipment you need

Identifying the network cards you already have

Enabling a network adapter

Reset your network adapter

Getting your home and computer network ready

Comparing routers, switches and hubs

Choosing the right router for your needs

Choosing a network interface card

Other networking hardware you may need

Naming your network computers

5. Configuring your Ethernet network

Letting Windows automatically configure your network

Connecting to the Internet

Creating a user account

Logging on and off

Designating a network location

Merging network locations

Setting up Internet connection sharing

Adjusting your IP address information

IP addresses, DNS servers and subnet masks

Directly connecting 2 computers

Connecting another computer to your network and workgroup

6. Installing Ethernet cable and other hardware

Build your own Ethernet cable

Run your networking cables

Understanding Ethernet cable: an either-or decision

Extending an Ethernet cable

Understanding unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cable

Understanding Power-over-Ethernet (PoE)

Bridge two long-range Ethernet devices

7. Using existing wiring

Set up a home power network

Build a bridge to your broadband connection

Encrypt your home power data connections

Test your home power network performance

Convert from old-style to new-style outlets

Pros and cons of structured wiring

Configure a HomePNA phone wiring network

Buy and install a network extender kit

8. Why go Wi-Fi?

Determine the goals of your wireless network

Project the number of devices you want to network

Position your router and networked devices

Wi-Fi protocols

What's a MAC address?

Features to look for in wireless network hardware

9. Getting what you need to go wireless

Choosing a wireless-enabled laptop

Purchasing an external wireless network adapter

Purchasing an external antenna

Improving your laptop's wireless performance

Buying a Wi-Fi phone

Buying a Wi-Fi PDA

Buying a Wi-Fi radio

Adding Wi-Fi to your desktop PC

Buying a wireless router/access point

10. Setting up your wireless network

Make sure your network is up and running

Collect your ISP's network data

Find your network card's physical address

Install and configure your router

Automatically configuring your router/access point

Changing your router's password

Changing your IP address information

Changing your router's MAC address

Changing the SSID and basic wireless settings

Filtering access by MAC address

Dos and don'ts when naming your network

The techy stuff: advanced wireless settings

What's in a wireless channel?

11. Going Bluetooth

What's a personal area network (PAN)?

What's a Bluetooth 'slave' and what's a 'master' device?

Connect your Bluetooth phone to your home network

Send a file to your Bluetooth device

Receive a file from your Bluetooth device

Share your home Internet connection with your phone/PDA

Copy files to your Bluetooth phone or PDA

12. Securing your home network

What are the dangers?

Choosing wireless network passwords

Choosing a wireless security method

Assign your network a password and security method

Disable ad-hoc network connections

Securing your network with Windows Firewall

Enabling your firewall on your router

Running a firewall/anti-virus program

Setting access restrictions for your housemates

Setting up a DMZ

Setting application and gaming restrictions

13. Setting up file sharing

Making sure File and Print Sharing is turned on

Fine-tuning file sharing settings

Setting up a shared folder

Creating user accounts and passwords

Understanding accounts and permissions

Sharing a password-protected resource

Setting Advanced Sharing options

Pros and cons of File and Print Sharing

Adjusting the caching of shared resources

Assign multiple sharing policies to the same resource

Locating your other computers

Enabling Network Discovery

Directly accessing a shared resource on Windows XP

Sharing a network drive

14. Communicating across the network

Sharing a printer

Verifying a shared printer's name

Adding a shared printer

Printing remote files on your local printer

Gaming across your network: get the hardware you need

Using a wireless gaming adapter

Collaborating on documents with Google

Exchanging Google talk messages

Sending messages through Skype

15. If you can't connect to the network or other computers

Check your Internet connection

Check your computer hardware

Check your computer software

Renew and release your connection

Check your Powerline connection

Check Link-Layer Topology Discovery Mapper

Create a password reset disk

Retrieve a lost user account password

Restart your network connection

Re-enabling your wireless adapter

Use a command prompt window to ping other computers

Recycling your router and modem

16. Dealing with poor or intermittent connections

Relocating your wireless router

Problems with DSL and cable connections

Changing wireless channels

Buying a new antenna

Adding an access point

Adding a repeater

17. Other network connection problems

Clearing interference from cordless phones

Avoiding interference from other home appliances

Tracking interference from other networking equipment

Tracking problems outside your home

Tracking other environmental issues

Tracing firewall problems

Checking for spyware and viruses

If your network adapter won't connect

Disable firewalls when networking printers

Wireless network protocols

Network add-ons

Jargon buster

Trouble shooter