Home Networking Bible [Paperback]

Sue Plumley (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0764544160 | ISBN-13: 978-0764544163 | Publication Date: February 20, 2004 | Edition: 2

Everything you need to know to set up a home network

Is a home network for you? This comprehensive guide covers everything from deciding what type of network meets your needs to setting up the hardware and software, connecting different operating systems, installing the necessary applications, managing the network, and even adding home entertainment devices. Fully updated with new material on all the latest systems and methods, it's just what you need to set up your network and keep it running safely and successfully.

Inside, you'll find complete coverage of home networking
* Compare the advantages and disadvantages of wired and wireless networks
* Understand how to choose between workgroup and client/server networking
* Learn how to install and set up cables and routers and how to install and configure networking software
* Share files, printers, and a single Internet connection
* Back up files and secure your network
* Set up your own home intranet and understand the technologies involved in creating a Web page
* Manage your network and learn to use tools for locating and repairing problems
* Expand your home network to include your digital camera, scanner, TV, sound system, and even game consoles
* Explore SmartHome technology that allows you to automate various household functions
* Investigate how your network can enable tele-commuting and other remote access capabilities

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Everything you need to know to set up a home network

Is a home network for you? This comprehensive guide covers everything from deciding what type of network meets your needs to setting up the hardware and software, connecting different operating systems, installing the necessary applications, managing the network, and even adding home entertainment devices. Fully updated with new material on all the latest systems and methods, it’s just what you need to set up your network and keep it running safely and successfully.

Inside, you’ll find complete coverage of home networking

• Compare the advantages and disadvantages of wired and wireless networks
• Understand how to choose between workgroup and client/server networking
• Learn how to install and set up cables and routers and how to install and configure networking software
• Share files, printers, and a single Internet connection
• Back up files and secure your network
• Set up your own home intranet and understand the technologies involved in creating a Web page
• Manage your network and learn to use tools for locating and repairing problems
• Expand your home network to include your digital camera, scanner, TV, sound system, and even game consoles
• Explore SmartHome technology that allows you to automate various household functions
• Investigate how your network can enable tele-commuting and other remote access capabilities

About the Author

Sue Plumley has owned and operated her own business, Humble Opinions Company, Inc., since 1988. Humble Opinions specializes in network installation, configuration, maintenance, and troubleshooting for a variety of small businesses and corporations. Sue also has taught networking and the use of various software applications at the College of West Virginia and Glenville College in West Virginia. In addition, Sue has written and contributed to more than 75 books about networking and computer software for various publishers.

Product Details

• Paperback: 765 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 2 edition (February 20, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764544160
• ISBN-13: 978-0764544163
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.3 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,005,411 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great networking help for newbies!, December 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Home Networking Bible (Bible (Wiley)) (Paperback)

This book really helped me set up my in-home business network. My wife and I work in separate rooms; we wanted to share files and especially the laser printer. Home Networking Bible made it so easy. It told me what to buy, how to set it up, and what to do to make the Windows computers see each other. Highly recommend this book!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Easy understanding, September 23, 2004

By 

W Boudville (Terra, Sol 3) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Home Networking Bible (Paperback)

Even in the years of the dot com crash, PC usage and upgrading has continued unabated, driven by a still relentless Moore's Law. One huge area of this usage has been the home, and Plumley devotes her book to aiding you. Unlike an office environment, you have no IT staff to delegate the gruntwork to. Just you. And her.

So she carefully goes over enough technical detail to be intelligible and useful to you. Covering the latest Microsoft operating systems, with accompanying details on the Macintosh and linux. As an aside, the fact that she chose to include linux in a book like this speaks eloquently to its rise in a mass consumer market; no longer confined to server side applications.

On your network, she gives extensive information about having a wired or wireless setup. The pros and cons of both. Like a wired net being more secure against evesdropping, and usually having higher bandwidth. But being much more labour intensive to install, and often greater capital costs, compared to having just some WiFi hub. Certainly though, WiFi has been and is one of the bright spots in hi-tech right now, and Plumley walks you through its acronym-filled thicket.

She also does not ignore various other devices that can live on your net. Like a PDA or Xbox. Here is a chance for you to test for yourself some of the fabled convergence of computing and entertainment, about which so much has been postulated and invested by others.

11 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars a decent book, but "Networking by Example" is better, February 22, 2001

By 

Robert Nagle "idiotprogrammer" (Houston, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Home Networking Bible (Bible (Wiley)) (Paperback)

This book looked pretty good, but I wanted to point out another book, "Networking by Example" by Barry Press which is truly outstanding. This Bible book, as I remember it, contained a lot of information that was specific to Windows 98 and NT as well as protocols and OS's not around anymore. Also, in general the "bible" books tend to be cluttered with more information you don't really need. The home networking bible was helpful, but Networking by Example was much more succinct.