Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- 1: How a Network Will Improve Your Life -- What's a Network? -- Sneakernet -- Data Networks and What You Can Do with Them -- File Sharing -- Sharing an Internet Connection -- Instant Messages -- Sharing Printers and Other Hardware -- Home Entertainment -- Video Cameras and Home Security Devices -- Home Automation -- 2: Types of Network Connections -- Packets and Headers -- Error Checking -- Handshaking and Overhead -- Ethernet -- Wi-Fi -- Powerline Networks -- Other Alternative Wiring Methods -- DTE and DCE Equipment -- Point-to-Point Networks -- Ad Hoc Wi-Fi -- Infrared -- FireWire (IEEE 1394) -- Connections Through a Telephone Line -- Remote Terminals -- Clients and Servers -- 3: Hubs, Switches, and Routers -- Hubs and Switches -- Hubs -- Switches -- LANs and WANs -- Bridges and Routers -- Combination Boxes -- 4: How Computer Networks Are Organized -- TCP/IP Networks -- Names and Addresses -- Network Tools -- IPConfig -- ifconfig -- ping -- TraceRoute -- 5: Designing Your Network -- Identifying Current and Future Nodes -- The Control Center -- Home Run Wiring -- Trunks and Branches: Using Secondary Switches -- What About Wi-Fi? -- 6: Installing the Network Control Center and Ethernet Cables -- Connectors, Wall Plates, and Surface Boxes -- Ethernet Cable -- Pushing Cable Through Walls -- The Control Center -- AC Power -- Modems, Routers, and Switches -- Adding a DSL or Cable Connection -- Terminating the Network Cables -- Adding a Telephone -- Tabletop Control Centers for Small Networks -- 7: Ethernet Network Interfaces -- Built into the Motherboard -- Setting the BIOS Utility -- Adding a Network Interface to an Old Computer -- Internal Expansion Cards -- USB Adapters -- Network Adapters for Laptops -- Finding the Driver Software for Your Adapter -- Status Lights on Network Adapters -- 8: Wi-Fi Networks.

Types of Wi-Fi Networks -- Operating Channels -- Access Points -- Network Interface Adapters -- Adapters Built into Laptops -- PC Cards -- USB Adapters -- PCI Cards -- Antennas -- Wi-Fi Control Programs -- Access Point Configuration Programs -- Wireless Connection Programs -- Hybrid (Wired-Wireless) Networks -- Wi-Fi Security -- 9: File Servers -- Choosing a Computer to Use as a File Server -- Windows, Mac, Linux, or . . . ? -- Using a Server for File Storage -- Using Network-Attached Storage -- USB Device Servers -- Apple's AirPort Extreme -- Backing Up Files to a Server -- The Windows Backup Program -- Macintosh Backup Programs -- Linux and Unix Backups -- Using a Server at Home -- 10: Connecting Your Network to the Internet -- The Internet: From the Cloud to You -- The Modem -- The Gateway Router -- Individual Computers -- Configuring the Network Gateway -- Summary -- 11: Connecting Your Computer to a Network -- Connecting Your Windows Computer to a Network -- Creating a New Network Profile -- Changing Your Computer's Network Settings -- Connecting Your Macintosh Computer to a Network -- Connecting Your Linux or Unix Computer to a Network -- Summary -- 12: Sharing Files Through Your Network -- File Sharing in Windows XP -- Level 1 -- Level 2 -- Level 3 -- Level 4 -- Level 5 -- File Sharing in Windows Vista -- Network Discovery -- File Sharing -- Printer Sharing -- Password Protected Sharing -- Media Sharing -- File Sharing on a Macintosh -- Connecting a Mac to a Windows (SMB) Network -- Connecting from Older Mac Versions -- File Sharing in Linux and Unix -- Sharing from Linux or Unix Computers -- Creating Shares on Linux and Unix Computers -- Samba -- Using Shares -- 13: Network Security -- Keeping Intruders Out -- User Accounts and Access Levels -- Passwords -- Firewalls -- Virtual Private Networks -- VPN Methods -- VPN Servers.

VPN Client Software -- VPN Clients for Linux/Unix -- OpenVPN: A Cross-Platform Alternative -- Using a VPN Through a Public Network -- Wireless Security -- Protecting Your Network and Your Data -- Network Name -- WEP Encryption -- WPA Encryption -- Access Control (MAC Authentication) -- Physical Security -- Windows Update and Patches -- Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer -- Controlling Your Own Users -- Denial of Service Attacks -- Conclusion -- 14: Printers and Other Devices on Your Network -- How to Connect a Printer to Your Network -- External Printer Servers -- Wi-Fi Printer Servers -- Built-In Printer Servers -- Automatic Printer Switches -- Using a Computer as a Printer Server -- CUPS: The Common Unix Printing System -- All-in-One Devices -- 15: Other Things You Can Connect to Your Network - Audio, Video, Home Entertainment, and Beyond -- Using a Microphone and Camera with Your Network -- Internal and External Controllers -- Networked Cameras and Microphones -- Home Entertainment Networks -- Music Through a Home Network -- Audio Servers -- Audio Clients -- Video Through a Home Network -- Video Servers -- TiVo and Other Digital Video Recorders -- Playing Video on a Computer -- Connecting a TV to Your Network -- Game Consoles -- Connecting a PlayStation -- Connecting a Wii -- Connecting an Xbox 360 -- Connecting Home Appliances to Your Network -- Home Automation -- Remote Sensors and Controls -- Bar Code Readers and Remote Data Entry -- If You Can Convert It to Digits, You Can Put It on the Network -- 16: Other Network Applications -- Remote Desktop -- Windows Remote Desktop -- Virtual Network Computing (VNC) -- MaxiVista: Adding a Screen -- Multiple Monitors -- Remote Control -- Synchronizing Files -- Instant Messaging and Live Communication -- Servers vs. Peer-to-Peer Messaging -- Internet-Based IM Services -- Messaging Through a LAN.

Messaging Through a Virtual Private Network -- Audio and Video Messaging -- 17: Troubleshooting -- General Troubleshooting Techniques -- Define the Problem -- Look for Simple Solutions First -- Isolate the Problem -- Retrace Your Steps -- Keep Notes -- Viruses and Other Nasties -- Other Common Problems -- Configuration Settings -- DHCP Settings: DNS and Default Gateway -- Failed Connection to a Specific Site -- An Alternate Connection to the Internet -- The Collective Wisdom of the Internet -- Software for Troubleshooting -- Network Magic -- Protocol Analyzers -- ISP Problems -- Don't Panic -- Index -- Updates.