Once you hook up your PC to a network, it’s not a personal computer anymore. You are now part of a network of computers. You don’t need to have a PhD to understand the benefits of networking. In fact, you learned everything you need to know in kindergarten: Networks are all about sharing. Specifically, networks are about sharing files, resources, and programs.

Do you share information by copying files to a floppy disk and passing on the disk? Do you wait in line to use the computer that has the customer database? You need a network! Perhaps you already have a network, but find that your computing life is more complicated than before. Networking For Dummies, 6th Edition, can help. This is also your go-to guide if you

• Work with a PC, and either have a network or are thinking about getting one.
• Want to save money by holding online meetings or videoconferences.
• Are a Macintosh user who wants to network Macintosh computers.
• Are clueless about what a network is.
• Are a network user who want to know how to get the most out of it.

From network newbie to network guru, you'll find out everything you need to know about using, building, and managing a network. You also discover how to

• Gain Internet access for your users
• Create your own Web page
• Set up a wireless network
• Use a network printer
• Deal with receiving and sending e-mail
• Resolve network problems
• Tune into security issues
• Protect your network data
• Work with cables, hubs, and switches

Networking For Dummies, 6th Edition, talks about networks in everyday terms. The language is friendly; you don’t need a graduate education to get through it. And the occasional potshot will help unseat the hallowed and sacred traditions of networkdom, bringing just a bit of fun to an otherwise dry subject. The goal is to bring the lofty precepts of networking down to earth where you can touch them and squeeze them and say, “What’s the big deal? I can do this!”

Average Customer Review: ( 33 customer reviews )
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Before buying the book I had searched the Web in vain (both computing-specific sites and search engines) looking for answers to these questions. This book provided the information I needed to answer all five questions. The information is very product specific (eg, Novell NetWare can be difficult to install and the complication and expense is not justified for a five-user network; a peer-to-peer LAN is easy to set up with Win95 or Win98; PCI network cards are much easier to configure than the older styles). The book is well written (ie, easy to read, to-the-point, relevant).

If you decide to install a peer-to-peer LAN with Win98, this is probably the only book you will need. If you decide to install a client/server LAN with a network operating system (NOS) such as NetWare or NT Server, you will probably need a book specific to those systems for installation and maintenance (there are Dummy books for both systems - which I haven't yet read). If you don't know which NOS to use, this book can help you decide.

65 of 68 found the following review helpful:

Definately for beginnersDec 22, 1999
By C. McGlone
Not a bad book, but it is VERY basic. If you have worked with a network before, there is little information you can glean from this text. For someone who knows little about networks, or computers as a whole, this may be a good purchase. Do not, however, expect this book to teach you everything you need to know about working with a network. It is very simple, which makes the topics easy to understand, but expect to get another book centering on your particular network if you plan to do some serious networking. I would, however, recommend this book to newbies in networking as it goes over terms and concepts that everyone must know.

23 of 25 found the following review helpful:

Gives you all the basics on computer networks + some extrasJun 10, 2002
By Dr. Eduard Van Kleef
Who this book is for: This book is intended to help the absolute beginner in computer networking get a basic overview of the issues and terminology involved. It is well-written and contains some of the typical "dummies"-humor helping to keep the text easily digestable.

What this book is NOT: A how-to manual that will get your network going if you're sitting in front of a screen clueless on a Sunday morning. That said: after reading this book you won't be clueless any more.

On to the detailed contents. The book is divided into six parts:

Part I: The absolute basics
No further info necessary: How to open up your computer, so that you can install a networking card, for example.

Part II: Building your own network
Planning you network; making basic choices of e.g cabling etc.

Part III: Network management for dummies
Basic network management: making backups, taking care of security

Part IV: Webifying your network
Creating the connection to the internet; creating websites

Part V: More ways to network
Miscelaneous, like: networking your home, dial-in networks and non-standard hard-/software (MacIntosh; Linux etc.)

Part VI: The part of tens
A number of top-ten lists, partially amusing, partially useless

As I wrote: the book is really good in helping you to obtain an overview of the types of networks that exist and the different terminologies/choices involved. Once you have made a decision that you will need/want to create a network involving operating system X running on computers of type y, you will probably need to get another, more specific book to help you dig deeper.

If you haven't made that decision yet: Go get this book!

14 of 14 found the following review helpful:

Great entry level book!Jun 28, 1999

I am a Macintosh graphics professional who recently started a new job for an ad agency. The network guru quit and guess who was left with the responsibility of maintaining and troubleshooting the studio network? This book saved my butt! It's a wonderfully written book geared toward the complete network dummy. I would have paid double.

14 of 14 found the following review helpful:

Very very basicJun 25, 1999

Wow, perhaps the title says it all. If you need to know how to connect to a network *printer* this book might be the one for you. I build web sites and want to learn more about the backend, hardware side of things. Our network guys suggested that I learn about different kind of networks, OSI model and protocols. For that, I recommend "Teach Yourself Networking Visually" by maran graphics. The "Dummies" book is not what I needed. It's probably ideal for extreme novices.

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