Home Networking Demystified | DeMystified

Home Networking Demystified

Authors: Larry Long

Published: March 2005

eISBN: 9780071471336 0071471332 | ISBN: 9780072258783

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Contents

Acknowledgments

Preface

Introduction

Part One Home Networking: The Basics

Chapter 1 What is a Home Network?

The PC Competency Assumption

Home Networks: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Home Networking: A Historical Perspective

Today’s Home Network

The Home Network of the Future

Networks and Networking

What You Should Know about Home Networking

Frequently Asked Questions

Chapter 2 Applications of Home Networking

Sharing Broadband Internet Access

Sharing Files among PCs on the Network

Sharing Printers and Other Resources

Integrating Home Entertainment and Personal Computing

Playing Multiplayer Games

Enhancing PC and Network Security

Going Wireless with PCs and Other Devices

Creating a Smart Home

The Downside of Home Networking

Chapter 3 Network Concepts and Strategies

Types of Networks

Local Area Networks: LANs

LAN Topologies

The Ethernet LAN Protocol

Peer-to-Peer and Client/Server LANs

LAN Servers

Sharing Internet Access on a Home Network

Sending/Receiving Information on the Internet

The IP Address

Part Two Home Networking Technologies and Equipment

Chapter 4 Connectivity: Wired and Wireless

Connectivity Technologies: The Transmission Media

Wired Networking Technologies

Ethernet

HomePNA: Phoneline

HomePlug: AC Power Lines

Wireless Networking Technologies

Going Wireless: A Historical Perspective

Why Wireless?

The Wireless Options

Wireless Modes: Infrastructure and Ad Hoc

Fallback: Data Rate Versus Reliability

The Need for Speed

Chapter 5 Net Gear: Gateways, Modems, and More

Approaches to Networking: ICS and Home Gateway

The Hardware: Network Gear

Ethernet and Wireless Network Adapters

HomePlug and HomePNA Network Adapters

The Wireless Access Point and Signal Booster

Ethernet Switch and Hub

The Home/Residential Gateway

The Wireless Network Bridge

The Longnet Revisited

The Cost of Net Gear

Home Networking Kits/Bundles

Part Three Building a Home Network

Chapter 6 Designing a Home Network

Making Home Networking Decisions

Assessing Your Budget for Home Networking

The Family Meeting on Home Networking

Wired and/or Wireless?

Desired Networking Applications

Your Networking Expertise

Security

Mapping a Home Network

Maxims for Network Design

Home Network Design Sampler

The Home Network Worksheet and Planner

The Smith Family’s Home Network

Chapter 7 Cabling a Home for an Ethernet LAN

The Ethernet UTP Cable

Preassembled Ethernet Cables

Making Your Own Ethernet Cables

Ethernet Wiring for New Construction

Ethernet Wiring for an Existing Home

The Parts, Materials, and Tools

Installation of the Cable

Chapter 8 Setting Up and Installing a Home Network

Step 1: Design the Home Network

Step 2: Purchase the Hardware and Software

Step 3: Install the Cabling

Step 4: Install Network Adapters and Configure PCs

Installing the Network Adapters

Confi guring the PCs to Work with the Gateway’s Router

Step 5: Set Up Your Modem

Step 6: Configure and Set Up a Home Gateway for a Wired and/or Wireless LAN

Choosing a Location for a Wireless Gateway

Set Up the AP/Router

Run the Wireless Network Setup Wizard

Make All Connections and Run the Network Setup Wizard

Can You Hear Me Now?

Step 7: Upgrade the Gateway’s Firmware

Setting Up an Ad Hoc Network

Chapter 9 Sharing Printers, Files, and an Internet Connection

Printer Sharing

Sharing a Printer Attached to a PC

Sharing a Network Printer

Adding a Shared Printer to a PC

Adding a Networked Printer to a PC

File Sharing

File Sharing Applications

Security Issues

Sharing Folders and Files

Sharing a Disk

Using Shared Files

Mapping Network Drives

Internet Access Sharing

Choosing an Internet Service Provider

ISP Service Options

Choosing a Type of Internet Access

Choosing an ISP

American Online: AOL

Part Four Protecting and Operating a Home Network

Chapter 10 Privacy and Security

The Firewall

Security for Wireless Home Networks

WEP and WPA Encryption

Other Wireless Security Precautions

Internet Threats

Computer Viruses

Adware

Cookies

Spam and Spim

Transaction Security on the Internet

Chapter 11 Maintenance and Troubleshooting

Maintaining a Home Network

Unpacking the Net Gear

Upgrading the Network

Software Maintenance

Preventive Maintenance

Security Maintenance

Troubleshooting

Network Troubleshooting Strategies

The Universal Solution to Most PC/Network Problems

Windows Network Troubleshooting Support

Vendor/Manufacturer Troubleshooting Assistance

Part Five The Internet, Entertainment, and Telework on a Home Network

Chapter 12 Internet Applications: Cruising the Internet

The World Wide Web

File Transfer Protocol: FTP

Communicating with People via the Internet

E-Mail

Instant Messaging

Chat

Mailing Lists

Newsgroups

Blogs and Blogging

Internet Telephony, or VoIP

Webcasting

The Personal Home Page

Chapter 13 Growing the Network: Entertainment and Beyond

Networking Entertainment

Home Digital Entertainment in Practice

Digital Entertainment Technology

The Media Hub

TiVo, DVRs, and Home Networks

The TiVo Box and the TiVo Service

TiVo on the Home Network

Hacking TiVos

Windows XP Media Center 2005

The Media Center PC

The Media Center Extender

Digital Entertainment Around the Home

Media Center Applications Without Windows MCE

Gaming and the Home Network

What You Need for Internet Gaming

Playing the Game

VoIP: Internet Telephone

Video Monitoring and Surveillance

Chapter 14 The Home Offi ce and Home Networking

Telework: Working at Home

Creating an Environment for Telework

The Home Offi ce Is a Place of Business

Choose a Good Location

A Good Workplace Design Yields Dividends

The Home Offi ce Is Self-Contained

Give the Home Offi ce Priority on the LAN

Security Must Be Maintained

File Management for the Networked Home Office

File Organization

Securing Files from Unauthorized Access

File Backup

The Virtual Private Network

Home Offi ce Productivity

Appendix Home Networking Buyer’s Guide

Guidelines for Purchasing Network Devices

Considerations for Purchasing Network Devices

Which Network Device Manufacturer Is Best for You?

Where to Buy Network Devices

Bricks-and-Mortar Retailers with Comprehensive Service Centers

Bricks-and-Mortar Retailers with Basic Service Centers

Bricks-and-Mortar PC Retailers Without Service Centers

Direct Marketers

Online and Telephone-Order Retailers

Online Auctions

Professional Installation

Glossary

Index