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The article discusses the network and system requirements in using the NetInstall service which are ethernet, high-speed network switch and Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). Topics include the ways in connecting NetInstall on a client computer, the capacity of switched ethernet network to support many devices and the steps in setting up DHCP on the server to obtain Internet protocol (IP) address.

The article evaluates several Wi-Fi USB adapters including AirStation WI-U2-866D from Buffalo Technology (UK) Ltd., DWA-182 Wireless AC1200 Dual Band USB Adapter from D-Link Corp. and WUSB6300 802.11ac Wi-Fi client USB adapter from Linksys Corp.

The article offers tips on how to protect the wireless network of the business. Changing the default password is recommended. The author states that business should only use Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) Protected Access 2 (WPA2) encryption. The author also recommends disabling Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS).

The article offers information on how to enhance wireless network. The warning signs that show that the network needs to be upgraded include the slow performance of the network speeds, having dead spots that will not allow get wireless coverage and choppy streaming video. In order for these problems to be solved, it suggests the need to augment the Airport network with wired Ethernet, more Wi-Fi hardware, and powerline adapters. The Gigabit Ethernet is the fastest way to network compatible devices, while the Wi-Fi router is the best connection and support simultaneous dual-band.

The article reviews different Wi-Fi routers such as the Belkin N Wireless Router, the D-Link Wireless N Router, and the Linksys Wireless-N Gigabit Router WNR3500. INSETS: Features to Look For;Intel's 802.11n: No Slouch.

The article outlines the services offered by the Web. Wonder what Yahoo looked like during the dot-com boom? Dial up the Wayback Machine, and you can view cached copies of popular Web sites dating back to 1996. Google offers more than a dozen services, but most are hidden. The GoogleX interface makes all of Google's goodies--such as Gmail, Froogle, Maps, and more--accessible via a nifty Mac OS X-like toolbar. Using Streamload, you can upload gigabytes of music and video files and share them with any other Streamload user you choose. With Mail2Web you can access any Post Office Protocol version 3 or Internet Messaging Access Protocol 4 account, read and respond to messages. On ManiaTV you can submit your own 5-minute video clip; if it is picked, the site will devote an hour of programming to a video of your life. If Windows does not work, but your are unwilling to spend $35 to be aggravated by Microsoft support, the Tech Support Guy can help. Post your question to the site's two dozen forums or search more than 300,000 threads to find an answer. For as little as $15 a month, Constant Contract makes it a snap to create HTML-formatted e-mail newsletters, sign up visitors to your Web site, manage subscriber lists, find out who reads what you are sending out, and identify your most successful marketing campaigns. INSETS: WEBIFY YOUR DESKTOP;MAKE THE BIG SITES WORK FOR YOU;BE YOUR OWN SHOCK JOCK;MAKE $$ FROM YOUR SITE

Tests various networking hardware to determine which works best. Test of both wireless network hardware and those which use power-lines and phone-lines. Evaluation of the network standards HomePlug, HomePNA, Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi5. INSETS: GLOSSARY;How Fast Are They Really?;How Can I Share a Net Connection Cheaply?;How Can I Connect Without Any Wires?

Compares the competing standards of home wireless computer networking systems, HomeRF and 802.11b, which is also known as Wi-Fi. Pros and cons of each; Key features; Costs; Recommendations; Advice regarding the use of public Wi-Fi networks. INSET: Wired Alternatives: HomePNA, HomePlug.

Examines network options for connecting home computers and peripherals. Comparison of traditional wired network, home phone-line networks, and wireless local area networks; Description of Intel's AnyPoint, a networking kit; Speed of Netgear's wired ethernet, the fastest of the networks being compared; Explanation of wireless local area networks and the importance of encryption codes; Options for home server-based networks. INSETS: More Options Are Coming for Wireless Home Networks;Home Servers Serve Up Files for Connect Users.

Presents tips, tricks and shortcuts for operating a software, computer and operating systems. How to reposition the icons in the computer; security options to consider when changing an Internet Protocol (IP) address; Software needed to make iMac and G3 computer to surf the Internet by voice. INSET: Make AppleWorks Database Buttons.

Evaluates several protocol analyzers used in identifying trouble on the local area network (LAN). Cabletron Systems' MacLanview; Neon Software's NetMinder series; AG Group's Peek series; Process involved in protocol analysis; Tips in selecting the appropriate protocol. INSET: Protocol analyzers...

This section offers steps on how to start with a service-oriented architecture (SOA). It was learned that SOA builds on the stack of protocols that define Web services. It is a broad, standards-based framework in which services are built, deployed, managed, and orchestrated in pursuit of new infrastructures that respond to shifting business demands. SOA starts with a business promise of enabling enterprises to re-engineer themselves. The more dynamic the business, the more it will benefit from a well-implemented SOA. Before implementation, it is recommended to survey surroundings. An SOA involves a sprawling set of technologies. Another step is the connection of first services. Coming next is the selection and deployment of a registry or repository. The issue of convergence should come next. Security plans must be laid and a messaging infrastructure must be built. The last two steps is the deployment of service management and orchestration.

This article focuses on the continuous growth of Secure Sockets Layer virtual private networks (SSL VPN) in the U.S. industry as of February 2005. Traditionally, providing road warriors and business partners with access to back-end servers and resources has meant deploying an Internet protocol security (IPSec) VPN. For site-to-site communication, IPSec remains the only game in town, but for client-to-enterprise links, it is falling out of favor precipitously. The administrative overhead associated with deploying IPSec client software has become overwhelming given the ever increasing number of clients to support. There is also the potential that IPSec tunneling will allow an untrusted device to punch a hole through the firewall--and directly into the heart of the network. These kinds of basic problems with IPSec are why SSL VPNs are showing up on more and more IT radar screens. With an SSL VPN, there is no client software to install, let alone maintain. Not only does this cut down on IT labor, but it also means remote users aren't limited to specified locations. Public Internet kiosks, partner sites, a borrowed laptop--they all work. More importantly, with an SSL VPN there is no open tunnel to the enterprise. SSL VPNs enforce security policies on each connection, allowing access only to specific resources based on user, location, and/or device. INSETS: Locking Down the End Point;Standardizing Trust at the Edge.

This article focuses on the efforts of Asian companies to promote adoption of the next-generation Internet Protocol (IP) called IPv6. The IPv4, limits the Internet to approximately 4 billion unique addresses. Because U.S. companies control the majority of those addresses, there has been no hurry to deploy IPv6 in the U.S. By contrast, however, Asian companies, backed by government investments and mandates, have been aggressively rolling out IPv6. But more than balancing supply and demand, Asian governments and companies also see IPv6 as a business opportunity, an opportunity to innovate and leapfrog the rest of the world. By making it easier to assign Internet addresses to devices and services, IPv6 could accelerate adoption of new applications such as third generation mobile services, gaming, smart consumer appliances, smart sensors, home automation and voice over IP. That potential for innovation may prove to be the biggest driver for IPv6 adoption in the U.S., as Asian IPv6-enabled products make their way westward. The biggest advantage of IPv6 global addressing will be its capability of facilitating applications that require fast, plug-and-play connections among peer devices on the edge of the network. INSETS: Where Are We Now?;VoIp and IPv6: A Perfect Pair.

This article evaluates several Internet protocol (IP) private branch exchanges (PBX). The 3Com, Avaya, Siemens, and Zultys IP PBX were tested at the Advanced Network Computing Laboratory at the University of Hawaii. Each product provides all the familiar telephony functions, from putting people on hold with insipid music, to transferring calls and recording voice mail. But each has capabilities that go far beyond the basics. Even better, these PBX can send phone settings out to the telephone sets attached to the network, providing great control over how the phones work, which features are available to which users, what locations the phones can call and how the phones can be used. The Siemens HiPath 4000 is another mega-PBX that can he configured to support as many as 100,000 users if several of the units arc networked together. The individual HiPath 4000 that we tested can support up to 12,000 users. 3Com VCX V70 provides a Web-based interface for phone users, allowing them to set various parameters for their phones. This means that they can use the Web interface to set up button assignments, forwarding rules, speed dial numbers, and so on. Avaya's S87OO is scalable enough to handle nearly any enterprise. Properly configured, this PBX can support up to 36,000 users per server and up to 1 million by networking multiple servers together. The S8300 is much smaller, limited to 450 users per server or 28,800 per network. The company Zultys says that the MX25O was designed from the ground up as an IP PBX platform, rather than being a telephony platform with IP grafted on, or a computer with telephony grafted on. INSET: Prepping for Networked Telephony.

The article explores the benefits of merging phone systems into an enterprise data network by deploying voice over Internet protocol (voIP). Unlike residential voIP, enterprise voIP is not simply about making cheap international calls over the Internet. Instead, it aims to replace the proprietary private branch exchange (PBX) phone systems and dedicated voice networks enterprises have relied on for years with standards-based call processing servers or appliances that run digitized voice and call control over the packet-based IP data network. Also known as IP PBX, these servers provide most or all features of their legacy PBX predecessors and connect over the local area network or wide area network with IP-enabled phone handsets. IP handsets look and function exactly like their legacy predecessors, but voIP vendors have recently added more personal computer (PC) -like features, such as color displays, Web surfing capabilities and limited access to data applications in some models. IP softphones provide the same handset capabilities in software installed on a PC, notebook or sometimes even a personal digital assistant. In addition to phones and IP PBX, an important component of voIP systems is the gateway, which is used to translate between IP and the time-division multiplexing scheme used by legacy PBX and the public switched telephone network. Most IP telephony systems support a collection standards from the International Telecommunications Union called H.323, which defines how the different elements of an IP telephony system interact. H.323 includes a number of voice compression standards. A competing, up-and-coming standard is called Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). SIP can serve as standard for other Internet applications such as instant messaging, chat and multimedia messaging as well and is expected to be major force driving converged applications. INSETS: Locking Down Voice;VoIP Directory Assistance;How To Speak VoIP;Are You Ready for VoIP?

This article reports that managing 50 network devices can be a challenge, managing 5,000 is allegedly nigh impossible, and many modern networks allegedly exceed even such figure. Allegedly, in most large network environments, heterogeneous hardware is the rule, and simple tasks such as changing simple network management protocol strings, implementing and verifying best-practice guidelines, and managing configuration changes across the enterprise allegedly become enormous problems. In addition, many network administrators allegedly rely on custom tools to manage devices en masse. Although such may allegedly be appropriate for some enterprises, others are clamoring for a better mousetrap. Three companies are allegedly looking to provide such service. Allegedly Rendition Networks' TrueControl 3.0 product, AlterPoint's DeviceAuthority Suite 1.1, and Tripwire's Tripwire for Network Devices 3.0 all aim to be the network device management tool of choice. All three allegedly offer centralized management of heterogeneous network devices, supporting network devices from multiple vendors. The management tools for different vendors allegedly vary wildly. From Cisco-style command-line interfaces to Web-based configuration tools, every vendor allegedly has its own view of how a device should be managed.

Presents a comparison between the IPSec and the Security Socket Layer (SSL) virtual private network (VPN) standards. Advantages of SSL VPN over IPSec VPN; Differences between IPSec and SSL when it comes to controlling access back-end servers and other resources; Risks of SSL. INSETS: Should You Outsource Your VPN?;Virtual Network of Peers.

Discusses issues concerning the addition of blockers, spammers and services like Verisign's SiteFinder on the Internet. Problems caused by SiteFinder according to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers; Arguments against adding intelligence on the Internet; Concerns over the deployment of Internet protocols. INSETS: How to Cut Network Interference;Who Runs the Internet Anyway?.

Reports on the emergence of Session Initiation Protocol for Instant Messaging and Presence Leveraging Extensions (SIMPLE) and the open-source eXtensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP) from the Internet Engineering Task Force. Challenge of stitching availability awareness into a variety of systems; Capabilities of SIMPLE; Advantages of XMPP.

Evaluates the performance of Internet Mail Access Protocol 4 (IMAP4) products available for electronic mail (e-mail) users. History of IMAP4; IMAP4 client/server compatibility. INSETS: IMAP: A partial blessing for some, not... by Dana Gardner;A natural fit with SuiteSpot, but offline features are shaky.;Solid basic client is born to work offline, and its free.;Esy's client has the basics but lacks enterprise features.

Presents a comparison between Eudroa Pro 2.0, Pronto Mail 2.01, SuperTCP Suite 96 and Z-Mail 4.0 e-mail computer software. Corporate information on e-mail software manufacturers Qualcomm Incorporated (Inc.), CommTouch Software Inc., Frontier Technologies Corporation (Corp.) and NCD Software Corp.; Installation and configuration of the e-mail software; Thier ability to create and send messages. INSETS: One-stop shopping: Internet access for PCs..., by Dean Andrews.;Report card..

Provides information on the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP), a networking protocol that allows users to have easy access to corporate information. Names of companies that use this networking protocol; Why these companies use this service; Functions and features of protocol; Details on support of LDAP by computer vendors. INSETS: Seeking a master view;Not lightweight.

The article focuses on the insider previews build of Windows 10. Topics include Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 20211 update allows to search the lists of file types, protocols, and apps when setting a default app for a certain task; and Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 20206 update makes changes to the Windows Emoji Picker by introducing an updated design in keeping with Fluent Design principle.

The author reflects on the difficulty encounter in mobile interoperability, due to different network protocols and varying generations of cellular technologies in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. He mentioned that users who travel within a single country has a good interoperability among different operator's network, while users going out from a country to another country or continent, will experience an inconsistent or no network coverage based on the Global System for Mobile Communications. INSET: GLOBAL SOURCING & PRICING STRATEGIES.

The article presents a comparison of Aventail EX-2500 and the F5 Networks FirePass 4100 secure socket layer virtual private networks and offers information on its features and cost.

Reviews two voice-over Internet Protocol-capable firewall software. Firewall 1400 from Ingate; SonicWall Pro 2040 from SonicWall.

The article evaluates two load balancers for computer networks. NetScaler 9400 Secure Application Switch is really several appliances in one. It includes sophisticated load balancing, web site acceleration technologies such as Hypertext Transfer Protocol compression and Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)-session consolidation, Secure Socket Layer (SSL) acceleration, intrusion detection and prevention, web caching and SSL Virtual Private Network capabilities. More than just a sophisticated load balancer, it increases the performance of web sites by consolidating the dozens or even hundreds of TCP connections used between a client and server to one, reducing TCP/Internet Protocol traffic and load on the server. Further, it buffers TCP connection information from slower clients, reducing TCP overhead. Redline Networks' E/X 3250 Version 3.4 has added features in its new OverDrive, which is essentially a simple programming environment for creating content-delivery applications. It makes the overall device much more flexible, because any feature can be programmed as desired, rather than having only the options that ship with the device. Because the appliance is typically installed in a single-leg typology, there is no need to change the network settings for the servers behind it.

Interviews Scott Hull, a content networking architect, regarding content delivery networking. Definition of content delivery networking; Technologies involved in content networking; Information on secure sockets layer.

Reports on the JXTA open source code unveiled by Sun Microsystems Inc. to provide a framework for peer-to-peer applications and protocols over the Internet. Issues on security and manageability involving peer-to-peer applications; Applications of the peer-to-peer protocols.

Provides information on the mobile Internet Protocol (IP) standard for wireless communications. Details on the Mobile IP standard; How mobile IP works; Deployment of Mobile IP.

The article focuses on the benefits of virtual private networks (VPN) for data protection by business users of the iPad tablet computer. The iPad supports three kinds of VPNs Point-to-Point tunneling Protocol (PPtP), Layer 2 tunneling Protocol (L2tP), and Cisco Internet Protocol Security (IPSec). It explains the method for configuring a VPN setup and procedure for using it.

The article describes how the distance between the two nodes of a Wi-Fi network leads to the break down of communications between the two. While Wi-Fi signals are supposed to reach 150 feet in any direction from a gateway, that optimistic number is rarely reached indoors. One common cause is absorption. Building materials between two points can soak up so much of the signal that one device can't detect another. There are two main indicators that one's AirPort network is having range problems. First, Wi-Fi networks one knows are there don't show up in the AirPort menu. Second, when one does connect to a network, the AirPort icon in the system menu bar shows just one or two signal-strength bars and frequently slips to no bars. INSET: Outside In.

This article presents tips on using the Internet and avoiding e-mail attacks. According to the author, it is advisable to assume any message as malicious. Next, use a new found paranoia to examine messages critically. Even messages that appear to come from firms where a user has an account, may not be real. Before clicking a link or taking any action requested in a message, determine for certain that the message is genuine. Return addresses, embedded links, and images can deceive. Look for dire warnings and other classic con techniques, undoubtedly accompanied by a link to a bogus Web site where the user will be asked to enter personal information. As a clue, the phishing message may be delivered to an e-mail address that the user don't use with that company or institution. The author emphasized that if a user get a message at an address he or she never registered with, the e-mail is fake. Intuition and a suspicious nature are a good start, but to separate real messages from bogus ones, the user also need to decipher their Web addresses. Another clue is the string of numbers following the URL prefix http://. It should be remembered that every Web site resides at a specific Internet Protocol address. INSET: Nvu Brings Free Web Authoring to the Firefox Browser.

This article looks at how softphone technology works. Softphones are based on Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). When users use VoIP, they send voice data over packet-based networks instead of over traditional telephone networks. VoIP achieves this feat by relying on several proprietary audio codes that compress the voice data before sending it and then decompress it on the receiving end. Skype's codecs, for example, deliver bit rates between 3 and 16 kilobytes-per-second, depending on the amount of available bandwidth. Until recently, VoIP required a small hardware device that users plugged directly into a cable or direct subscriber line. Users could then connect any standard telephone to that device and receive a dial tone. A softphone essentially lets users replace the hardware box with the computer. It uses a Mac's built-in microphone and speaker, and relies upon the processing power to convert analog audio to digital. Skype relies on the public Internet to transmit voice data, so it is susceptible to quality degradation during peak traffic periods. As with a cellular telephone, dropouts happen and users can lose a call entirely during peak traffic hours. And Skype uses the almost unbreakable 256-bit Advanced Encryption Standard to keep calls private.

This article evaluates several enhanced and speed-boosted 802.11g devices: AirStation 125 High-Speed Mode Wireless Cable/DSL Router with AOSS from Buffalo Technology; Linksys Wireless-G Router with Speed Booster from Cisco Systems; and AirPlus XtremeG DI-624 from D-Link Systems. The second generation of 802.11g promises speeds of 108 to 125 megabytes per second (mbps). The high-speed wireless mode is non-standard: in order to get the promised speed increases, the user have to utilize both cards and routers that have the same type of speed-boosting technology, currently selling in two competing variants: 108 and 125 mbps. Though all these devices are certified Wi-Fi G compatible that simply means they will perform in the standard 54-mbps 802.11g mode with G cards and routers from other vendors. Super G has been criticized in the past for using so much of the Wireless Fidelity band that other networks in the vicinity, which normally would seek out and use non-overlapping channels to avoid interference problems, could be affected. Users should probably not be buying these routers in the first place. When reliable and compatible Wireless Fidelity service for typical broadband connections are needed, an inexpensive 802.11g router will provide all the speed required.

Discusses issues concerning the utilization of discarded personal computers (PC) for specific tasks. Application of discarded PC as a network file server; Use of old PC as a network print server; Configuration required for installing Internet connection in old PC.

Discusses Bluetooth, a short-range wireless technology that uses a low-power radio frequency to connect a range of devices for file sharing and networking. Evaluation of products with the Bluetooth protocol, an Ericsson celluar telephone with wireless headset and a pair of Toshiba personal computer (PC) networking cards; Benefits and problems with Bluetooth technology.

Discusses Internet Protocol (IP) management for information systems managers. Security features against address duplication of TCP/IP; Difficulty of IP management; Class sizes of address blocks; Features of the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP); Disadvantage of Classless Inter-Domain Routing (CIDR). INSET: Internet addresses get outclassed..

The article looks at the IPv6 protocol. Topics include the limited number of IP addresses available on the older IPv4 protocol, how the IPv6 will make home automation, file sharing, and peer-to-peer programs; the dual stack process that permits IPv6 devices to run IPv4 simultaneously; and the increased security features built into IPv6.

The article evaluates the 802.11ac wireless networking standard.

The article offers step-by-step instructions for using the Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) when browsing the Internet.

The article discusses how to solve the problems related to e-mail when using a single program. It is suggested that to send e-mail from public places instead of home, one can add a free Gmail or Yahoo! Inc. account, as the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) ports used by these services are very rarely blocked. The article also discusses how to deal with password problems when the Internet Service Provider's (ISP's) mail server may be offline.

The article offers information on SPDY, a new application-layer protocol, being developed by Google Inc. Google says that, in laboratory tests, SPDY improved page-load times by 27 to 60 percent compared with HTTP, and from 39 percent to 55 percent when using SSL (Secure Sockets Layer). Google conducted those tests by downloading 25 of the top 100 Websites ten times each, over simulated home network connections, using a prototype Google Chrome browser and a Web server that it has developed.

The article reports on the launch of Bluetooth 3.0 by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group. The updated version will feature an increased transfer rate of 3 megabits per second to 24 megabytes per second. Aside from offering faster speeds, it also adopts the 802.11 radio protocol that allows the Bluetooth protocol to function on a Wi-Fi signal when transferring large amounts of data.

The article offers information on the announcements by Microsoft Corp.'s Macintosh Business Unit (MacBU) on the future updates to Microsoft Office that will enhance collaboration and sharing. Microsoft said that it will stop using the Web based distributed authoring and versioning protocol in favor of exchange web services that would bring better compatibility, performance, and reliability. The MacBU reportedly plans to release the Entourage update in late January as a public beta while the final release will come later this year and will be free for all Office 2008 users. The second update will give Mac users the ability to work with the sharepoint products and technologies suite of services and Office Live Workspace.

The article reviews several free or cheap computer software tools for locating Wi-Fi networks including WeFi, Plug and Browse, and WiFi Guardian.

The article offers tips for setting up file sharing. It suggests the use of OS X's built-in file-sharing feature, which provides the mechanics on how to create and utilize the tool for file-sharing, and the adoption of virtual private network (VPN). It presents guidelines on accessing other Mac when the two computers operate in different local networks. It also emphasizes the importance of knowing home Mac's Internet protocol (IP) address or domain name and recommends the use of lower-technology alternative.

The article offers information on three tools that make finding and using public and private Wi-Fi networks easier and more productive. Fon is an interesting variation of the Hotspot networks that enable free or inexpensive roaming. Loki is a Firefox plug-in that uses Wi-Fi networks data to make one's browser location-aware. Whisher Technologies' Whisher includes chat and file-transfer tools like those found in iChat, but it's designed to work well over a local network. Whisher's software constantly updates an encrypted password cache for one's networks, their buddies' networks, and shared public network.

The article presents tips on how one can save time by setting up the FTP software to launch the editing program whenever one double-dick on files with specific extensions. These tips are useful for those who regularly edit HTML, CSS and JavaScript files on the Web server. When using Stairways Software's Interarchy 8.2, one has to select an HTML file, choose Listing, Get Info, and in the Get Info window, choose Edit With program name from the Double Click Action For Files Like This pop-up menu. If one uses Fetch Softworks' Fetch 5.1, then one has to select an HTML file and choose Remote, Get Info, select the Edit The File radio button, and choose a program from the Edit Files Like This With pop-up menu.