Table of Contents -- Introduction -- Chapter 1 Assembling Your Network Installation Tool Cache -- Basic Tools -- Power Tools -- Task Lighting -- Specialized Tool Kits -- Telephone-Wiring Tools -- Network-Wiring Tools -- TV Cable Wiring Tools -- Electrical Repair Tools -- Testing, Troubleshooting, and Repair Tools -- Helpful Holding Tools -- Personal Safety Equipment -- Chapter 2 Network Design Fundamentals -- Understanding Networking Roles and Responsibilities -- Network Designer -- Installer -- End User -- Network Administrator -- Troubleshooter -- Defining Quality -- Quality by Design, Not by Default -- Functionality -- Size -- Reach -- Speed -- Extensibility -- Ease of Use -- Reliability -- Ease of Administration and Maintenance -- Security -- Availability of Documentation -- Orderliness -- Load Balance -- Identifying Necessary Networking Components and Determining the Network Infrastructure -- Network Installation Milestones -- Chapter 3 Selecting Your Host Servers -- Server-Selection Criteria -- Software Requirements -- Operating System -- CPU -- Expansion/Upgrade Criteria -- Drive Types, Space, and Speeds -- Physical Characteristics -- Brand -- Other Considerations -- Expected/Required Service Life -- Reliability Issues -- Warranty and Extended Warranty Options -- Service and Support Contracts -- Price -- Chapter 4 Selecting Peripheral Equipment -- Common Network Peripherals -- Categorizing Peripheral Equipment by End-User Community -- Equipment Needed by Individuals -- Functional Equipment for Groups -- Equipment That Serves Everyone -- Mapping End Users' Needs, Equipment, and Locations -- How Equipment Is Shared -- Network Operating System (NOS) Dependent -- NOS Independent -- Workstation Dependent -- Connection Considerations -- Ethernet -- Input/Output (I/O) -- Adding Audio and Video Features to Your Network -- Audio -- Video.

Chapter 5 Automating Your Home Network -- Home Network Functionality Levels -- Setting Up a Home Automation System -- System Requirements -- Installing HAL -- Setting Up HAL -- Tutorial: Setting Up Automated Controls for a Porch Light -- Top Ten Home Network Software Recommendations -- Determining Home Network System Requirements -- Assessing Your Needs -- Calculating Hardware Requirements -- Chapter 6 Network Operating Systems -- Exploring NOS Functionality -- Using Microsoft Vista as a Basic NOS -- Choosing a Small-Business NOS -- Novell (http://www.novell.com) -- Red Hat (http://www.redhat.com) -- Sun (http://www.sun.com) -- Microsoft (http://www.microsoft.com) -- Chapter 7 Network Installation Planning and Wiring -- Selecting Locations for Network Equipment -- General Criteria -- Criteria for Locating Servers -- Criteria for Locating Workstations -- Criteria for Locating Routers -- Criteria for Locating Web Cameras -- Criteria for Locating Printers -- Criteria for Locating Wireless Access Points -- Installation of Network Wiring -- Mounting Wall Boxes -- Running the Cables -- Making the Connections -- Building Patch Cords -- Adding Surge Protection -- Testing the Network Wiring -- Chapter 8 Connecting Your Home Network to the Internet -- Know the Lingo: Internet Technical Terms -- TCP/IP -- IP Address -- DHCP -- MAC Address -- NAT -- Private Networks -- Subnet Mask -- DNS -- Seven-Layer OSI Network Model -- Assessing Internet Service Plans -- Important Plan Features -- Less-Important Plan Features -- A Benchmark Plan -- Making the Connection -- Connecting with Dial-Up -- Connecting with DSL -- Connecting with Cable -- Connecting with Wireless (Wi-Fi) -- Chapter 9 Managing Your Network -- Overview of Network-Management Tasks -- Hardware Management and Maintenance -- Cleaning -- Performing Inspections -- Upgrading Firmware -- Upgrading Hardware.

Repairing Hardware -- Running Diagnostics -- Administration -- Maintaining System-Wide Documentation -- Administering and Supporting End Users -- Chapter 10 Network Security Concepts -- Security Sectors or Zones -- Logical Security Zones -- Data Security Zones -- Physical Access Zones -- Data Classification -- Open Data -- Protected Data -- Restricted Data -- Protecting Personal Privacy -- Security Policy Domains -- Baseline Security Measures -- Chapter 11 Networking Without the Wires -- Extending Networks with Wi-Fi -- Installing a Wireless Adapter -- Connecting to a WAP -- Setting Up a WAP -- Managing a Wireless Network -- Wireless Connection Metrics -- Chapter 12 Managing Your Firewall -- Types of Threats -- Understanding Firewalls -- Filtering Inbound or Outbound Traffic -- Filtering by Port Number -- Filtering by Traffic Type -- Filtering by Program, Application, or Service -- Implementing and Administering Your Firewall -- Using the Windows Vista Home Edition Firewall -- Using the Norton 360 Firewall -- Using the 2Wire Gateway Firewall -- Chapter 13 Security Software -- Determining Security Software Needs -- Identifying Inherent Risks -- Threat Vectors -- Risk Avoidance -- Defensive Measures -- Deploying Desktop Security Software -- Removing Old Security Applications -- Loading the New Security Application -- Chapter 14 Installing and Maintaining Network Software -- The Software Maintenance Cycle -- Loading New Software -- Computer System Requirements -- Installing the Software -- Loading Updates, Service Packs, and Patches -- Scheduling Updates -- Updating Your Windows Vista Software -- Updating Your Security Software -- Updating Other Software -- Activating New Software -- Performing First-Run Diagnostics -- Backing Up and Restoring Your System -- Setting Up Automatic Backups -- Restoring Your Files and Computer.

Chapter 15 Staying Connected with Mobile Wireless -- Obtaining Wireless Internet Access -- Loading the Drivers and Installing the Phone Software -- Authenticating and Registering the Software -- Using the Device to Connect to the Internet -- Appendix A: Mobile Communication Service Providers -- Major U.S. Cellular Service Providers -- Satellite Service Providers -- Appendix B: Free or Cheap Home or Small-Office Network Software Downloads -- Appendix C: Your Window to the World: The World Wide Web -- Leveraging Your Connection to the Web -- Popular Uses of the Web -- Finding or Publishing Information -- Communicating -- Enjoying Entertainment and Media -- Engaging in Commerce -- Downloading Software -- Surveillance -- Index -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- J -- K -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- Q -- R -- S -- T -- U -- V -- W -- X-Z.