Customer Reviews

Networking For Dummies (For Dummies (Computers))

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

This book (4th Edition) answered the questions I had about networking my small business. Specifically, I needed to know: 1) should I use a peer-to-peer or a client/server LAN, 2) if client/server, should the server be dedicated as a server or could the server also be used as a workstation, 3) which operating system would be most appropriate for the clients or peers, 4) which network operationing system would be most appropriate for a server, 5) is the installation of the network within my scope.

Before buying the book I had searched the Web in vain (both computing-specific sites and search engines) looking for answers to these questions. This book provided the information I needed to answer all five questions. The information is very product specific (eg, Novell NetWare can be difficult to install and the complication and expense is not justified for a five-user network; a peer-to-peer LAN is easy to set up with Win95 or Win98; PCI network cards are much easier to configure than the older styles). The book is well written (ie, easy to read, to-the-point, relevant).

If you decide to install a peer-to-peer LAN with Win98, this is probably the only book you will need. If you decide to install a client/server LAN with a network operating system (NOS) such as NetWare or NT Server, you will probably need a book specific to those systems for installation and maintenance (there are Dummy books for both systems - which I haven't yet read). If you don't know which NOS to use, this book can help you decide.

Not a bad book, but it is VERY basic. If you have worked with a network before, there is little information you can glean from this text. For someone who knows little about networks, or computers as a whole, this may be a good purchase. Do not, however, expect this book to teach you everything you need to know about working with a network. It is very simple, which makes the topics easy to understand, but expect to get another book centering on your particular network if you plan to do some serious networking. I would, however, recommend this book to newbies in networking as it goes over terms and concepts that everyone must know.

Who this book is for: This book is intended to help the absolute beginner in computer networking get a basic overview of the issues and terminology involved. It is well-written and contains some of the typical "dummies"-humor helping to keep the text easily digestable.

What this book is NOT: A how-to manual that will get your network going if you're sitting in front of a screen clueless on a Sunday morning. That said: after reading this book you won't be clueless any more.

On to the detailed contents. The book is divided into six parts:

Part I: The absolute basics
No further info necessary: How to open up your computer, so that you can install a networking card, for example.

Part II: Building your own network
Planning you network; making basic choices of e.g cabling etc.

Part III: Network management for dummies
Basic network management: making backups, taking care of security

Part IV: Webifying your network
Creating the connection to the internet; creating websites

Part V: More ways to network
Miscelaneous, like: networking your home, dial-in networks and non-standard hard-/software (MacIntosh; Linux etc.)

Part VI: The part of tens
A number of top-ten lists, partially amusing, partially useless

As I wrote: the book is really good in helping you to obtain an overview of the types of networks that exist and the different terminologies/choices involved. Once you have made a decision that you will need/want to create a network involving operating system X running on computers of type y, you will probably need to get another, more specific book to help you dig deeper.

If you haven't made that decision yet: Go get this book!

I am a Macintosh graphics professional who recently started a new job for an ad agency. The network guru quit and guess who was left with the responsibility of maintaining and troubleshooting the studio network? This book saved my butt! It's a wonderfully written book geared toward the complete network dummy. I would have paid double.

Wow, perhaps the title says it all. If you need to know how to connect to a network *printer* this book might be the one for you. I build web sites and want to learn more about the backend, hardware side of things. Our network guys suggested that I learn about different kind of networks, OSI model and protocols. For that, I recommend "Teach Yourself Networking Visually" by maran graphics. The "Dummies" book is not what I needed. It's probably ideal for extreme novices.

I've often thought that computer books tend to leave out the first forty pages or so that tell you the broad picture of just what it is that you are trying to do. This book can almost be viewed as the front end of any number of dedicated networking books that start off just about where this one ends.

This book starts off with the most basic descriptions: "A network is nothing more than two or more computers connected by a cable (or wireless adapter) so that they can share information. From there it goes on to talk about how to set a network up. It's intended for the complete beginner and talks about things like cables, routers, hubs and so on in a simple and clear language interspersed with enough humor to keep you from going to sleep immediately.

This book is in reference format, it's not intended to be read from start to finish. Each chapter is self standing so you can go read about your problem of the moment. This book is specifically aimed at the beginner. If you're looking for something on trouble shooting or some of the esoteric aspects of networking you need something higher up.

I am a "Computer Specialist" and can only recommend this book to beginners, or basic computer users who want to get an idea of what a network is. This book gives an introduction to networking, and leaves a lot of loose ends. If the book didn't claim to give you the knowledge to build and manage "any size network," and said it was only for beginners, I'D GIVE IT MORE STARS. It's a good read; it's just too basic for all the claims made on the front, and back covers.

I also have to argue with some of the authors suggestions that users (who have read this book) should try to trouble-shoot the network before calling a guru. That's fine if you really are the one who is supposed to be doing that, it's your network, or you work in a "mom and pop" company. Don't do it otherwise. You're likely to get in trouble, or at least be thought of as a "Dummy." If you want to be a networking pro - and have very little, to no knowledge - start here and move up to more complete information. Good luck on your pursuit of knowledge. :)

Too many pages on equipment that is way out of date:

Coax cable w/ BNC connectors?
ISA Slots?
Tuning a Windows 95/98 or Millenium Edition Server?


Plus the writing is extremely corny...

I hate the title. Nonetheless, the book gave me what I needed: a quick introduction to my office LAN. I read the pertinent parts the night I received the book from Amazon. The next day, I was talking intelligently with the Network Thugs (LAN administrators--see the book). Three weeks later, thanks to the fast start, I trained my staff on what a LAN is and how to use it. I'd like to see about three more chapters: how to organize and share files, access and use network programs, and share peripherals. For some reason, Lowe devotes a brief chapter to using printers, but doesn't really cover the other applications. Add those and this would be THE networking book for neophytes.

I bought a home networking kit, and I was having problems connecting it, so I bought this book. This book had much less useful information than the manual that came witht the networking kit, and that was hundreds of pages smaller. This book really does not tell you how to actually hook up or work with network.