A computer is dandy, and two computers mean fun for the whole family. But to get the most out of your investment in computer equipment--which is to say, printers, scanners, digital cameras, and high-speed Internet connections as well as computers--you need a local-area network. PC Magazine Guide to Home Networking shows you how to hook your machines together in a simple Local-Area Network (LAN), using a wired or wireless switch with built-in router functionality (it's the router that enables you to share an Internet hookup). Its instructions are easy to follow, and Les Freed places emphasis on the tasks (like sharing printers and broadband links) most people consider most important. When those jobs are done, he moves on to more obscure subjects like hybrid wired/wireless LANs and unusual firewall configurations.
This book will prove useful primarily to people using Windows XP (and maybe some older versions of Microsoft Windows as well), though some of the illustrations that show how to configure a simple router (both D-Link and Linksys devices are shown) will be universally handy. One handy feature: A "Home Networking Cookbook" that shows, step-by-step, how to configure a Virtual Private Network (VPN) and do other network jobs. --David Wall
Topics covered: How to set up a simple home network that allows file-, printer-, and Internet connection-sharing. Sections address security through firewalling, networked data storage, and VPNs.
Book Description
Networking—it's not just for the office any more. Here's how to get all your electronic devices on the same team
Ready to plunge into creating your own home network? You couldn't ask for a better guide through the networking maze than PC Magazine contributing editor Les Freed. From why you should network to whether you need a switch or a hub and how to hook in your Playstation, reading this book is like having Les drop by and set the whole thing up for you. And you don't even need to move those back issues of PC Magazine off the couch. With expert advice, you can't go wrong Check out all the advantages of a home network Get a crash course in networking technology Design the network that fits your needs and your budget Compare wired and wireless products Learn how to prepare your computers for networking Whip up a specialized recipe from the Home Networking Cookbook Protect your investment with troubleshooting tips Build a network using the existing wiring in your home Discover how to keep your private information private Make all your home entertainment devices part of the network
Visit www.wiley.com/compbooks/pcmag
Book Info
Guide to creating your own home network; providing information on the advantages of having one, a crash course in networking technology, comparing wired and wireless products, building a network using the existing wiring in your home, and more. Softcover.
About the Author
LES FREED has been a PC Magazine contributing editor since 1994. He installed his first home network in the late 1980s, and is the author or coauthor of fourteen books on networking, computing, and digital photography. With his long-time collaborator Frank Derfler, Les shared a Computer Press Association award in 1993 for How Networks Work, now in its sixth edition.
PC Magazine Guide to Home Networking FROM THE PUBLISHER
Networking—it's not just for the office any more. Here's howto get all your electronic devices on the same team
Ready to plunge into creating your own home network? You couldn't ask for a better guide through the networking maze than PC Magazine contributing editor Les Freed. From why you should network to whether you need a switch or a hub and how to hook in your Playstation, reading this book is like having Les drop by and set the whole thing up for you. And you don't even need to move those back issues of PC Magazine off the couch. With expert advice, you can't go wrong Check out all the advantages of a home network Get a crash course in networking technology Design the network that fits your needs and your budget Compare wired and wireless products Learn how to prepare your computers for networking Whip up a specialized recipe from the Home Networking Cookbook Protect your investment with troubleshooting tips Build a network using the existing wiring in your home Discover how to keep your private information private Make all your home entertainment devices part of the network
Visit wiley.com/compbooks/pcmag
Author Biography: LES FREED has been a PC Magazine contributing editor since 1994. He installed his first home network in the late 1980s, and is the author or coauthor of fourteen books on networking, computing, and digital photography. With his long-time collaborator Frank Derfler, Les shared a Computer Press Association award in 1993 for How Networks Work, now in its sixth edition.
FROM THE CRITICS
Library Journal
Home networks are becoming increasingly popular (see also Computer Media, LJ 10/1/02) as the technology becomes more affordable and easier to set up and as households begin accumulating multiple PCs and other devices. For new users, PC Magazine presents a fairly nonthreatening guide to installing and configuring a new wired or wireless home network (although some sections are a little too background-heavy for absolute beginners). Screen shots, diagrams, and images help clarify concepts, while the discussion of how and why to network various devices illustrates the advantages of connection; appendixes covering multiple network layouts and troubleshooting are particularly helpful. Recommended for all libraries. For beginning to intermediate users, Bible is nicely thorough, yet its very comprehensiveness may overwhelm new networkers. Step-by-step instructions and straightforward prose, explanatory figures and screen shots, clear tips, and appendixes on troubleshooting and telecommuting highly recommend this guide to anyone setting up a home network. Particularly appropriate for larger public libraries serving telecommuters, home businesses, and others needing more heavy-duty networking advice. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
Art & Photography
Book Info
