(NOTE: All chapters conclude with a Chapter Summary.) Introduction. Conventions Used in This Book. How This Book Is Organized. I. NETWORK BASICS. 1. Computer Networking Overview. What Is a Network? Why Network Your Computers? A Look at Mainframes and Minicomputers. The Advent of the Personal Computer. PC Networking: How It All Began. Clients and Servers: What Does It All Mean? Network Players: Users and Administrators. Understanding LAN Data Transmission. Networking Does Not Require the "All Knowing". 2. Different Needs, Different Networks. Understanding Peer-to-Peer Networking. Server-Based Networks. Understanding Network Topologies. Assessing Your Network Needs. Planning the Network. 3. Networking Hardware. Working with Network Interface Cards. Working with Network Connectivity Devices. Some Thoughts on PC Hardware. 4. Building the Network Infrastructure. Understanding Network Architectures. Understanding Ethernet. Understanding IBM Token-Ring. Understanding AppleTalk. Understanding FDDI. Choosing a Network Connectivity Strategy. 5. Network Protocols: Real and Imagined. Understanding the OSI Model. How the OSI Model Works. Thoughts on Using a Conceptual Model. TCP/IP. IPX/SPX. Other Network Protocols of Note. II. GETTING THE NETWORK UP AND RUNNING. 6. Configuring Peer-To-Peer Networks. Selecting and Configuring Network Protocols. Setting Up the Peer-to-Peer Network. Combining Linux and Windows. A Final Word on Peer-to-Peer Networking. 7. Working with Network Operating Systems. What Is an NOS? Client and NOS Interaction. Configuring a Server with an NOS. Working with Microsoft Windows Server. Working with Novell NetWare. Other Network Platforms of Note. A Final Word on Network Operating Systems. 8. Sharing Resources on the Network. What Is a Network Share? Sharing Folders and Drives. Working with User Directories. Locating Network Resources. Sharing Printers. How Network Printing Works. Configuring a Print Server. Managing a Network Printer. Working in Mixed Network Environments. 9. Working with Applications on the Network. Selecting Application Software. Using Application Software on the Network. Working with Groupware Products. Understanding Client/Server Databases. III. EXPANDING YOUR NETWORK. 10. Expanding a LAN with WAN Technology. Working with the Plain Old Telephone System. Working with Dial-up and Dedicated Connections. The T-Carrier System. Understanding Switched Networks. A Word Regarding Remote Access. 11. How the Internet Works. Where Did the Internet Come From? Working with the File Transfer Protocol. Understanding Electronic Mail. Working with the Web. Other Internet Onramps. Understanding DNS. 12. Connecting a Network to the Internet. Connecting to the Internet. Getting Your Own Domain Name. Getting Your IP Addresses. Sharing an Internet Connection. Working with Proxy Servers. Understanding Network Address Translation. 13. Hosting a Web Site. The Internet and Your Corporate Presence. Who Will Host Your Web Site? Creating a Web Site. Taking Advantage of an Intranet. IV. KEEPING THE NETWORK RUNNING SMOOTHLY. 14. Protecting Network Data. Understanding Hard Drives. Working with RAID. Understanding the RAID Flavors. Backing Up Data. Working with Uninterruptible Power Supplies. 15. Network Troubleshooting. It's Not Always User Error. Identifying Network Operating System Problems. Diagnosing Hardware and Network Problems. Dealing with Connectivity Issues. Your Approach to Troubleshooting. 16. A Network Security Primer. Administrators and Users. Working with User Accounts. Understanding Share Permissions. Using Groups to Provide Access Levels. Fighting Against Viruses. Protecting a Network from Outside Attack. Understanding Firewalls. Types of Firewalls. A Final Word on Network Security. 17. Networking on the Run. The Evolution of Mobile Computing Devices. Working with Laptops. Understanding Remote Access. Understanding Access Protocols. Managing Remote Connections. Working with Virtual Private Networks. 18. PDAs and the Network. The Personal Digital Assistant. PDA Operating Systems. Working Offline and Online. Synchronizing PDAs and the Desktop. Introducing Bluetooth Technology. 19. Future Networks: Where Is Technology Taking Us? Network Operating Systems with More Muscle. High Speeds Coming to a Network Near You. Groupware Becomes Webware. IP Addressing Using IPv6. Here Comes IP Telephony. Computing on the Run Kicks into High Gear. Peer Computing on the Internet. Where Will It All End? V. APPENDIXES. Appendix A. Glossary. Appendix B. Online Networking Resources. Networking Theory and Information. Network Interface Cards (Including Phone Line Networks and Wireless Networks). Network Connectivity Hardware (Hubs, Switches, and Routers). Computer Hardware (Drives, Motherboards, RAM, UPS, Tape Backup, and Modems). Operating Systems and Network Operating Systems. Groupware and Shared Databases. Network Monitoring and Security (Including Antivirus Software). Laptops and Handheld Computers. Index.
