Home Networking: The Missing Manual

Description:

Millions of computers around the world today are connected by the Internet, so why is it still so hard to hook up a few PCs in you own home? Whether you want to share an Internet connection, install WiFi, or maybe just cut down on the number of printers you own, home networks are supposed to help make your life easier. Instead, most aspiring home networkers get lost in a confusing maze of terms and technologies: 802.11g, Fast Ethernet, Cat 5 cable (or was it Cat 5e?), Powerline, and on and confusingly on.

That's where Home Networking: The Missing Manual comes in. Using clear language, straightforward explanations, and a dash of humor, this book shows you how to do everything you need to set up a home network. Coverage includes:

WiFi, Ethernet, or Powerline? There are several kinds of digital pipes that you can use to create your network, and none of them have friendly names. This book tells you what they are, explains the pros and cons of each, and helps you figure out what you need to buy, and how to install it.

Windows and Mac info included. Half the battle in home networking takes place after you've bought your gear and plugged it in. That's because the routers, network adapters, and cables that you need get you only part way towards networking nirvana. Whether you've got PCs or Macs or both, you'll need help tweaking your computers' settings if you want to get all your machines talking to each other. This book covers most known operating system flavors, including Windows XP, 2000, Me, and 98, and Mac OS X and OS 9.

Fun things to do with your network. The real fun starts once your network is up and running. This book shows you how to do much more than simply share an Internet connection and a printer. You'll learn how to stream music from your PCs to your stereo, how to display pictures on your TV, how to hook up game consoles to your network, and more!

Most important, this book helps you understand the difference between what you need to know to create and use your home network and what's best left to those looking for a career as a system administrator. In Home Networking: The Missing Manual you'll find everything you need to get your network running-and nothing more.

 

Table of Contents:

The Missing Credits

Introduction

Part One: Setting Up Your Network

Chapter 1. Planning Your Home Network

     Home Networking Hardware

     Home Networking Software

     Wired Networks

     Wireless Networks

     Choosing Between Wired and Wireless

Chapter 2. Creating a Wired Network the Ethernet Way

     Ethernet Hardware

     A Basic Network Setup

     Manually Configuring Your Router

     Going Hybrid?

Chapter 3. Setting Up a Wireless Network

     A WiFi Network's Main Ingredients

     Time to Learn Your A-B-Gs

     Picking Out Your Wireless Hardware

     Setting Up a Basic Wireless Network

     Manually Configuring Your Router

     Securing Your Wireless Network

     Going Hybrid?

Chapter 4. Setting Up a Powerline Network

     Deciding If Powerline Is Right for You

     Picking Out Powerline Hardware

     Setting Up a Basic Powerline Network

     Securing Your Powerline Network

     Going Hybrid?

Part Two: Using Your Network

Chapter 5. Using the Network with Windows Computers

     Naming PCs on the Network

     Creating and Managing User Accounts

     Sharing Your PC's Files and Folders

     Sharing Your PC's Printer

     Accessing Files on Other PCs

     Using Printers on Other PCs

Chapter 6. Using the Network with Macintosh Computers

     Naming Macs on the Network

     Creating User Accounts and Groups

     Sharing Your Mac's Files and Folders

     Sharing Your Mac's Printer

     Accessing Other Macs on Your Network

Chapter 7. Mixing Macintosh and Windows Computers

     Connecting from Mac OS X to Windows

     Connecting from Mac OS 9 to Windows

     Connecting from Windows to a Mac

     Printing across the Network

Chapter 8. Fun and Games with Your Network

     Playing a PC's Music on a Stereo

     Displaying Your PC's Photos on Your TV

     Adding Storage to Your Network

     Playing Video Games on Your Network

Chapter 9. Using Your Network on the Road

     Connecting to Your Windows PCs

     Using Dialing Direct

     Using GoToMyPC

     Connecting to Your Macs

     Using the Mac's File Sharing Tool

     Remote Access with SSH

Appendix A. The Macintosh Keychain

     Stringing Your Passwords on the Keychain

     Locking and Unlocking the Keychain

     Managing Keychains

Appendix B. Multiple User Accounts in Mac OS 9

     Creating a New Multiple User Account

     Logging In Using a Multiple User Account

Index