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Build Your Own Home Network
by By Ron Gilster and Diane Gilster, Reviewed by Brian K. Lewis, Ph.D.—Sarasota Personal Computer Users Group, Inc. , admin@spcug.org - December 02, 2000 at 14:08:11:
How many computers do you have in your house? If it’s more than one, you have probably wondered about how you can share a printer, scanner, and/or Internet connection. This book gives you most of the gory details on how to set up your own network.Overall, the book is well written and does include many details needed for setting up a standard, wired, Ethernet network. The authors start by explaining many technical terms used in networking. Probably the most useful part of this book to the beginner is the explanation of the terminology involved in networking. There are also many photographs throughout the book. The hardware photos are generally of excellent quality. Unfortunately, the computer screen shots are generally quite fuzzy. The text does contain all the information needed to interpret the screen photos, but clearer pictures would be helpful.
For those who wish to set up a wired network for more than two computers this book would be very useful. If you only wish to set up a network for two computers, the book recommends a 10BaseT crossover cable. There is a little confusion in their references to this cable. The statements on pages 66 and 67 imply that you need a crossover cable to connect all the computers to the hub. Actually, standard cables would be used for a network hub connection while the crossover cable would connect a two-computer system. (Ed: No hub)
You can also use a 10Base2 coaxial cable for a two-computer system. However, they do not mention this in the text. They do mention that coaxial cable networks can be used for a more than two computer network. They also state that in a coaxial network the computers are connected “in-line.” So when one in the middle is powered off, the network goes down. Whereas, with an Ethernet 10Base T network, with a hub, individual computers can be powered off without affecting the entire network.
Although the book purports to be about all forms of home networking, only the wired Ethernet system using a hub (Star topology) really gets any space. There is mention of wireless systems, telephone line and power line systems, but it is very brief and not too helpful. The authors call these “kit systems” and then ignore any positive aspects of these alternative networks. For those who are unable or unwilling to string Ethernet cable throughout their house or apartment, these alternate systems do have something to offer. The telephone line systems do work without interfering with either incoming or outgoing telephone calls. The wireless systems work up to 150 feet apart. However, the entire network must be wireless. You cannot mix wired and wireless systems. I have no doubt that will change with time. After all, we are now installing business systems with combinations of wired and wireless stations.
The book also discusses setting up the software for your network using Microsoft Windows networking functions. In this section, they lead you through the setup in sequence. They also tell you how to use Internet Connection Sharing that Microsoft provides in Windows 98 SE. They also have a short section on using DSL for your Internet connection. In this section, they mention the need for installing either a hardware or a software firewall. They do recommend the use of ZoneAlarm as a software firewall, something I know you’ve all read about here.
The last item in the software section is the setting up of file and printer sharing. I know that this is frequently the main reason for a home network. However, the book recommends setting up your internal network using the TCP/IP setting. Since TCP/IP is the protocol used for all Internet traffic, most network advisors recommend that IPX/SPX or NetBEUI be used as the protocol for the internal network. That adds an additional layer of protection from possible intrusion from the outside. I would suggest using NetBEUI as it restricts the traffic to within a single local area network.
While searching the Web for information on home networks, I found the following URL’s which provide more details on other types of networks. Anyone who plans on setting up a network should check out the information on these sites as a supplement to the information in this book.
www.sohoware.com, www.technocopia.com, www.zdnet.com, www.helmig.com, www.cable-modem.net/tt/networking.html, www.hnsolutions.co.uk, www.compnet working.miningco.com, www.microsoft.com/homenet
These sites will also lead you to many others, all of which provide valuable information on home networks.
“Build Your Own Home Network” written by Ron Gilster and Diane Gilster, published by the Osborne Division of McGraw-Hill. The company’s Website address is: www.osborne.com. The list price is $24.99, but the book is available for $19.99 from Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble (bn.com).
Copyright 2000. Sarasota Personal Computer Users Group, Inc., P.O. Box 15889, Sarasota, FL 34277-1889. e-mail: admin@spcug.org/ Web: http://www.spcug.org/
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