Home Networking: The Missing Manual (Paperback)

by Scott Lowe (Author)
Key Phrases: storage link, airport express, printer sharing, File Sharing, Control Panel, System Preferences (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"...is recommended reading for anyone who uses a PC and wants to embark on home networking, wireless or otherwise." BJHC&IM, March 2006

Product Description
Millions of computers around the world today are connected by the Internet, so why is it still so hard to hook up a few PCs in you own home? Whether you want to share an Internet connection, install WiFi, or maybe just cut down on the number of printers you own, home networks are supposed to help make your life easier. Instead, most aspiring home networkers get lost in a confusing maze of terms and technologies: 802.11g, Fast Ethernet, Cat 5 cable (or was it Cat 5e?), Powerline, and on and confusingly on. That's where Home Networking: The Missing Manual comes in. Using clear language, straightforward explanations, and a dash of humor, this book shows you how to do everything you need to set up a home network. Coverage includes: WiFi, Ethernet, or Powerline? There are several kinds of digital pipes that you can use to create your network, and none of them have friendly names. This book tells you what they are, explains the pros and cons of each, and helps you figure out what you need to buy, and how to install it. Windows and Mac info included. Half the battle in home networking takes place after you've bought your gear and plugged it in. That's because the routers, network adapters, and cables that you need get you only part way towards networking nirvana. Whether you've got PCs or Macs or both, you'll need help tweaking your computers' settings if you want to get all your machines talking to each other. This book covers most known operating system flavors, including Windows XP, 2000, Me, and 98, and Mac OS X and OS 9. Fun things to do with your network. The real fun starts once your network is up and running. This book shows you how to do much more than simply share an Internet connection and a printer. You'll learn how to stream music from your PCs to your stereo, how to display pictures on your TV, how to hook up game consoles to your network, and more! Most important, this book helps you understand the difference between what you need to know to create and use your home network and what's best left to those looking for a career as a system administrator. In Home Networking: The Missing Manual you'll find everything you need to get your network running-and nothing more.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 263 pages
• Publisher: Pogue Press (July 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 059600558X
• ISBN-13: 978-0596005580
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #137,744 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #3 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Business & Culture > File Sharing
  #47 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Networking > Networks, Protocols & APIs > LAN
  #89 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Networking > Intranets & Extranets

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MUST HAVE!!!! DOn't Try it Without This Book, October 19, 2005

By	Warren Kelly (Southern Ohio) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I wish I had read this book about three months ago. I bought a wireless router and a card for my laptop. I set up the network. I could get on the internet now from the laptop -- I was thrilled.

Then I tried to print. Nothing.
Then I tried file sharing. Nothing.

If I had a new laptop, it would have been no problem, but I have an ancient laptop -- a Pentium 1, 166Mhz machine running Windows 98. And I had no clue what to do.

I'm still not really sure how I got everything to work right. I messed with settings and finally got it working. I can print, and share files. But it took me a lot of mucking around with things that I really didn't feel qualified to muck around with.


As I read this book, I kept saying "I should have done THAT!! Why didn't I do THAT? So THAT'S what that does!" Slapped myself on the forehead a few times, too. It was bad -- my head still hurts.

This book breaks the process of setting up a home network down into managable steps. It talks about both Windows and Mac OS setup, and shows easy ways to get the two operating systems talking to each other. It shows how to set up wireless AND regular networks -- it even mentions Powerline networking, and shows how it can be used to extend an existing network. Everything you need to start networking at home is right here, in one volume.

I learned several things that I'm planning on using in the near future. One problem with my home systems is the lack of storage space. This book shows how to set up networked storage using USB hard drives and a Linksys Network Storage Link. I've also been introduced to Apple's AirPort Express, which I would already own if I had seen it before.

This book is essential for anyone who is going to set up a home network. If you've done that already, read the book anyway. You might get some ideas for things that you can do with your network that you hadn't thought of before.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Deals with the basics only, December 12, 2005

By	Richard Drdul (Vancouver, BC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is a good introduction to the basics of networking, but provides very little "advanced" information. Most of what's in the book can be found on any number of web sites dedicated to the subject of networking. I was looking for more of an understanding of the nitty gritty details of computer networks, but didn't find what I was looking for in this book. There's very little troubleshooting information, which is a surprise given how often "troubles" arise when networking computers.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly wide range, August 2, 2005

By	Jack D. Herrington "engineer and author" (Silicon Valley, CA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Not only does this book cover the usual topics you would expect; Windows networking, Macintosh networking, hard wire, wireless, routing and firewalls. It also covers topics like XBox and TiVo networking. All of the in a compact little 250 page frame.

The coverage is end-user centric as you would expect given the title and the series. There are some tips for power users, but primarily the focus in the home user. There are some diversions like gaming lingo, but otherwise this is a solid and terse read.