Absolute beginner's guide to home networking

the long version

Finally, there's an authoritative guide to home networking. Absolute Beginner's Guide to Home Networking goes far beyond traditional printer or Internet sharing, and is geared to help readers: * Understand home network types and concepts. * Install, configure and interconnect various types of wired and wireless networks to achieve the desired goals of entertainment, information access, and home security/control with Windows, MacOS, and Linux-based systems. * Use the home network to share and enhance entertainment (digital audio and video) and recreation (Internet access, online gaming, IM and video chat) options. * Integrate business network hardware (notebooks with Intel Centrino technology, Wi-Fi or Intel PRO/100 or PRO/1000 wired Ethernet) with a home network to exploit telecommuting, work-from-home, and remote education opportunities via Internet, VPN, and remote-access connections. * Manage and control home lighting, HVAC, and security within the home and remotely. * Manage, protect and troubleshoot the home network.