The sort of system you use for your computing needs speaks volumes about who you are as a person, but it’s not the only thing that does. One of the best ways to tell what sort of user someone is – aside from examining their system – is to simply look at their desk. Where you work and play is as telling as what you use to accomplish both...

Some people are confused (or just have the wrong idea) about what a computer server actually is. The technical definition is that a server is a computer dedicated to providing a specific service or services. Concerning what you would use in the home, the most common example is a file server, i.e. a computer where its sole purpose in life is to store files you...

The following assumes that your wireless networking card has been properly detected by Ubuntu and all you want to do is connect to your network at this point. I have an older Dell Inspiron 6000 and the Intel PROset wireless detects with no problem whatsoever. Other from-OEM wireless cards should also detect properly as well. If you have a USB-based wireless...

The first step to getting into this field is to understand how it works. Here are some questions that I have found many people simply don’t understand:How does the internet work? When I put up a website, where does it go? When I enter a website address into my browser, what is happening?I have talked to people about this and the confusion is definitely...

In addition to hardware based firewalls (like routers) there are also software based firewalls. These typically come in the form of an anti-virus software package with a firewall built in. Software based firewalls, while good, are susceptible to some issues. They may: [hidepost=1]Inadvertently block access to web sites, such as for online banking. Cause file...

This simple checklist of tasks should get you started on using your router to its best ability, enhancing your LAN security. These are generic features that should be on most routers out there; consult your router’s user manual if you have doubts about where to find these settings. If you are still in the market looking to buy a router, a good idea is to...

Having a secure home network is your best defense against unwanted intrusions from the internet. Two methods (with multiple options) can be used to secure your home network. The first is hardware and the second is software. Note before continuing: All the hardware and software in the world you use to protect your home network will not protect you against...

Some routers have special means of handling Virtual Private Networks (VPN). Other routers may require putting the client computer for the VPN in the DMZ, which has reduced security. VPN features vary widely from router to router, and many routers do not have any VPN-specific features at all. [hidepost=1] VPN Passthrough A VPN passthrough detects PPTP and IPSec...

These features let you control what you let connect to your wireless network and what can pass through from the Internet to the local networks. By default, anyone and anything can connect to your wireless network, and there is no traffic from the Internet allowed to pass through to any computer on the local network. [hidepost=1] Common Features Firewall features...

This section lets you configure the wireless part of the router. This usually includes the SSID, channel, and encryption settings. [hidepost=1] Channel and SSID The SSID sets the name for your wireless router. Pick a fairly unique SSID. When you’re traveling, you’ll see many “linksys” “default” “smc” and other...

This chapter is a video presentation. [hidepost=1] [flv:http://pcmech.s3.amazonaws.com/BYON/13_remote_desktop_connectivity.flv 610 538] [/hidepost] [hidepost=2] Download video (MOV) [/hidepost]

Merging the computer with your home entertainment system on your home network is not only cool, it is one of the new things in the world of networking. Let’s look at how you can use some of those MP3 files and digital video and images that are sitting on your computer and stream them to your home entertainment system. [hidepost=1] Media Adapters A media...

Sharing a printer on your network is another very useful feature of a network. Allow all of your computers to use the same printer. There are three ways to accomplish this: [hidepost=1]Have the printer plugged directly into one of the computers on the network and simply use the operating system to share it. Plug the printer directly into the network using a...

This chapter is a video presentation. [hidepost=1] [flv:http://pcmech.s3.amazonaws.com/BYON/12_sharing_files_and_folders_in_windows.flv 610 538] [/hidepost] [hidepost=2] Download video (MOV) [/hidepost]

Q: (Wired/Wireless) All my router’s lights are on and will not go off. When I try to connect to the router, no network connectivity is present. What should I do? A: On all routers there is a “reset” option. It is a button physically on the router. If after a reset this does not work – power off the router, wait ten seconds and then turn it back...

This chapter is a video presentation. [hidepost=1] [flv:http://pcmech.s3.amazonaws.com/BYON/11_workgroups_and_protocols.flv 610 458] [/hidepost] [hidepost=2] Download video (MOV) [/hidepost]

This chapter is a video presentation. [hidepost=1] [flv:http://pcmech.s3.amazonaws.com/BYON/06_setting_up_networking_software.flv 610 458] [/hidepost] [hidepost=2] Download video (MOV) [/hidepost]

In order to get your PC’s to talk, it is necessary to perform some simple configuration. Here are the items that will need to be visited:IP Addresses. Each network adapter needs to have an IP address. Luckily, this functionality is usually taken care of automatically by your switch or router. Installation of Microsoft Network Client software. This is the...

This chapter is a video presentation. [hidepost=1] [flv:http://pcmech.s3.amazonaws.com/BYON/10_securing_your_wireless_network.flv 610 458] [/hidepost] [hidepost=2] Download video (MOV) [/hidepost]

This chapter is a video presentation. [hidepost=1] [flv:http://pcmech.s3.amazonaws.com/BYON/09_wireless_range.flv 610 458] [/hidepost] [hidepost=2] Download video (MOV) [/hidepost]