Home Networking: The Missing Manual

Introduction

A decade ago, the Internet took off, thanks to a number of happy coincidences: PCs were cheaper and easier to use than ever; computer scientists developed an easy way to share information over the Internet (the Web); and some guy figured out how the Web could be used to help trade his girlfriend's Pez dispensers (eBay). The rest, as they say, is history.

Home networking today is undergoing similar growth, albeit on a slightly smaller scale. Thanks to computer prices dropping even further (many homes now have multiple PCs), operating systems that have built-in networking capabilities (true for both Windows and the Mac OS), and a growing number of devices such as printers, stereos, and game consoles that are ready to network, more and more people are coming to the tantalizing, yet potentially hair-pulling conclusion: "Hey, maybe it's time for me to set up a home network."

The next step usually involves a quick peek at the Sunday paper's networking gear ads or a visit to the local electronics store. Exit enthusiasm, enter fear. Not only are the gadgets confusingly and intimidatingly named (802.11g Wireless Cable/DSL Router with Built-in 4-port Switch, anyone?), there are precious few people in the world who understand how this stuff works and who are capable of explaining what mainstream civilians need in their homes.

That's where Home Networking: The Missing Manual comes in. Using clear, jargon-free language, this book helps you understand what kind of gear you need for ...