Cisco book 'simplifies home networking'

NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: DAVE KEARNS ON WINDOWS NETWORKING TIPS
07/13/05
Today's focus: Cisco book 'simplifies home networking'

Dear networking.world@gmail.com,

In this issue:

* "Networking Simplified: An illustrated home networking
  handbook"
* Links related to Windows Networking Tips
* Featured reader resource
_______________________________________________________________
This newsletter is sponsored by Fluke Networks
Special Report: Understanding the Changing Nature of Branch
Office Networks

Significant revenue is generated at the branch office. Business
needs to be seamless between locations. This special report
provides an approach to a resourceful way of using new tools and
analysis for branch offices. Learn about the analysis and
tools used to run a seamless branch business, click here to
download the report now,
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=108372
_______________________________________________________________
THE NEW DATA CENTER: SPOTLIGHT ON STORAGE

Network World's latest report takes a look at storage trends
such as virtualization, encryption and archiving. Here you will
also find seven tips for managing storage in the new data
center, how storage encryption can help ease the threat of
identity theft, why one exec believes its all about the
information and more. Click here:
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=107968
_______________________________________________________________

Today's focus: Cisco book 'simplifies home networking'

By Dave Kearns

A new book dropped through my mail slot the other day, one that
- at first glance - seems more appropriate for the SOHO
newsletter, or perhaps the Small Business Tech one. But it's
from the usually highly technical Cisco Press folks, so I gave
it a look.

It's called "Home Networking Simplified: An illustrated home
networking handbook for the everyday user" by Jim Doherty and
Neil Anderson.

It is copiously illustrated, and it is written in a simplified
style that non-IT people can understand. But it never stoops to
the (often strained) forced "humor" of some guides prepared - by
their own admission - for "idiots" and "dummies."

In fact, many parts of this book could be a useful primer for
many of your users - or even for members of your IT team. As an
example, in chapter 14, "Protecting your network from
intruders," there's a two page spread defining the various types
and purveyors of malware that every user on a network should be
familiar with: viruses, worms, Trojan horses, spyware,
denial-of-service, crackers, script kiddies, spoofing, and more.
How many people on your team could define a denial-of-service
attack, or a Trojan horse? You can read this chapter online (
<http://www.ciscopress.com/articles/article.asp?p=397914> ) as
it's the sample chapter at the Cisco Press Web site.

There's also good, useful information on phishing, urban
legends, spam and other e-mail susceptibilities that your users
could certainly use to become better informed. That would
benefit your network's health and wellbeing.

Of course, there's information that would only be useful to a
home network (connecting to broadband or dial-up Internet
services, for example). But even these chapters could save you
time - how often do your users bring their home PC problems to
your door looking for the magic answer?

You can view the expanded Table of Contents online (
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlwnt3223>), but here's the
chapter titles:
* Part I Networking Basics
* Chapter 1 What's a Network?
* Chapter 2 Networking Fundamentals
* Chapter 3 Connecting to the Internet
* Chapter 4 From the Geek Squad Files

* Part II Simple Home Networks
  * Chapter 5 Creating a Basic Home Network
  * Chapter 6 Sharing Network Resources
  * Chapter 7 High-Speed Internet Access
  * Chapter 8 From the Geek Squad Files

* Part III Look Ma, No Wires
  * Chapter 9 ABGs of Wireless
  * Chapter 10 Going Wireless at Home
  * Chapter 11 Securing Your Wireless Network
  * Chapter 12 Wireless Away from Home
  * Chapter 13 From the Geek Squad Files

* Part IV Security of Home Networks
  * Chapter 14 Protecting Your Network from Intruders
  * Chapter 15 Viruses and Other Malicious Software
  * Chapter 16 Other Vulnerabilities (Spam, Cookies, Pop-Ups,
   Spyware, and Scams)
  * Chapter 17 Keeping Your Family Safe on the Internet
  * Chapter 18 From the Geek Squad Files

* Part V Advanced Home Networks
  * Chapter 19 Wireless Print Servers: The Cure for Joy
  * Chapter 20 Video Surveillance
  * Chapter 21 Internet Phone Service
  * Chapter 22 Networked Entertainment Systems
  * Chapter 23 Online Gaming
  * Chapter 24 From the Geek Squad Files

You might want to excise the "Internet Gaming" chapter from any
copy you let your users see.

The "From the Geek Squad Files" chapters that end every section
are notes from the folks at <http://www.geeksquad.com/>, who
offer 24/7 computer support to mostly home users (you may have
seen their TV ads, or their cute little squadron of black and
white VW bugs). The Geek Squad files highlight the most frequent
problems they see in the area related to each specific part of
the book.

You might even learn some things, especially of newer
technologies like wireless networking or VoIP - things you've
been meaning to read up on, but just haven't had the time.

Get a copy of this book. Even if you find it's not useful to
your enterprise network (and I would find that hard to believe)
it'll make a great gift for that friend, neighbor or family
member who is always cornering you to help them fix a PC
problem.

RELATED EDITORIAL LINKS

Network World' Small-and-Midsize-Business Research Center
http://www.networkworld.com/topics/smb.html?rl

Network Life: The expert's guide to the connected home
http://www.networklifemag.com/?rl

Active Directory expands beyond Windows
Network World, 07/11/05
http://www.networkworld.com/nlwnt3224
_______________________________________________________________
To contact: Dave Kearns

Dave Kearns is a writer and consultant in Silicon Valley. He's
written a number of books including the (sadly) now out of print
"Peter Norton's Complete Guide to Networks." His musings can be
found at Virtual Quill <http://www.vquill.com/>.

Kearns is the author of three Network World Newsletters: Windows
Networking Tips, Novell NetWare Tips, and Identity Management.
Comments about these newsletters should be sent to him at these

respective addresses: <mailto:windows@vquill.com>,
<mailto:netware@vquill.com>, <mailto:identity@vquill.com>.

Kearns provides content services to network vendors: books,
manuals, white papers, lectures and seminars, marketing,
technical marketing and support documents. Virtual Quill
provides "words to sell by..." Find out more by e-mail at
<mailto:info@vquill.com>
_______________________________________________________________
This newsletter is sponsored by Fluke Networks
Special Report: Understanding the Changing Nature of Branch
Office Networks

Significant revenue is generated at the branch office. Business
needs to be seamless between locations. This special report
provides an approach to a resourceful way of using new tools and
analysis for branch offices. Learn about the analysis and
tools used to run a seamless branch business, click here to
download the report now,
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=108371
_______________________________________________________________
ARCHIVE LINKS

Breaking Windows networking news from Network World, updated
daily: http://www.networkworld.com/topics/windows.html

Operating Systems Research Center:
http://www.networkworld.com/topics/operating-systems.html

Archive of the Windows Networking Tips newsletter:
http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/nt/index.html
_______________________________________________________________
FEATURED READER RESOURCE
TEN WAYS TO STOP SPYWARE

You will get spam down to a manageable level this year, but then
spyware will kick in. Spyware cleaners will help, but won't
eradicate all the unwanted activity at the office, at home.
Here's a ten step guide you can follow to curb the spyware
problem:
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlwnt3130>
_______________________________________________________________
May We Send You a Free Print Subscription?
You've got the technology snapshot of your choice delivered
at your fingertips each day. Now, extend your knowledge by
receiving 51 FREE issues to our print publication. Apply
today at http://www.subscribenw.com/nl2

International subscribers click here:
http://nww1.com/go/circ_promo.html
_______________________________________________________________
SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES

To subscribe or unsubscribe to any Network World e-mail
newsletters, go to:
<http://www.nwwsubscribe.com/Changes.aspx>

To change your e-mail address, go to:
<http://www.nwwsubscribe.com/ChangeMail.aspx>

Subscription questions? Contact Customer Service by replying to
this message.

This message was sent to: networking.world@gmail.com
Please use this address when modifying your subscription.
_______________________________________________________________

Have editorial comments? Write Jeff Caruso, Newsletter Editor,
at: <mailto:jcaruso@nww.com>

Inquiries to: NL Customer Service, Network World, Inc., 118
Turnpike Road, Southborough, MA 01772

For advertising information, write Kevin Normandeau, V.P. of
Online Development, at: <mailto:sponsorships@nwfusion.com>

Copyright Network World, Inc., 2005