Network Know-How: An Essential Guide for the Accidental Admin [Paperback]

John Ross (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 18, 2009

Are the machines in your office living isolated lives? Do you have a few computers at home that you want to connect to each other and the Internet? The best way to share files on a group of computers is to create a network. But how do you do that?

Network Know-How is your guide to connecting your machines, filled with practical advice that will show you how to get things done. You'll learn the nitty-gritty of network setup, design, and maintenance, from running cables and placing wireless access points to configuring file sharing and printing. This practical and comprehensive guide will teach you how to implement security, create intranets, and more. You'll learn how to:

• Connect Windows, Macintosh, and Linux computers
• Implement network addressing
• Configure your network adapters, hubs, switches, and router
• Share music, photos, and documents
• Automate household appliances and stream digital audio and video to your home entertainment center
• Troubleshoot network slowdowns and failures

No matter which operating system you use, and even if you've never installed or run a network before, you'll get what you need to know in Network Know-How..

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Network Know-How is a great book....I highly recommend [it]" --Associated Content

Review

Network Know-How "is very well written and delivers lots of practical information."

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: No Starch Press; 1 edition (February 18, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1593271913
• ISBN-13: 978-1593271916
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #95,986 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #34 in Books > Computers & Technology > Hardware > Internet & Networking
  • #74 in Books > Computers & Technology > Networking > Intranets & Extranets

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I don't give five stars lightly - this deserves it., October 6, 2009

By 

Anthony Lawrence "Unix, Linux and Mac OS X" (Middleboro, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Network Know-How: An Essential Guide for the Accidental Admin (Paperback)

If I hired a new employee for my computer consulting business, I'd give them this to read. I'd HOPE that there was nothing in here they didn't already know, but I've seen supposedly knowledgeable people with tremendous knowledge gaps, so this would cover my bases.

Really it's more for the small business or home user. I can't tell you how many times I've had calls from very small businesses or home users who couldn't afford to pay me to help them with exactly the kinds of things this book covers. That's great, because too often I've felt sorry for them and helped for free: from now on I'll just tell them to get this book.

I was happy to see that the author did not ignore Linux and Mac OS X. I don't think he ignored much of anything: it's all here, from basic wiring to VPN's. No, it's not deep techy details, but it's more than enough to get you started and might just be all that you need. Best of all, it's completely non-threatening. You'd need to be very tech-phobic to feel frightened by this: the author explains things very gently, yet very completely.

I lead a little computer club here in our retirement community; I'm going to be waving this around at the next meeting and telling the people they want to get this. Very, very good.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just the Facts, Ma'am, March 11, 2009

By 

John Jacobson (Riverside CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Network Know-How: An Essential Guide for the Accidental Admin (Paperback)

Network Know-How is a straight to the point description of networks, what they do, how they operate, and how to manage them. The book is largely free of jargon and arcane, obscure terminology. Of course, normal network lingo has a certain amount of jargon, but the author does a good job of laying out the essentials in an easy to understand format.

Wired and wireless networks are covered, and good advice is given on securing wireless networks. Router functions are described in detail, the basics of using network file servers and network attached storage are documented. Instructions on setting up network access in Windows XP, Vista, Leopard, and Linux are provided. There is some basic information on a few of the network tools that provide problem solving abilities, such as IpConfig, ping, and TraceRoute.

There is a section on home entertainment, including setting up a media center, attaching a TIVO, and attaching your game console, such as a WII, PlayStation, or Xbox 360 to your network.

Finally, there is a brief outline of what to do when things don't work, a troubleshooting section. It is rudimentary, but does provide a place to start when you have a problem. A 14 page index is included.

This is an excellent reference for the occasional network administrator, or as the subtitle says, the "accidental admin." Those who work in network administration will not find much in this book of interest, and those looking for more detail should look elsewhere. Recommended for its target audience.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars For someone with absoloutely no experience in networks, August 4, 2009

By 

abc123 - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Network Know-How: An Essential Guide for the Accidental Admin (Paperback)

This would be a good book to introduce a person who has never done more than plug in a cable into their network card; for anyone else I'm afraid it is far too basic. The book has excessive amounts of what I consider 'filler.' For example: keeping your cables neat and orderly is emphasized several times, along with not accidentally connecting to your neighbor's wi-fi connection, devices must be within range of your wi-fi router to work, etc. The diagrams are overly simplified and important diagrams, like how to create a patch cable are left out. Far too often the book tells the reader to simply read the manual for whatever device is being set up.

This book is not completely without merit, it offers a broad overview of home networking but it is not a book you will likely reference after you have read it.

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