Click OK to close the Network dialog box. If Windows prompts you to restart your com-

Part II ✦ Planning and Setting Up Networking — Hardware and Software Linksys’ Instant PowerLine USB Adapter Linksys makes an adapter that enables you to plug your PC or notebook into your existing USB port. The adapter then connects to the power line and enables you to share data, printers, and the Internet access of your choice. The adapter includes software that installs drivers; the adapter is also Plug and Play, so it’s easy to install. The Instant PowerLine USB Adapter enables speeds up to 12 Mbps. You can plug multiple PCs into the USB port, install the software, and network another computer easily. The adapter is compatible with Windows 98, Me, 2000, and XP. Cost is around 100. GigaFast Ethernet’s HomePlug USB Adapter Wall Mount Similar to the Linksys USB Adapter, the GigaFast Ethernet HomePlug USB adapter enables you to create your network using your existing power lines. With speeds up to 14 Mbps over home power lines, this USB adapter uses standard encryption, has an estimated range of 900 feet in wall, and hangs on the wall to make the connection site neater and easier. Cost is around 100. Any USB adapter or bridge, such as this one, is compatible with any computer with a USB port, whether the computer is running Windows, Mac operating systems, or a Linux system. NETGEAR’s XE102 adapter NETGEAR makes an adapter that plugs directly into the wall power socket and requires no drivers. Using this adapter, you can share an Internet connection, transfer files, and play games. Because there are no drivers, you can use the NETGEAR XE102 adapter in a PC or a Mac. You can also use the adapter with a network printer or Xbox, if you need to. You need one adapter per network device, at around 80 per adapter. IOGEAR’s HomePlug Ethernet Bridge The HomePlug Ethernet Bridge enables you to connect your computers over the power lines and bridge your power line network to an Ethernet network. The device has a 10100Base-T adapter, so you can connect it to a network switch or router that is connected to your Ethernet network. Looking at Virtual Private Networks Virtual private network VPN describes a network between two or more computers that com- municate securely over a public network. The network is private but has limited public network access. VPNs often connect one computer to a private network, such as a clientserver network at your workplace. VPNs can also connect one private LAN to another, as in server to server. VPNs include strong authentication and encryption. They also mask information about the pri- vate network topology from hackers on the Internet. VPNs are very safe. There are two ways to create a VPN connection: gateway to gateway and host to host. A gateway is a device — such as a router, switch, or even a computer — that enables the connection between two other computers. The gateway can be considered a bridge between networks. The host is the device — usually a computer — that has the VPN software installed. Windows 2000 and XP have the VPN host software already installed. If you use a network at work and would like to connect to that network, ask your boss about VPN networking. For your home network, however, you have other much easier methods of network- ing to use. Chapter 8 ✦ Using Alternative Cabling Methods The HomePlug Bridge enables speeds up to 14 Mbps and offers 56-bit encryption. Range is up to 900 feet, and the bridge is compatible with Windows 98, Me, 2000, and XP. Looking at the Future of Networking Alternatives Home networking has become increasingly popular as more and more homes add two, three, and more computers and users to the family. Traditional cabling and networking hardware might be acceptable to many home users; however, manufacturers are always looking for less expensive networking solutions. In addition, manufacturers are looking for ways that make networking easier for home users. Laying wire, configuring software, adding drivers, management applications, and so on are all tasks manufacturers want to streamline. Microsoft, for example, has already created operating systems — Windows 2000 and XP — that can sense the network when they are first connected, configure themselves, and join the workgroup or clientserver network on their own. Other improvements and advancements are in the works, from many manufacturers. Mobile Communications Research also Microsoft is working on wireless connectivity to extend and improve its effectiveness. The target of the software they are currently research- ing is to enable wireless devices to be both mobile-aware and location-aware. This simply means the system adapts to any interference and to changing network topology quickly so that connections are not lost; connections are not even delayed. In addition to this wireless technology, other researchers are using Ultra-Wide Band UWB wireless for high-speed data communication. UWB is a digital pulse wireless technology that is able to carry huge amounts of data. UWB is currently being researched for wireless voice, land mine detection, and systems to help you see through walls; it might someday become available for networking as well. IBM is working with Bell Atlantic to provide wiring systems to homes that provide multimedia and fast speeds. The system installs a multimedia network hub in the home, uses two coax cables, an Ethernet cable, plus other phone wiring, all connected to multimedia ports. The system can send audiovisual signals and computer data, and it supports multiple telephone lines. Many companies are working with fiber optics and optical networking to create super high- speed data transmission. Optical networks send laser light through glass fiber. The media is more expensive than Ethernet or wireless networking, but they handle far higher capacity loads and are much faster. Broadband is another term you’re likely to hear now and in the future of networking. Broadband describes technology — such as cable modem, DSL, T1 lines, wireless technology, fiber optic and so on — that carries numerous voice, video, and data channels simultaneously. Broadband is a “pipeline” on which large amounts of data travel quickly, securely, and efficiently.