Back Up

Chapter 13 *

Networks *

Certification Objectives *

Networking Capabilities of DOS and Windows *

Sharing Disk Drives *

Sharing Print and File Services *

Installing Software *

Network Type and Network Card *

The Internet and Setting Up a System for Internet Access *

From the Field *

Web Pages for the Professional Upgrade and Repairperson *

Downloading *

E-Mail *

HTML *

HTTP *

FTP *

Domain Names (Web Sites) *

ISP *

Dial-Up Access *

Configuring a Modem *

Configuring Browser *

E-Mail Set Up *

Certification Summary *

Two-Minute Drill *

 

Chapter 13

Networks

Certification Objectives

Networking Capabilities of DOS and Windows
The Internet and Setting Up a System for Internet Access

In this chapter we will discuss networking capabilities such as the sharing of disk drives as well as print and file services. We will also talk about accessing the Internet, it’s basic functions including downloading files, e-mail, and the Web, and what they can do for you.

Networking Capabilities of DOS and Windows

Both DOS and Windows, with the appropriate networking software installed, are capable of sharing files and printers with other persons on the network. In addition, with additional software installed, users can access resources available on other computers in places such as the Internet.

Sharing Disk Drives

The sharing of disk drives is the most basic of networking concepts. Sharing disk drives is exactly what it sounds like—sharing disk drives. When drives are shared, other users are given the ability to access the files that you have stored on your drives. Depending on the particular operating system you are using and the permissions you have set on the files, users could read, add, modify, or even delete files.

Sharing Print and File Services

DOS, Windows 3.x, and Windows 95 are all capable of sharing files and printers with other users on the network. Each operating system has specific methods of sharing these devices. Refer to the operating system’s directions for sharing printers and files.

Installing Software

Each workstation that will be communicating on the network must have software installed on it. This software should include drivers for the NIC, client software that allows the computer to communicate on the network, and software that allows the client software to communicate on the network using the correct protocol.

Network Type and Network Card

DOS, Windows 3.x, and Windows 95 are capable of communicating on nearly any type of network, so long as the correct network card and drivers are installed. The installation procedures for the network card and drivers provided by the manufacturer should be followed.

EXAM WATCH: Whenever installing network drivers, installing network cards, or configuring file and printer sharing, the manufacturer’s procedures should be followed.

The Internet and Setting Up a System for Internet Access

In a period of just a few years, the Internet has been transformed from something that only a select few knew about to something only a select few don’t know about. The Internet has become something that many people depend on for their day-to-day work. It is important that you have a good working knowledge of the Internet, some of its most basic functions, and how they apply to you. Although the majority of average people do not have Internet access yet, a majority of those who do tend to rely on it.

From the Field

Web Pages for the Professional Upgrade and Repairperson

Here are some great Web pages that have to do with the A+ certification, hardware repair, and upgrades. Take the time to check them out. There is a huge amount of good information on them.

Where to get a job once you get A+ certified:

http://www.generalcc.com/joblinks/joblinks.htm

First-rate info on the A+ exam:

http://www.comptia.org/atestrept.html

Download an A+ practice test:

http://www.stsware.com/aplus.htm

Download another A+ practice test:

http://www.aplusexam.com/

Online A+ practice exam:

http://www.a1pctraining.com/asample.htm

Register for your A+ exam:

http://www.sylvanprometric.com/

Excellent hardware page:

http://www.sysopt.com/sphelp.html

A must see, with hardware links:

http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Bay/6866/index.html

A good place to find drivers:

http://www.drivershq.com/main.html

Many, many downloads off all types:

http://www.download.com/

By Ted Hamilton, MCP, A+ Certified

Downloading

Downloading is the process of transferring a file or files from one computer to another. In every instance where a file is downloaded, the transfer is initiated at the computer that will be receiving the file. Any time you click on a link in a Web browser that transfers a file to your computer, you are downloading that file. By definition, each time you load a Web page, you are truly downloading a file. Each Web page is contained within a file that the Web browser understands how to process. Once the file is being downloaded, the browser begins to process the file, and displays the contents of the file.

E-Mail

E-mail, electronic mail, is quickly becoming one of the most popular communication methods within offices and beyond. The concept of e-mail is that people are able to send electronic messages to you that are stored on a server for you until you read them. In fact, e-mail is very similar in concept to traditional mail (commonly referred to these days as "snail-mail"). In both e-mail and snail-mail messages are sent to you and are stored at a post office until you receive them. The major difference is that e-mail is delivered electronically, which in turn allows message delivery to occur within seconds.

HTML

HTML, Hypertext Markup Language, is the language in which most Web pages are written. HTML is a modular language that is fairly simple to use, and allows for special formatting to be applied to documents without a great deal of work. HTML is what the World Wide Web is based upon. The majority of pages on the World Wide Web are written strictly in HTML.

HTTP

HTTP, Hypertext Transfer Protocol, is the protocol that is most commonly used to transfer information in a Web browser. HTTP was originally used to transfer HTML files to computers, but has been adapted to transfer nearly any type of file. HTTP is the most common transfer protocol on the Internet. HTTP is capable of both downloading and uploading, but is rarely used for uploading.

FTP

FTP, File Transfer Protocol, is used to download files from an FTP server to a client computer. FTP is much older than the HTTP protocol, and was in use prior to the creation of the World Wide Web. FTP is fairly fast and is connection-oriented meaning that it attempts to verify that files transferred using FTP have not been corrupted during the transfer. FTP is much faster than the HTTP protocol for downloading files.

In addition to downloading files, FTP has the ability to upload files. Uploading is the process of transferring files from one computer to another. Unlike Downloading, uploading is always initiated from the computer that is sending the files.

Domain Names (Web Sites)

As you’ve no doubt at least been exposed to, whenever you are visiting a Web page, you can access it by typing in a nice pretty name that can be easily remembered. If you remember back to Computers 101, you were always told that everything with computer involves numbers. How can these sites have nice pretty names if they have to use numbers? These pretty names are called Domain Names. All computers connected to the Internet are required to have an IP address in order to be able to communicate on the Internet. Something called DNS, Domain Name System, is used to resolve these pretty Domain Names into the IP addresses that the computer is able to understand. All of this is done behind your back without any user intervention required. A good example of this can be seen in Figures 13-1 and 13-2, where we display the Syngress Media, Inc. home page using the domain name and by using the IP address that is assigned to it. As you can see, the pages are identical.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 13-1: The Syngress Media, Inc. homepage as displayed using the domain name

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 13-2:The Syngress Media, Inc. homepage as displayed using the IP address

ISP

An ISP, Internet Service Provider, is a company that provides access to the Internet. Most ISPs provide dial-up access through modems, but in many cases, they also provide access through higher-speed digital leased lines. In general, any company that provides access to the Internet for customers can be considered an ISP. By saying customers, we are assuming that the people are paying for the service. A company that gives their employees Internet access through a private bank of modems is usually not considered an ISP.

Dial-Up Access

An ISP usually provides dial-up access to its customers. Dial-up access is defined as access provided to the Internet using a phone line and a modem. More correctly, dial-up access does not have to be a connection to any network, be it the Internet or a corporation’s private LAN.

Configuring a Modem

In order for a computer to be able to have dial-up access, a modem must be installed on the system. The modem should be installed according to the modem manufacturer’s instructions. After the modem is installed correctly, the dial-up connection must be configured according to the specifications your ISP provides for you.

Configuring Browser

When a browser is first started, there are some basic configuration steps that should be taken. In most cases, you will not be required to perform these configurations, but they will complement the browser and add a great deal of functionality. The settings that should be configured include the default startup Web page, the user’s e-mail address, and the user’s SMTP server. Figure 12-3 demonstrates some of the common browser settings as they would be entered into Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 13-3: Microsoft Internet Explorer 4 provides an easy configuration interface to enter the default startup page

 

E-Mail Set Up

When configuring an e-mail application, you are usually required to provide some information such as e-mail address, user’s full name, POP3 server, and SMTP server. If your confused with these terms, that’s fine (and common); the POP3 and SMTP settings should be provided to you by the ISP. Figure 12-4 provides an example of the Properties dialog box used for Microsoft Outlook Express. Figure 12-5 shows the Servers panel of this dialog box.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 13-4: Microsoft Outlook Express provides a convenient interface to specify the user’s full name and e-mail address, in addition to some other optional information

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 13-5: Microsoft Outlook Express uses a simple interface to specify the server information, such as SMTP and POP3 servers

 

Certification Summary

This chapter outlined some of the networking features that can be integrated with DOS, Windows 3.x, and Windows 95. Some of these features include anything from sharing files and printers to viewing a Web page on the World Wide Web.

The Internet provides access to many different types of information. Some of the information services that the Internet provides access to include e-mail, the World Wide Web, and FTP.

Two-Minute Drill

When a Web browser is first started, there are some basic configuration steps that should be taken, including configuring the default startup Web page, the user’s e-mail address, and the user’s SMTP server.
When drives are shared, other users are given the ability to access the files that you have stored on your drives.
Each workstation that will be communicating on the network must have software installed on it, such as drivers for the NIC, client software that allows the computer to communicate on the network, and software that allows the client software to communicate on the network using the correct protocol.
Whenever installing network drivers, installing network cards, or configuring file and printer sharing, the manufacturer’s procedures should be followed.
By definition, each time you load a Web page, you are truly downloading a file.
In addition to downloading files, the File Transfer Protocol (FTP) has the ability to upload files.
When configuring an e-mail application, you are usually required to provide some information such as e-mail address, user’s full name, POP3 server, and SMTP server.
Unlike downloading, uploading is always initiated from the computer that is sending the files.
All computers connected to the Internet are required to have an IP address in order to be able to communicate on the Internet.
The Domain Name System is used to resolve Domain Names into the IP addresses that the computer is able to understand.
A company that gives their employees Internet access through a private bank of modems is usually not considered an Internet Service Provider (ISP).
Most ISPs provide dial-up access through modems, but in many cases, they also provide access through higher-speed digital leased lines.
Dial-up access is defined as access provided to the Internet using a phone line and a modem.