Author Description

Discover how easy it is to design, install, manage and troubleshoot your own home network! Ideal for do-it-yourselfers, Basic Home Networking contains all of the information today's homeowners and homebuilders need to create a cost-effective internal network that allows all of the computer users in any given residence to share files, printers, hard drives, backup hardware, Internet access, and more! The book begins by acquainting readers with different ways of building a home network, as well as the variety of networking hardware and cabling options available today for existing homes and new home construction projects. Subsequent chapters provide easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions for configuring Macintosh and Microsoft Windows operating systems, using firewalls and other means of network security, and testing and troubleshooting using standard tools included with Windows or available as freeware for Macintosh computer users. Clear and concise explanations of network basics, such as mission-critical TCP/IP and NetBEUI protocols, are also included to help readers understand what they are doing as well as how information will travel through their network and out across the Internet. The final chapter introduces readers to household appliances and digital phone systems that can be connected to the home network, as well as game systems that allow users to play with others within the network or across the Internet. Benefits: Both IBM PC and Macintosh computers are covered in detail, allowing this how-to book to be used in virtually any of the 15 million homes today that have multiple computers and computer users. Real-life examples illustrate different ways of building a home network to guide readers in choosing the one that best meet their needs - from a simple phone line, to a wireless infrared or radio-based network, to a speedy and powerful Ethernet. Practical tips for hiding networking cabling and protecting against dangerous Trojan hor