Broadband Internet Connections: A User's Guide to DSL and Cable [Paperback]

Roderick W. Smith (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0201738279 | ISBN-13: 978-0201738278 | Publication Date: October 21, 2001 | Edition: 1

Now, there's a definitive hands-on guide to broadband Internet access for every home and small business user. Roderick Smith covers all you need to know to make the most of your high-speed connection, from basic configuration to running servers -- including practical guidance on securing your connection against hackers. Smith begins with an overview of each leading broadband technology, and its key advantages and drawbacks. In addition to DSL and cable modems, he also covers fiber optic, satellite, and wireless broadband solutions. He demonstrates how to configure your computer to use broadband connections, covering both hardware and software interfaces, presenting details for Windows, MacOS, and Linux systems. The book contains a full chapter on broadband applications, as well as detailed troubleshooting coverage. Next, Smith shows how to use your broadband connection to run a server -- including how to get a domain name; set up mail, Web, and game servers; and permit secure logins from remote systems. For every home and small business considering -- or already using -- a high-speed Internet connection.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

If you are considering or already have a broadband Internet connection for your home or small business, this complete, accessible handbook tells you all you need to know. It provides a readable overview of available broad-band technologies, focusing on DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) and cable, and shows how to access the latest, most innovative Internet applications, such as streaming audio and video, interactive games, videoconferencing, and high-speed downloads. You will also get a look at such up-and-coming technologies as fiber-optic, satellite, and wireless broadband.

This book explains basic broadband configuration, demonstrating in detail how to configure your system to get the most out of it. You will also find extensive information on running a broadband server and sharing a broadband connection among several networked computers. Because broadband systems are constantly connected to the Internet, security issues are even more pressing than they are with a regular dial-up modem. Broadband Internet Connections provides a pragmatic guide to Internet security by addressing such important topics as assessing risk and methods, and tools for reducing risk.

Specific topics covered include:

Comparing advantages and drawbacks of DSL and cable

Drivers, IP addresses, DHCP, and PPPoE for broadband

The specifics of Windows, MacOS, and Linux configuration

Using broadband connections for Internet telephony, games, videoconferencing, and more

Performance tuning and troubleshooting broadband connections

Obtaining a domain name

Broadband management of e-mail, Web servers, and game servers

Remote access with broadband: SSH, FTP, SMB/CIFS, NFS, Telnet, X servers, and VNC

NAT and conventional routers for networked computers

Establishing and maintaining Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)

Firewalls, accounts, passwords, and other security tools and methods

In addition to comprehensive and practical explanations, Broadband Internet Connections provides numerous tips, warnings, and notes to enhance your knowledge and skill and enable you to set up and utilize a successful broadband connection.

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About the Author

Roderick W. Smith is an experienced Linux user and system administrator. He is also a professional computer book author whose titles include: Broadband Internet Connections (Addison-Wesley, 2002), Linux Samba Server Administration (Sybex, 2001), The Multi-Boot Configuration Handbook (Que, 2000), and Linux: Networking for Your Office (SAMS, 2000). Roderick holds a Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology from Tufts University.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 640 pages
• Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional; 1 edition (October 21, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0201738279
• ISBN-13: 978-0201738278
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,855,433 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best book on the subject, November 23, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Broadband Internet Connections: A User's Guide to DSL and Cable (Paperback)

This book is an excellent introduction to broadband. It manages the most difficult of tasks for a technical book: it is simple and clear enough for the beginner, while supplying enough detail to satisfy the needs (and curiosity) of advanced users. Not only is there ample theoretical detail, the author goes through the pratctical details of accomplishing different tasks in Windows, MacOS, and Linux.

It is a particularly good book when compared to the atrocious "DSL for Dummies", which takes some basic information and repeats it over and over until it achieves book length. For the same price (as of this writing), "Broadband Internet Connections", at 600 pages, covers the same basic information (in a much more clear and concise fashion) and supplements it with enough additional material to satisfy almost any broadband need.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good broadband users book, February 11, 2002

By 

"cable_modems_org" (DK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Broadband Internet Connections: A User's Guide to DSL and Cable (Paperback)

Pretty good book. It covers a lot more then what the average broadband user wants to know about the technology, configuration, running servers and security. The book is very easy to understand, yet almost 100% correct in all the details. Not the a book for the high technical level, but a very good book for the advanced or maybe just curious users.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very detailed. Introductory and intermediate, a good read, June 2, 2003

By 

Chris Mcnally (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Broadband Internet Connections: A User's Guide to DSL and Cable (Paperback)

This is an excellent book especially to get server software, such as a web server, ftp server, etc on your broadband connection. There is quite a lot of detail, for mac, PC and Linux, on setting up and configuring various types of servers. There is also a lot of good introductory and background material as well to build your understanding of the concepts and the issues.

However, you will need more than just this book, if you want to get a mail server or something more complex up and running. you can find that on the Net or as part of the software you download.

There are examples for each operating system on setting up and configuring a mail server, ftp server and web server. Game servers are covered as well.

The material on NAT, routers, firewalls, etc, i think should have all been at the begining of the book, since it is the most basic task almost everyone will need to acomplish. And I feel that NAT and networking using a computer as a router, rather than buying a hardware router, should have been near the back of the books as an advanced topic.