Home networking survival guide

Clear, precise advice for setting up your first home network

Want to set up a home network, but not sure where to begin? Look no further because help has arrived! Now you can set up and install your very first home network using this easy-to-follow and jargon-free guide. Filled with step-by-step instructions, this straightforward resource will show you how to network with both Windows and Macintosh systems — with minimum fuss and with just a few inexpensive products. From choosing the right cables to file sharing and connecting to the Internet, this book contains all you need to get a home network up and running quickly and easily.

The Home Networking Survival Guide features:

• An introduction to basic concepts in clear, non-technical language
• Logically-organized chapters divided into sections for ease of use
• Easy-to-spot icons to help navigate through the book's content
• Step-by-step instructions for setup and troubleshooting
• Straightforward, practical advice to specific problems
• Solutions accompanied with helpful illustrations and screen shots

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ..... xv

Introduction ..... xvii

1: Home Wiring Choices ..... 1

Networking Vocabulary ..... 2

Problems ..... 5

Location Problem ..... 5

Drilling Problem ..... 6

Wireless Problems ..... 6

Wiring Type Problem ..... 6

Windows 95 Problem ..... 8

Old Mac Problem ..... 9

Under-the-Hood Problem ..... 9

Solutions ..... 10

Situation #1: PhoneLine Networking ..... 14

Situation #2: Wireless Networking ..... 16

Situation #3: Buying a New PC with a

Network Adapter Preinstalled ..... 21

Situation #4: Mac Networks ..... 22

Situation #5: Standard Ethernet Adapters ..... 24

Situation #6: Wire ed USB Adapters ..... 27

Wiring Your Horn ..... 28

Recap: Buying the Right Hub ..... 29

Troubleshooting ..... 31

When Do I Troubleshoot My Network? ..... 31

I Can't Get My Cables Fabricated ..... 32

Futures ..... 32

2: Sharing Files ..... 33

Problems ..... 34

What Do I Have to Install? ..... 34

Applications Aren't for Sharing ..... 35

Other Things You Don't Want to Share on Your Network ..... 35

Solutions ..... 36

Install the Appropriate Network Adapter and

Operating System Drivers ..... 37

Install the Networking Components You Need ..... 38

IP Network Setup ..... 39

Enable File Sharing on Each of Your Computers ..... 46

Adjusting Your Applications ..... 52

Mixed Mac and Windows Networks ..... 52

Troubleshooting ..... 55

Your Windows PC Won't Recognize

Your Network Adapter ..... 55

The Lights on Your Hub Aren't Lit ..... 56

Something Is Wrong with Your IP Network ..... 56

You Have Too Many Networking Components ..... 59

Disappearing Networked Drive ..... 60

Your Login and Workgroup Names

Aren't the Same on All Computers ..... 60

Locking Down Your Network for

Specific Family Members ..... 61

The Servers Don't Appear in the Mac Chooser ..... 61

Troubles with Wireless Networks ..... 61

Futures ..... 64

3: Sharing Printers ..... 67

Problems ..... 68

Solutions ..... 71

Situation 1: Only Windows PCs, Keeping Printers in Present Locations ..... 72

Situation 2: You Have a Network of Just Macintoshes ..... 76

Situation 3: Moving a Printer to a New Location,

Windows PCs Only ..... 77

Situation 4: Sharing a Printer on a Mixed Windows/Mac Network ? ..... 85

Troubleshooting ..... 87

Can't Find a Printer ..... 87

Understanding Networked Printer Names ..... 87

Macintosh Printing Problems ..... 87

Trouble Getting Your HP Print Server's

4: Sharing Your Internet Connection ..... 91

Problems ..... 93

Problem 1: Picking the Right Connection Technology ..... 93

Problem 2: (More) Home Wiring Issues ..... 99

Problem 3: Picking the Right Access Device ..... 100

Problem 4: Setting Up Your IP Network ..... 101

Problem 5: Buying a Router and Configuring

All Your PCs ..... 101

Solutions ..... 104

Netgear Product Line Description ..... 114

Keeping Track of Netopia and Farallon Products ..... 116

Setting Up Your Frhub ..... 116

Setting Up Frhubs on Cable Systems ..... 117

Finishing Up the job ..... 118

Troubleshooting ..... 120

Suddenly, the Internet Seems Slow ..... 120

Everything Seems To Be Working, but

You Can't Access the Internet ..... 121

You Get the Message "Server Not Four" ..... 123

Interpreting the Lights on the Frhub ..... 123

How to Set Up a MAC Spoofing Address ..... 124

Using an Internal ISDN or DSL Modem ..... 126

You Can't Access the Internet After Resetting or

Powering Off/On Your Cable Modem ..... 126

You Have Trouble Connecting Your Router to

Your Cable Modem ..... 127

You Can't Update Your Router's Firmware ..... 127

Don't Update Your DSL or Cable Modem's Firmware ..... 127

Futures ..... 128

5: Using E-Mail on Your Home Network ..... 129

Problems ..... 131

Solutions ..... 134

Selecting the Right E-Mail Product ..... 135

Running Multiple Accounts on a Single PC ..... 138

AOL Issues ..... 142

Managing Mailing-List Subscriptions ..... 144

Publishing Your Own Mailing Lists ..... 145

Dealing with Spam ..... 147

Encrypting and Protecting Your Conversations ..... 149

Troubleshooting ..... 151

Can't Connect to Your Mail Server ..... 151

Can Receive but Can't Send Messages ..... 152

Coping with Error Messages ..... 152

Blocking AOL IM Access from Your Network ..... 155

Futures ..... 157

6: Securing Your Network ..... 159

Problems ..... 160

Threats from E-Mail Attachments ..... 161

Threats from Microsoft Office Users ..... 163

Threats from Visiting Web Sites ..... 164

Understanding IP Network Traces ..... 165

Scan Your Ports ..... 167

Solutions ..... 169

Antivirus Software ..... 169

Windows Changes ..... 174

Troubleshooting ..... 184

Is It Really a Virus? ..... 185

When Not to Give Someone Your Credit Card Number ..... 185

Removing a Virus from Your PC ..... 187

Tracking Virus Origins ..... 187

Using Alternative Antivirus Programs ..... 189

Setting Up Antivirus on the SonicWall ..... 189

Setting Up a VPN on the SonicWALL ..... 190

Recommended Reading ..... 191

Futures ..... 192

7: Keeping Track of Your Family ..... 193

Problems ..... 194

Solutions ..... 195

Computer Locations ..... 198

House Rules ..... 199

Monitoring ..... 200

Blocking ..... 202

Troubleshooting ..... 206

Futures ..... 206

8: Fun and Games ..... 207

Games ..... 208

Keeping Track of the Time ..... 210

Making Movies ..... 211

Getting E-Mail when Away from Home ..... 214

Hooking Up Your PC to Your Home Stereo Equipment ..... 217

Internet Appliances ..... 223

Web-Based Calendaring and Contacts Services ..... 227

Internet-Based Fax Services ..... 228

Home Control ..... 230

The Internet Telephone ..... 233

The Future of Home Networking ..... 234

A: Tips for Fixing Windows Network Problems ..... 237

Problems ..... 238

B: Securing Your Desktop from Automatic File Associations ..... 251

C: A Case Study in New Home Wiring for Data, Voice, and Cable ..... 255

Index ..... 261