Identifying Computers to Each Other 496 Setting or changing a workgroup name under Windows Vista To find or change the workgroup name on a computer running Windows Vista, do this: 1.Clic
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And it has nothing to do with the Internet; for that reason, some security experts caution that you pay special attention to any file-sharing set-tings you make on a system that uses the Client for Microsoft Networks
as well as an Internet protocol
✦ Internet Protocol or Microsoft TCP/IP (TCP/IPv4 or TCP/IPv6) The
Transmission Protocol Control (TCP) and the Internet Control (IP) are the basic building blocks for networking as well as the Internet; the IP part of the equation draws its roots all the way back to the first version
of the Internet as a government-military-academic network IPv6 is the latest extension to the code, put in place to deal with the incredible and unanticipated growth in the number of Internet addresses Nearly all machines will require one or both of these sets of code; IPv6 was intro-duced as an element of Windows Vista
✦ QoS Packet Scheduler Introduced with Windows 2000 and Windows XP,
this is a protocol that works to set priorities for the most efficient order-ing of packets sent across a network
✦ Microsoft NetBEUI or NetBIOS This is an older networking protocol
used in versions of Microsoft’s operating system through Windows 98; it has been replaced on modern machines by the Client for Microsoft Networking It may be necessary if you have a mix of machines that includes some running older versions of Windows or employing older hardware designed for outmoded protocols
✦ Microsoft IPX/SPX Also less commonly used, this Microsoft protocol is
compatible with most existing Novell NetWare networks such as might
be found in large businesses or organizations Novell also offers its own version of the protocol that may offer some advantages to users
Depending on your laptop’s particular hardware components, or the demands of certain routers, switches, or other components, the installation process may automatically add other pieces of software to the networking suite; in some situations you may need to manually install networking com-ponents or configure them
Identifying Computers to Each Other
Once the hardware is configured you have to give each computer the equiva-lent of a little tag that says, “Hello My Name is ” and then you have to
✦ Grant permission if any folders or files are to be shared
✦ Specifically permit the sharing of attached peripherals such as a printer The first step is to assign all the computers in a particular network to a common workgroup name As indicated in Table 8-1, the default name for workgroups changed between Windows XP and Vista
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I recommend that you use a name of your own design: This helps avoid con-fusion if you end up dealing with multiple workgroups and it adds a small extra measure of protection against unauthorized outsiders who might try to gain access
Setting or changing a workgroup name under Windows XP
To find or change the workgroup name on a computer running Windows XP,
do this:
1.Click Start
2.Right-click My Computer
3.Click Properties.
4.In System Properties, click the Computer Name tab
You see the workgroup name
5.Click Change
If you want to change the name, that is
6.Type the new name in the Computer Name box
7.Click OK.
The Computer Name tab is shown in Figure 2-2
Figure 2-2:
To rename a computer or
to join a workgroup
in Windows
XP, click the Change button in the Computer Name tab
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Setting or changing a workgroup name under Windows Vista
To find or change the workgroup name on a computer running Windows Vista, do this:
1.Click Start ➪ Control Panel.
2.Act based on your setup:
• You’re using the simplified Control Panel menu: Click System and Maintenance ➪ System
• You’re using the Classics view: Click System
The System page, shown in Figure 2-3, is displayed This page includes details about your computer including its
• Manufacturer
• Model
• Processor
• Amount of RAM
• Windows Experience Index for the machine
Figure 2-3:
The System page of Windows Vista brings together many of the details
of your machine, including a section where you can change the network workgroup and the computer name
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Visiting Windows Vista Network Center 497
You find the workgroup name is in the section Computer Name, Domain, and Workgroup Settings section
3.Click the Change Settings button
4.Type the name of a workgroup
5.Click OK
You’re asked to restart your computer so the changes take effect
Visiting Windows Vista Network Center
Center is apt, because many new and improved network functionalities appear in Vista:
✦ Network Center
✦ Network Map
✦ Network Explorer
✦ Network Awareness
Network Center includes reports on how your machine is functioning as a
member of a local area network (LAN)
Network Map displays the various links graphically, and if one of the PCs in
your LAN loses its link, you can see the problem and use Network Diagnostics in search of a solution
The center is also the entryway to adding connections to other available net-works or the creation of a new one The Network Setup Wizard allows you to set up wired or wireless networks by identifying unconfigured network devices and adding them to the network Also included are features to lock down some of the network settings to protect against intrusion and damage
Under Windows Vista, network settings can be saved to a USB flash drive to allow quick and easy configuration of additional PCs not yet connected
Windows Vista automatically tunes itself to receive more data at any given time by detecting your Internet connection speed and the amount of band-width available to you
Network Explorer simplifies the process of sharing files and peripherals,
presenting a view of all PCs and devices (including printers and modems) on the network; it replaces My Network Places from Windows XP Among its advances: the ability to directly interact with certain devices For example, you may be able to adjust settings or control music playback of current hardware
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Network Awareness can adjust applications based on changing network
elements Among uses of this technology are a home office machine that switches between personal use and connection to a corporate network; the Network Awareness utility recognizes the change and can adjust firewall settings to open or close ports as needed for IT management tools
And Microsoft promises to keep data more secure with enhanced support for the latest wireless security protocols, including WPA2 Safeguards in the operating system help users stay away from fraudulent wireless networks that appear to be legitimate wireless hotspots but are instead intended to capture keystrokes or steal personal information
Ch ch changes in Windows Vista Windows Vista brought a number of improvements in the process of setting
up a network, along with a few changes that may affect some users who have mixes of Windows operating systems on the various machines that are linked See Table 2-1 for a description of the differences introduced with the new operating system
Table 2-1 Default Network Settings in Windows Vista and Windows XP
Default workgroup name MSHOME (Windows XP
Home Edition) WORKGROUP (All other
Windows XP editions) WORKGROUP (all editions) Shared folder name Shared Documents Public Simple file sharing Enabled by default Not enabled by default; to permit
access to shared folders a user name and password must be assigned and used
Detection and access to Detects and accesses Detects and accesses all computers on the network computers in the same computers on the network,
workgroup regardless of which operating
system they’re running or which workgroup they’re included in Place to change settings My Network Places Network folder
and preferences Network controls Located in various utilities Mostly located in the Network and
of the operating system Sharing Center
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Visiting Windows Vista Network Center 499
Setting the network location type
Under Windows Vista, you can assign a network location type that
automati-cally applies a group of security (and other) settings appropriate for the type of network in use
There are three network location types:
✦ Private This computer is part of a network that has some degree of
pro-tection from intrusion by strangers; this may include a router or hard-ware firewall or softhard-ware protection Most home and small business networks are this type
✦ Public This computer is connected to a network available for public
use Examples include networks in hotels, restaurants, airports, libraries, and other purposely open system
✦ Domain This form of private computer is connected to a network that
contains an Active Directory domain controller Many actively controlled workplace networks are configured this way
To check the network location type or to make changes, do the following:
1.Click Start button ➪ Control Panel
2.Click Network and Internet ➪ Network and Sharing Center.
If you use the Classics menu, click directly on Network and Sharing Center
The network location type is displayed in parentheses next to the network name; see Figure 2-4
3.Click the Customize button
This option is to the right of the network name
4.In Set Network Location, click one:
• Private
• Public
• Domain
5.Click Next ➪ Close.
Changing file and printer sharing options Under Windows Vista, when you set or change your network location type to Private, network discovery is automatically turned on This setting affects whether your computer can find other computers and networks and whether those other devices and networks can see your computer
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There are three network discovery states:
✦ On Your computer can see other network computers and devices and
other network computers can see your computer This makes it easier to share files and printers
✦ Off Your computer can’t see other network computers and devices and
can’t be seen by other network computers
✦ Custom The user or a system administrator can select certain specific
settings Nontechnical users should tread carefully here; an incorrect set-ting could make your computer invisible to other machines or open it up
to unwanted intruders
The Network and Sharing Center is also the place where you can make custom choices for sharing In general, if your machine is otherwise pro-tected by a firewall program — either from Microsoft or a third party — you should consider turning on
✦ File sharing
✦ Public folder sharing
✦ Printer sharing
Figure 2-4:
The Network and Sharing Center of Windows Vista shows that this particular laptop is part of a Private network named Hudson
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Joining a Workgroup 501
For the most secure level of protection for your networked machine, you can turn on password-protected sharing When this option is enabled, only per-sons who have a user account and password on the machine you’re config-uring are allowed to access shared files, the Public folder, or any printers or other shared devices
When file sharing is on, files and printers that are opened for sharing on your laptop can be accessed by other machines on the network Printer sharing (for devices attached to the machine you are configuring) can be turned on or off
Public folder sharing can be set up in one of three conditions:
✦ Anyone with network access can open files
✦ Anyone with network access can open, change, or create files in the folder
✦ Sharing is turned off; only persons logged on to the local computer can access the folder
You can turn on media sharing to allow people and machines on the network
to access music, images, and videos on the computer you’re configuring, and this computer can also find the same types of shared files on other machines
on the network
Joining a Workgroup
The basic Windows network is a peer-to-peer system; this means that all
lap-tops as well as desktop computers in the network are considered the equal
of each other; no central computer is in charge and any computer can com-municate directly with another
At the core of a Windows peer-to-peer network is a workgroup You can set
up your network with just one workgroup, or there can be subdivisions with multiple workgroups of machines that can see and work with each other
When you first configure a new laptop under Windows Vista or Windows XP, somewhere between much and all the work of setting up the Workgroup is done for you You can also use automated utilities to transfer settings from one machine in an existing workgroup to a new machine
To see a display of all of the computers that are members of a particular workgroup under Windows XP, do this:
1.Open My Network Places
2.Choose View Workgroup Computers
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This option is in the pane on the left The display shows any member of the workgroup that’s turned on and connected to the network; any machine that is offline or turned off isn’t listed
3.Press the up arrow
All workgroups registered on the network appear
Your Laptop’s Name and Address, Mac
From the start of human history, we have applied names to the places we live That’s how his buddies could tell Joe’s Cave from Mary’s Pile of Twigs Near the Creek Eventually (and actually, relatively recently in some parts of the world, including rural America) it became necessary to add numbers to addresses Oh, and then we get into ZIP codes
If it makes sense for a slow, human-directed operation like the U.S Postal Service or your local police or fire department to require that locations have numbers and street names, it’s even more obvious that a speed, high-volume machine like a personal computer needs a similar kind of addressing scheme In many ways, the biggest assignment given to laptops and PCs is the establishment and maintenance of a huge and expanding database that keeps track of where each and every one of millions and billions of bits of information are stored; the same applies for the components of a network All networks — wired or wireless, local or wide area, and the Internet — work by assigning a unique name or number to the sender and to the receiver and then encapsulating that information in all of the small packets
of data it transmits The intended recipient looks for packets with its address, snags them from the passing stream, and then reassembles the pieces into a complete file
Every laptop connected to a network has the following identifiers:
✦ An IP (Internet Protocol) address Within a network, each IP address is
unique; some IP addresses are intended to be globally unique, meaning there is only one such address anywhere on the Internet Any device —
a computer, network equipment (like routers and switches), or peripher-als (like printers) — can be assigned an IP address In some network setups an IP address is established only for a current session, while in more common small networks it is applied permanently
✦ A MAC or Physical Address A Media Access Control (MAC) address is a
unique code physically encoded within most network interface cards (NICs) or their equivalents in a computer The MAC acts like a name for the device; it is a required element of networking but especially useful in situations where pieces of hardware may have only temporary IP addresses for each session Together the IP and MAC help the network
be precise in identifying and locating a NIC
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Your Laptop’s Name and Address, Mac 503
✦ A local “name” on the network For the purposes of the user, devices
are also given a name that presumably is easier to remember than a com-plex MAC or IP address You can call your computer just about anything;
I call mine all sorts of names depending on how they’re treating me today
The Windows operating system also allows users to append notes to the name of devices For example, I may give my machines names based on their particular user or use (Janice’s PC, or Deep Archive Server) and I might add notes identifying that a particular machine is a Core 2 Duo laptop while another is an antique Pentium 4 used as a storage device
The importance of the name is that it serves as a bridge between the computer (which “thinks” only in terms of numbers) and its human users (who relate much more comfortably to names and descriptive words)
A computer can very easily figure out that Janice’s computer is called 192.185.1.232, but I find it a lot easier to think of the resources on her com-puter as residing on Paul
Naming computers in Windows Vista There are at least three quick and relatively easy ways to change the name of
a laptop if you’re running Windows Vista
Way 1:
1.Click Start
2.Right-click Computer
3.Click Properties
The System window appears
4.Click the Change button.
The button is in the Computer Name, Domain, and Workgroup Settings section
Way 2:
1.Click Start ➪ Control Panel ➪ System and Maintenance ➪ System
2.Click the Change button.
The button is in the Computer Name, Domain, and Workgroup Settings section
Way 3:
1.Click Start
2.Type sysdm.cpl into the Search box