Home Networking For Dummies^«, 2nd Edition

by Kathy Ivens (Philadelphia, PA, author )

• ISBN13: 9780764542794
• ISBN10: 0764542796
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-01-01
• Publisher: For Dummies

Summary

A network is a system of two or more computers that are connected in some manner (you have lots of choices about the "manner"). Each computer on the network has access to the files and peripheral equipment (printers and modems) on all the other computers on the network. Using multiple computers is much easier if you have a network. You don2t have to remember which computer you were using when you started that letter to Uncle Harry because you can just reach across the network to finish it using any computer in the house. A home network allows you to do the work you have to do better and more efficiently. You can benefit from a network if you Use PCs that run either Windows 98 Second Edition, Windows Me, Windows 2000 Professional, or Windows XP Want to share computers on a network, whether they2re desktop computers or laptops Have more people in the household than computers, so more than one person may use any single computer Home Networking For Dummies isn2t a novel, so you don2t have to start at page one and read every chapter in order - you can2t spoil the ending. This book is meant to be digested on a subject-by-subject basis. Each chapter is self-contained, covering a specific subject. You2ll gain insight into: Planning and installing your home network Performing some software tasks to fine-tune your network Using your network to access or print files from other computers Keeping your network safe from viruses and intruders Preparing for disaster by keeping your computers healthy and making sure you don2t lose your data if a computer dies Creating a network is satisfying, fun, and incredibly useful. Have a good time. You2re on the cutting edge of computer technology. By reading this book, you prove that you are a networking nerd - and that2s a compliment.

Author Biography

Kathy Ivens has written more than 60 computer books and countless articles for Windows & .NET Magazine. She's an internationally syndicated columnist who has installed hundreds of corporate networks

Table of Contents

Introduction	1	(6)
Introduction	1	(6)
About This Book	1	(1)
Conventions Used in This Book	2	(1)
What You Don't Need to Read	2	(1)
Foolish Assumptions	2	(1)
How This Book Is Organized	3	(2)
Part I: Network Basics: The Hardware	3	(1)
Part II: Setting Up the Computers	3	(1)
Part III: Communicating Across the Network	4	(1)
Part IV: Network Security and Maintenance	4	(1)
Part V: The Part of Tens	5	(1)
Icons Used in This Book	5	(1)
Where to Go from Here	5	(2)
Part 1: Network Basics: The Hardware	7	(72)
Chapter 1: What's the Big Deal about Home Networking,Anyway	9	(20)
Why Would I Want a Home Network?	10	(1)
Network Operating Systems (Nothing to Do with Surgery)	11	(1)
Which Windows versions have Internet Connection Sharing?	12	(1)
What can I do if I don't have the right version for Internet Connection Sharing?	13	(1)
DSL and cable modem users don't have to care about Windows versions	13	(1)
Network Types - Just Like Personality Types	13	(1)
Client/server networks for control freaks	13	(2)
Peer-to-peer networks are more relaxed about controls	15	(1)
Mixed networks fit all types	16	(1)
The Nuts and Bolts of Hardware	16	(1)
Your NIC has to get on the right bus	16	(1)
Some NICs don't take the bus	17	(1)
Connections: Cables, wires, and thin air	18	(5)
Wireless connections for the cable-phobic	23	(2)
Saving Time, Trouble, and Money When You Buy Hardware	25	(1)
Doing your homework: Just like being in school	26	(1)
Plunking down the money: Tips for buying	27	(2)
Chapter 2: Installing Network Adapters	29	(8)
It's Okay to Mix and Match NICs	29	(1)
Before You Start	30	(1)
Putting a NIC on the Bus	30	(4)
Disassembling your computer: Open sesame	31	(1)
Removing the backplate	31	(1)
Inserting the NIC	32	(2)
Adding USB Connectors - Easy as Pie	34	(1)
Installing Laptop Adapters	35	(2)
Chapter 3: Running Cable through the House	37	(18)
Knowing the Lay of the LAN	37	(3)
Ethernet cable has many aliases	37	(2)
Concerning the concentrator	39	(1)
Deciding Where to Put the Hub	40	(2)
Concentrators are environmentally fussy	41	(1)
Concentrators are innately powerless	41	(1)
Distance Depends on What You Choose to Measure	42	(1)
Handling Cable Correctly	43	(2)
Connecting two patch cables	43	(1)
Making your own patch cables	44	(1)
The Chase Is On: Running the Cable	45	(2)
Cabling within a room	45	(1)
Cabling between adjacent rooms	45	(1)
Cabling between nonadjacent rooms on the same floor	45	(2)
Cabling between Floors	47	(2)
Beauty Is in the Eye of the Decorator	49	(2)
Adding cable faceplates	49	(1)
Using floor cable covers	49	(2)
Curing Your Network's Growing Pains	51	(1)
Getting into the Zone	52	(3)
Chapter 4: Using Wires That Are Already There	55	(14)
One Standard, Indivisible, with Liberty and Networking for All	55	(1)
Tapping into Phone Lines to Connect a Network	56	(9)
Where do I plug in phones?	58	(1)
Ganging the network and the telephone	58	(1)
Ganging the network, the telephone, and an external modem	58	(1)
Ganging the network, the telephone, and an internal modem	59	(1)
Too many computers, not enough phone jacks?	60	(2)
Phoneline networks and DSL service	62	(1)
Sharing an Internet connection on a phoneline network	62	(2)
Troubleshooting phoneline networks	64	(1)
Powering Up Your Network with the Electric Company	65	(4)
Powerline networks and Internet Connection Sharing	66	(1)
Special considerations for powerline networks	66	(3)
Chapter 5: Look Ma, No Wires	69	(10)
Translating the Geek-Speak of Wireless Technology	69	(3)
Radio frequency: Hello, den? Kitchen here	70	(1)
Wireless standards - alphabet soup	70	(2)
Positioning Computers	72	(2)
How far can you go?	72	(1)
Detouring around obstructions	73	(1)
Empower Your Network with Hardware Doohickeys	74	(1)
Wireless routers	74	(1)
Access points	74	(1)
Securing Your Wireless Network	75	(2)
Wireless Hotspots for Public Use	77	(2)
Part II: Setting up the Computers	79	(102)
Chapter 6: Installing Networking Software	81	(30)
Installing Drivers	81	(10)
The Plug and Play way	82	(3)
Doing it yourself	85	(2)
Special tasks for installing ISA NICs	87	(4)
Installing Network Protocols and Services	91	(8)
Deciding on a protocol	92	(1)
Adding a protocol	93	(1)
Configuring TCP/IP	94	(2)
Adding network services	96	(1)
Naming computers and workgroups	97	(2)
Using the Windows Home Networking Wizards	99	(5)
Windows Me Home Networking Wizard	100	(3)
Windows XP Network Setup Wizard	103	(1)
Accommodating Road Warriors	104	(4)
Bridging the topology gap	105	(1)
Managing multiple settings	105	(1)
Changing settings manually	106	(1)
Using software to move between networks	106	(1)
Using the netsh command-line tool	107	(1)
Macintosh Can Join the Family, Too	108	(3)
Chapter 7: Setting Up Shared Internet Connections	111	(32)
The Internet: From Your House to the World and Back	111	(2)
Understanding Your Hardware Options	113	(5)
Telephone modems	114	(1)
Cable modems	115	(1)
Digital subscriber line modems	116	(2)
Configuring Telephone Modem Connections	118	(8)
Creating a DUN connection in Windows 98 SE and Windows Me	119	(3)
Creating a DUN connection in Windows 2000	122	(1)
Creating a DUN connection in Windows XP	123	(3)
Sharing a Telephone Modem Connection	126	(8)
Windows 98 SE Internet Connection Sharing	127	(2)
Windows Me Internet Connection Sharing	129	(4)
Windows XP Internet Connection Sharing	133	(1)
Sharing DSL or Cable Modems	134	(9)
Bridging the topology gap	134	(2)
Routing the network to the modem	136	(2)
Configuring the router	138	(1)
Configuring client computers for a router	138	(2)
Two NICs instead of a router	140	(3)
Chapter 8: Configuring Computer Sharing	143	(12)
Understanding Hierarchy: Shares Have Parents and Children	144	(1)
Sharing a Hard Drive	145	(5)
Sharing a hard drive in Windows 98 and Windows Me	146	(1)
Controlling user actions in Windows 98 and Windows Me	147	(1)
Sharing a hard drive in Windows 2000	148	(2)
Sharing a hard drive in Windows XP	150	(1)
Sharing Removable Drives	150	(1)
Sharing Folders	151	(1)
Windows XP Security -- Sorting Out the Confusion	152	(1)
Creating Hidden Shares	153	(1)
Creating a hidden share	153	(1)
Getting to your hidden share from a remote computer	154	(1)
Keeping the secret a secret	154	(1)
Chapter 9: Setting Up Users	155	(26)
Profiles in Windows 98 and Windows Me	156	(14)
Enabling profiles in Windows 98/Me	156	(1)
Creating users in Windows 98/Me computers	157	(3)
Deciding which settings to personalize	160	(1)
Changing user options	160	(3)
Sneaking around, resetting passwords, and otherwise foiling Windows 98/Me "security"	163	(2)
Back to the drawing board: Creating a new password	165	(1)
Logging on to your Windows 98/Me computer	166	(1)
Switching to another user	167	(1)
Getting to know the default desktop	167	(1)
Using the Family Logon feature	168	(2)
Logging Off	170	(5)
Tweaking profiles in Windows 98 and Windows Me	171	(1)
What's in my profile?	171	(1)
Where your desktop really lives	172	(1)
Viewing your Start Menu folder	172	(2)
Adding software listings to your Programs menu	174	(1)
Managing Users and Profiles in Windows 2000	175	(3)
Creating users in Windows 2000	175	(2)
Setting permissions in Windows 2000	177	(1)
Managing Users and Profiles in Windows XP	178	(5)
Creating users in Windows XP	178	(3)
Part III: Communicating Across the Network	181	(62)
Chapter 10: Printing across the Network	183	(20)
Setting Up Shared Printers	184	(6)
Enabling printer sharing	184	(1)
Installing a printer	185	(4)
Sharing a printer	189	(1)
Installing a Network Printer	190	(5)
Choosing an installation method	191	(1)
Running the installation procedure	191	(1)
Renaming network printers	192	(1)
Using both local and network printers	192	(2)
Using password-protected printers
Devising schemes for using multiple printers	194	(1)
Managing Network Printing	195	(3)
Understanding the spooler	195	(1)
Manipulating print jobs	196	(2)
Printing Tricks and Tips	198	(5)
Troubleshooting remote printing	198	(1)
Using a printer shortcut on the desktop	199	(1)
Using separator pages to identify users	200	(3)
Chapter 11: Getting Around the Neighborhood	203	(22)
Traveling on the Network	203	(7)
Visiting Network Neighborhood (Windows 95 and 98)	204	(1)
Calling on My Network Places (Windows Me, 2000, and XP)	205	(4)
Viewing information about the neighborhood residents	209	(1)
Exploring the neighborhood in Windows Explorer	210	(1)
Psst - What's the Password?	210	(2)
Opening a password-protected share	210	(1)
Creating permission-level passwords	211	(1)
Say UNC-le: Understanding UNCs	212	(4)
Naming your computers and shared resources	212	(1)
Understanding the UNC format	213	(1)
Displaying UNCs	213	(1)
Opening a share by typing the UNC	214	(1)
Creating UNC shortcuts	215	(1)
Mapping Drives	216	(9)
Understanding drive letters	216	(1)
Mapping a UNC	217	(2)
Viewing and using mapped drives	219	(1)
Reconnecting mapped drives	220	(2)
Working with mapped drives in Windows Explorer	222	(1)
Working with mapped drives at the command line	222	(3)
Chapter 12: Using Files from Other Computers	225	(18)
Working with Remote Files	226	(5)
Copying files between computers	226	(4)
Relocating files	230	(1)
Deleting files from remote computers	230	(1)
Opening Remote Files in Software Windows	231	(9)
Opening distant files	231	(1)
Saving remote files	232	(3)
Uh oh, two documents with the same name	235	(1)
Understanding documents in use	236	(3)
Files that should never be opened across a network	239	(1)
Licenses and other complications	240	(1)
How About Including My Macintosh?	240	(5)
Mac, meet Dave	241	(1)
From a PC LAN to a PC MACLAN	242	(1)
Part IV: Network Security and Maintenance	243	(72)
Chapter 13: Making Your Network Secure	245	(20)
All about Viruses	245	(5)
File-infecting viruses	246	(1)
System and boot infectors	246	(1)
Macro viruses	247	(2)
Trojan horses	249	(1)
Worms	250	(1)
Antivirus Programs: For Prevention and Cure	250	(3)
Common Sense: Part of Your Arsenal	253	(2)
Develop e-mail paranoia	253	(1)
Develop Internet download paranoia	254	(1)
Virus hoaxes	254	(1)
Firewalls: Defense for Internet Attacks	255	(10)
Why do you need a firewall?	256	(1)
What a firewall does	257	(1)
Examining a firewall's log file	258	(1)
Testing the security of your system	259	(2)
Windows XP firewall	261	(2)
Hardware firewalls for networks	263	(2)
Chapter 14: Disaster Planning and Recovery	265	(22)
Avoiding Zapped Computers	265	(5)
Protecting against electrical surges	266	(1)
Protecting against telephone line surges	267	(1)
Protecting against lightning hits	267	(1)
Protecting against power loss	267	(1)
Understanding and fixing low-voltage problems	268	(1)
Preventing static electricity damage	269	(1)
Caring for Network Hardware	270	(2)
Checking connectors	270	(2)
Checking cables	272	(1)
Checking NICs	272	(1)
Monitoring Monitors	272	(1)
Protecting Printers	273	(1)
Establishing a Plan for Backing Up Data	274	(3)
Back up often	274	(1)
Configure computers for efficient backups	275	(1)
Safeguard software CDs and disks	276	(1)
Safeguard backup media	276	(1)
Using Microsoft Backup	277	(3)
Installing Microsoft Backup	277	(2)
Configuring Microsoft Backup	279	(1)
Backing Up Data on Floppy Disks	280	(1)
Backing Up Data to Removable Drive Cartridges	281	(3)
Using Microsoft Backup with removable drives	281	(1)
Using Send To with removable drives	282	(1)
Backing up data on CDs	282	(1)
Backing up data on tapes	283	(1)
Backing Up to Remote Computers	284	(1)
Restoring a System after a Disaster	284	(3)
Chapter 15: Using Windows Maintenance Tools	287	(28)
Checking Your Hard Drive for Damage with ScanDisk	287	(5)
Why hard drives develop problems	288	(1)
Running ScanDisk in Windows 98/Me	289	(2)
Running ScanDisk in Windows 2000 and Windows XP	291	(1)
Defragging Your Hard Drive	292	(4)
Why hard drives get fragged	293	(1)
How to defrag your drive	294	(2)
Managing Devices with the Device Manager	296	(2)
Viewing a specific device	297	(1)
Managing device problems	297	(1)
Printing a report about devices	298	(1)
Determining Who's on Your Computer	298	(3)
Cleaning Up Files with Disk Cleanup	301	(1)
Working with System Information	302	(5)
General System Information	303	(1)
Hardware Resources	303	(1)
Components	304	(1)
Software Environment	305	(1)
Internet Explorer	306	(1)
Saving system information to a file	306	(1)
Checking Windows 98 system files	306	(1)
Automating Maintenance Tasks	307	(10)
Maintenance Wizard in Windows 98 and Windows Me	307	(1)
Doing an Express setup	308	(1)
Doing a Custom setup	309	(2)
Task Scheduler	311	(4)
Part V: The Part of Tens	315	(30)
Chapter 16: Ten Fun Things to Do on Your Network	317	(20)
Play Hearts	317	(2)
Set Up a Message Center	319	(4)
Creating a shared folder for the message center	319	(2)
Creating individual message boards	321	(1)
Testing the message boards	322	(1)
Tricks and tips for using the message center	322	(1)
Keep a Family Shopping List	323	(3)
Creating the shopping list	324	(1)
Using the shopping list	325	(1)
Collaborate on Documents	326	(2)
Set Up a Family Budget	328	(1)
Selecting a software program for your budget	328	(1)
Setting up and using the budget center	329	(1)
Set Up a Family Document Library	329	(1)
Set Up a Download Center	330	(1)
Have a Family Meeting	330	(1)
Send Messages	331	(4)
Finding WinPopup	332	(1)
Using WinPopup	333	(1)
Using Net Send	334	(1)
Meet George Jetson: Automate Everything That Isn't Stapled Down	335	(2)
Chapter 17: Ten Ways to Make the Internet Safe for Children	337	(8)
Talk to Your Children about the Internet	337	(1)
Place Your Computers in the Right Locations	338	(1)
Use Internet Rating Services	338	(1)
Create a List of Sites to Filter	339	(1)
Use Software to Filter Sites	340	(1)
Use AOL Restrictions	341	(1)
Check Your ISP for E-mail Filtering Features	341	(1)
Be Wary of Chat Rooms	342	(1)
Find Acceptable Sites for Your Children	343	(1)
Set Guidelines for the Level of Violence in Computer Games	343	(2)
Index	345