Home Networking: A Visual Do-It-Yourself Guide

Product Description

The only home networking book you'll ever need

Setting up a home network doesn't need to be difficult. You can use this easy-to-understand reference to set up your home network, secure it, and turn it into an entertainment network. Don't be fooled by other guides-it can be this simple:

• It's Easy-Set up your home network with this visual step-by-step guide.
• Quit Wasting Time and Money-Buy the network gadgets and equipment you need.
• Make It Secure-Use simple tips to make your network secure.
• Wow the Neighbors-Turn your home network into an entertainment network.
• What Went Wrong-Fix common problems you might encounter while setting up your network.

Interview(s)

Network World Fusion, December 2, 2004

Computer Outlook Radio Talk Show, TechTidbits/Authors, November 11, 2004

Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful An Expanded Linksys Manual, January 22, 2006 By  K. Swanson (Sherman, IL United States) - See all my reviews    Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Home Networking: A Visual Do-It-Yourself Guide (Paperback) This would be an excellent getting started guide if it was included with a Linksys product, but it is disappointing as a separate purchase. Most of the step-by-step instructions presume that you have purchased a Linksys product. If you use another brand, this book may not give you much help. Even if you have a Linksys product, don't expect much coverage of intermediate or advanced topics. For instance, the book mentions remotely controlling a network computer, but it doesn't explain how to do it other than to briefly mention a few programs. I was expecting a little better coverage based on the previous reviews. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you?  Report abuse | Permalink  Comment 6 of 6 people found the following review helpful A Dummies Guide from Cisco with Linksys Plugs, April 10, 2005 By  Donald Mitchell "Jesus Loves You!" (Thanks for Providing My Reviews over 116,000 Helpful Votes Globally) - See all my reviews          This review is from: Home Networking: A Visual Do-It-Yourself Guide (Paperback) Not that many years ago, many people felt they needed either a technician or a 12-year-old to install and set-up a PC. Many homes now are starting to have more than one PC. Yet broadband connections and high quality printers are expensive if you buy one for each PC. How can those costs be reduced? Add a home network. Before you faint with anxiety, look at this very simple book. It will guide you through the few technical questions you need to address and give you complete and simple directions you can easily follow (but feel free to recruit a 12-year-old to help you). Before you are done reading, you will also realize that you may also benefit from being able to put noisy printers in quiet places, eliminate cables, and do lots of neat applications (like visually monitor your children's rooms and front door) with your network. If you are like me, you've heard that wireless networks can easily be hacked into. This book tells you how to address... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you?  Report abuse | Permalink  Comment 4 of 4 people found the following review helpful Don't waste your money, March 24, 2006 By  Gordon (United States) - See all my reviews    Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Home Networking: A Visual Do-It-Yourself Guide (Paperback) This book has lots of nice pictures.. but for learning home networking it is juvenile and lacks depth of explanation across multiple network routers, connection nodes, and how-tos. Don't waste your money. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you?  Report abuse | Permalink  Comment (1)

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Praise For Home Networking: A Visual Do-It-Yourself Guide

Review by Charles Ashbacher

"If you have more than one computer at home but have been reluctant to link them together because you’ve heard networking is not easy to set up, we recommend a new book published by Cisco Press. Home Networking: A Visual Do-It-Yourself Guide does a great job of teaching the fundamentals to beginners. It does exclusively show products from Cisco's Linksys division in its examples, but in fact we’ve tried home network products from many manufacturers over the years and have found the Linksys brand the most consistent in terms of good quality and ease of use."
– Scott Gurvey, Bureau Chief
PBS Nightly Business Report
Tech Talk, September 16, 2004

"A simple to read, affordable and comprehensive guide containing everything the network newbie needs to know about setting up his or her network. This goal is accomplished without unnecessary technical information getting in the way, but without dumbing things down and insulting the reader either. This is always a fine balancing act for computer publications targeted at beginners, and the author, Brian Underdahl, pulls it off well. Cisco Press's Home Networking: A Visual Do-It-Yourself Guide is well-written throughout, and effectively illustrated."
PCstats.com
October 26, 2004

Index

Download - 445 KB -- Index

Table of Contents

I. STARTING YOUR NETWORK.

1. Why You Want Your Own Network.

    Big and Scary Networks: The Simplest Introduction You’ll Ever Read.

    What Networks Really Are.

    How Networks Really Work.

    A Network Really Isn’t Too Complicated for You.

    Learning How to Share.

    Sharing Your Files.

    Sharing Printers.

    Sharing an Internet Connection.

    Sharing Multimedia.

    Headline: Entertainment Network Wows Friends and Neighbors.

    Home Entertainment Centers.

    Wireless Game Consoles.

    Internet Radio.

    Wireless Webcams.

    Working Remotely.

    Summary.

2. Home Networking Basics.

    The Two Flavors of Home Networks.

    Wired Networks.

    Wireless Networks.

    Hardware Basics: Making Sense of All That Stuff.

    Network Adapters.

    Hubs.

    Switches.

    Routers.

    Access Points.

    Gateways.

    Software Basics: Details Only a Geek Could Love.

    Network Clients.

    Protocols and Drivers.

    Summary.

II. STARTING YOUR NETWORK.

3. Choosing the Best Network Type.

    What Do You “Need”?

    Wired or Wireless? That Is the Question.

    Wired Networks: Making the Right Connections.

    Ethernet Networks.

    Phone Line Networks.

    Power Line.

    Wireless Options: Deciphering the Protocol Soup.

    802.11b.

    802.11a.

    802.11g.

    Bluetooth.

    What Went Wrong: Your Quick Fix Reference.

    Summary.

4. Selecting Network Hardware: Your Complete Buying Guide.

    Cost Versus Performance Considerations: It’s Your Money.

    Making Sure It All Works Together: It Depends on Your Connections.

    Wired Network Hardware: The Nuts and Bolts.

    Choosing a Router.

    Choosing Network Adapters.

    Wireless Network Hardware: Nuts, Bolts, and Waves.

    Choosing a Wireless Router.

    Choosing Wireless Network Adapters.

    Adding More Access Points.

    Adding a Wireless Print Server.

    Setting Up a Mixed Network: Where Wired Meets Wireless.

    Wired/Wireless Routers.

    Wireless Ethernet Bridges.

    What Went Wrong: Your Quick Fix Reference.

    Summary.

5. Installing Your Network Hardware: This Won’t Hurt a Bit.

    Installing Network Adapters: It’s Easier Than You Think.

    PCI Network Adapters.

    PC Card Network Adapters.

    USB Network Adapters.

    Adding a Switch, a Router, or an Access Point: The Center of Your Network.

    What Went Wrong: Your Quick Fix Reference.

    Summary.

6. Configuring Your Network: Bringing Everything Together.

    Setting Up Your PCs: Be a Matchmaker.

    Using the Windows XP Network Setup Wizard.

    Setting Your PC’s Name in Windows 2000.

    Setting Your PC’s Name in Windows 98 or Windows Me.

    Setting Up a Router/Gateway: Making the Internet Accessible.

    Sorting Out the Internet Names.

    Finding Your Router on the Network.

    What Went Wrong: Your Quick Fix Reference.

III. ENHANCING YOUR NETWORK.

7. Making Your Network Secure: Locking the Network’s Door.

    Understanding Security: You May Not Want It, but You Need It.

    Limiting Access: Closing the Barn Door Before the Cow Gets Out.

    Firewalls.

    Wireless Network Security.

    Antivirus Solutions: This Won’t Hurt a Bit.

    What Went Wrong: Your Quick Fix Reference.

    Summary.

8. Sharing Your Network.

    Setting Up Shares: Getting to Files, Folders, and Printers on Your Network.

    Sharing Your Files.

    Sharing a Printer.

    Sharing Your Broadband Connection.

    Sharing Over a Longer Distance.

    Raising Your Router.

    Raising Your Antenna.

    Adding an External Antenna.

    Limiting Remote Access: Keeping It Private.

    What Went Wrong: Your Quick Fix Reference.

    Summary.

9. The Magic of Entertainment Options.

    Network Entertainment Centers: Spreading the Fun Around the House.

    Wireless Media Adapters: Connecting More Than PCs.

    Streaming Media: Movies and Fun on Demand.

    Internet Radio: Music and News from Around the World.

    Online Gaming: Go One-On-One with Your Game Console.

    Wireless Internet Cameras: Your Own Webcam.

    Alternative Webcam Software.

    What Went Wrong: Your Quick Fix Reference.

    Summary.

Index.

Downloadable Sample Chapter

Download - 2.05 MB -- Chapter 1: Why You Want Your Own Network

Errata

On page 74, below Step 4, the text should read:
Some experts recommend grounding yourself to your PC at this point using an inexpensive wrist strap. You'll find these at the same store where you purchased the network adapter card.