Picture yourself networking your home or small office

xiv Chapter 1 Assembling Your Network Installation Tool Cache.. This chapter discusses the tools you will want to have in your network installer’s toolbox; let’s get startedstocking your

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2008929250 ISBN-13: 978-1-59863-557-7

ISBN-10: 1-59863-557-3

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Cengage Learning is a leading provider of customized learning solutions with office locations around the globe, including Singapore, the United Kingdom, Australia, Mexico, Brazil, and Japan Locate your local office at:

Picture Yourself Networking

Your Home or Small Office

Dennis C Brewer

Publisher and General Manager,

Course Technology PTR: Stacy L Hiquet

Associate Director of Marketing: Sarah Panella

Manager of Editorial Services: Heather Talbot

Marketing Manager: Mark Hughes

Acquisitions Editor: Megan Belanger

Project Editor: Kate Shoup

Technical Reviewer: Neil Slagle

PTR Editorial Services Coordinator: Jen Blaney

Copy Editor: Kate Shoup

Interior Layout: Shawn Morningstar

Cover Designer: Mike Tanamachi

Indexer: Katherine Stimson

Proofreader: Gene Redding

For product information and technology assistance,

This book is dedicated to my loving wife Penny, whose unwavering support of my writing career and

encouragement to stay the course is very much appreciated

I thank her for her sacrifice of the time used for this book—

time we would have otherwise spent together picnicking at the shores of Lake Superior or camping in Upper Michigan’s great outdoors.

F irst, I would like to thankagent, Carole McClendon at Watersidemy

Productions, and my acquisitions editor for

this project, Megan Belanger I would also like to

thank Kate Shoup for an excellent job of finding

and organizing the essence of a readable book

from my sometimes rambling first drafts My full

appreciation goes, too, to Neil Slagle for working

to improve this text by providing technical insight

and asking all the right questions I would also

like to recognize my friend Robert Fleischmann

for his contributions Many thanks, too, to Shawn

Morningstar for her great work on graphics and

layout Finally, thanks to the entire staff at Course

Technology that played a role in development of

this book, no matter how small You are all so

positive and easy to work with!

iv

Acknowledgments

Another supporting cast deserves gratitude fortheir assistance, pieces and parts, tools, and coun-sel That list includes Charlie Kariainen, the store manager at the Alltel branch in Houghton, Michigan;Bill Kobe and Ken Olkkonen at my local electrical-parts supplier, Bill’s Electrical, in Calumet, Michigan;and Tim Shriver at automatedliving.com for hisenthusiastic support of this project

My appreciation also goes out to all of the nies who make these wonderful computer and net-work hardware and software components so cool

compa-to use and interesting compa-to learn and write about.Without these terrific products on the market-place, there just wouldn’t be much to say!

About the Author

D ennis C Brewerinterested in electronics at an early age,—who became

having been influenced by his older

brothers, Ed, Alfred, and Paul, and encouraged by

his sister Margaret—earned his Bachelor of Science

in Business Administration from Michigan

Technological University in Houghton, Michigan

He received further training in the military, first

as a member of the U.S Navy Reserve (which he

joined in high school, and in which he ultimately

attained the rank of Chief Interior Communication

Electrician), then from the Army R.O.T.C program

during college, and finally from the Michigan

Army National Guard, which he entered as a 2nd

Lieutenant Combat Engineer after graduating from

the Army Engineer Officer Basic Course at Ft

Belvoir, Virginia

A certified network engineer with almost 25 years

of experience working with computers and networks,Brewer’s expertise in the field ranges from hands-

on building and repairing of computers all the way

up to setting policy and charting the course fortechnology objectives Now an IT consultant,Brewer juggles a roster of clients that include edu-cational institutions, various business enterprises,and a Washington D.C.–based consulting firm Inaddition, he has authored several technology arti-cles, and has written four other books including

Wiring Your Digital Home for Dummies and Security Controls for Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 IT

Compliance.

Brewer and his wife Penny, who live in Laurium—alittle town in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, close toLake Superior—enjoy camping in nearby MichiganState Parks and spending time with their three resident cats, Resa, Biddy, and KC

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Introduction xiv

Chapter 1 Assembling Your Network Installation Tool Cache 1

Basic Tools 2

Power Tools 3

Task Lighting 5

Specialized Tool Kits 7

Telephone-Wiring Tools 7

Network-Wiring Tools 9

TV Cable Wiring Tools 10

Electrical Repair Tools 10

Testing, Troubleshooting, and Repair Tools 12

Helpful Holding Tools 13

Personal Safety Equipment 14

Chapter 2 Network Design Fundamentals 17

Understanding Networking Roles and Responsibilities 18

Network Designer 18

Installer 19

End User 19

Network Administrator 19

Troubleshooter 19

Defining Quality 20

Quality by Design, Not by Default 20

Functionality 20

Size 21

Reach 21 Table of Contents

Speed 22

Extensibility 24

Ease of Use 25

Reliability 25

Ease of Administration and Maintenance 26

Security 27

Availability of Documentation 28

Orderliness 29

Load Balance 29

Identifying Necessary Networking Components and Determining the Network Infrastructure 30

Network Installation Milestones 33

Chapter 3 Selecting Your Host Servers 35

Server-Selection Criteria 36

Software Requirements 37

Operating System 37

CPU 38

Expansion/Upgrade Criteria 39

Drive Types, Space, and Speeds 40

Physical Characteristics 42

Brand 43

Other Considerations 44

Expected/Required Service Life 44

Reliability Issues 44

Warranty and Extended Warranty Options 45

Service and Support Contracts 45

Price 45

Chapter 4 Selecting Peripheral Equipment 47

Common Network Peripherals 48

Categorizing Peripheral Equipment by End-User Community 49

Equipment Needed by Individuals 49

Functional Equipment for Groups 50

Equipment That Serves Everyone 50

Mapping End Users’ Needs, Equipment, and Locations 51

How Equipment Is Shared 52

Network Operating System (NOS) Dependent 53

NOS Independent 53

Workstation Dependent 53

Connection Considerations 54

Ethernet 54

Input/Output (I/O) 55

Adding Audio and Video Features to Your Network 62

Audio 62

Video 63

Chapter 5 Automating Your Home Network 67

Home Network Functionality Levels 68

Setting Up a Home Automation System 70

System Requirements 70

Installing HAL 71

Setting Up HAL 75

Tutorial: Setting Up Automated Controls for a Porch Light 79

Top Ten Home Network Software Recommendations 84

Determining Home Network System Requirements 85

Assessing Your Needs 85

Calculating Hardware Requirements 86

Chapter 6 Network Operating Systems 89

Exploring NOS Functionality 90

Using Microsoft Vista as a Basic NOS 91

Choosing a Small-Business NOS 96

Novell (http://www.novell.com) 96

Red Hat (http://www.redhat.com) 97

Sun (http://www.sun.com) 97

Microsoft (http://www.microsoft.com) 97

ix

Picture Yourself Networking Your Home or Small Office Table of Contents

Chapter 7 Network Installation Planning and Wiring 99

Selecting Locations for Network Equipment 100

General Criteria 100

Criteria for Locating Servers 104

Criteria for Locating Workstations 105

Criteria for Locating Routers 105

Criteria for Locating Web Cameras 105

Criteria for Locating Printers 106

Criteria for Locating Wireless Access Points 108

Installation of Network Wiring 109

Mounting Wall Boxes 110

Running the Cables 114

Making the Connections 117

Building Patch Cords 120

Adding Surge Protection 124

Testing the Network Wiring 129

Chapter 8 Connecting Your Home Network to the Internet 131

Know the Lingo: Internet Technical Terms 132

TCP/IP 132

IP Address 133

DHCP 134

MAC Address 134

NAT 135

Private Networks 135

Subnet Mask 136

DNS 136

Seven-Layer OSI Network Model 136

Assessing Internet Service Plans 137

Important Plan Features 137

Less-Important Plan Features 141

A Benchmark Plan 143

x

Making the Connection 145

Connecting with Dial-Up 145

Connecting with DSL 149

Connecting with Cable 155

Connecting with Wireless (Wi-Fi) 159

Chapter 9 Managing Your Network 161

Overview of Network-Management Tasks 162

Hardware Management and Maintenance 165

Cleaning 165

Performing Inspections 165

Upgrading Firmware 166

Upgrading Hardware 166

Repairing Hardware 166

Running Diagnostics 167

Administration 168

Maintaining System-Wide Documentation 168

Administering and Supporting End Users 168

Chapter 10 Network Security Concepts 175

Security Sectors or Zones 176

Logical Security Zones 177

Data Security Zones 180

Physical Access Zones 180

Data Classification 181

Open Data 181

Protected Data 182

Restricted Data 182

Protecting Personal Privacy 184

Security Policy Domains 185

Baseline Security Measures 186

Chapter 11 Networking Without the Wires 189

Extending Networks with Wi-Fi 190

Installing a Wireless Adapter 191

Connecting to a WAP 194

xi

Picture Yourself Networking Your Home or Small Office Table of Contents

Setting Up a WAP 196

Managing a Wireless Network 198

Wireless Connection Metrics 201

Chapter 12 Managing Your Firewall 205

Types of Threats 206

Understanding Firewalls 208

Filtering Inbound or Outbound Traffic 209

Filtering by Port Number 209

Filtering by Traffic Type 210

Filtering by Program, Application, or Service 210

Implementing and Administering Your Firewall 211

Using the Windows Vista Home Edition Firewall 212

Using the Norton 360 Firewall 216

Using the 2Wire Gateway Firewall 220

Chapter 13 Security Software 225

Determining Security Software Needs 226

Identifying Inherent Risks 226

Threat Vectors 227

Risk Avoidance 227

Defensive Measures 228

Deploying Desktop Security Software 230

Removing Old Security Applications 231

Loading the New Security Application 232

Chapter 14 Installing and Maintaining Network Software 239

The Software Maintenance Cycle 240

Loading New Software 242

Computer System Requirements 242

Installing the Software 243

Loading Updates, Service Packs, and Patches 247

xii

Scheduling Updates 250

Updating Your Windows Vista Software 250

Updating Your Security Software 254

Updating Other Software 255

Activating New Software 256

Performing First-Run Diagnostics 259

Backing Up and Restoring Your System 261

Setting Up Automatic Backups 262

Restoring Your Files and Computer 264

Chapter 15 Staying Connected with Mobile Wireless 267

Obtaining Wireless Internet Access 268

Loading the Drivers and Installing the Phone Software 270

Authenticating and Registering the Software 274

Using the Device to Connect to the Internet 276

Appendix A Mobile Communication Service Providers 279

Major U.S Cellular Service Providers 280

Satellite Service Providers 280

Appendix B Free or Cheap Home or Small-Office Network Software Downloads 281

Appendix C Your Window to the World: The World Wide Web 283

Leveraging Your Connection to the Web 284

Popular Uses of the Web 286

Finding or Publishing Information 286

Communicating 287

Enjoying Entertainment and Media 290

Engaging in Commerce 291

Downloading Software 292

Surveillance 292

Index 293

xiii

Picture Yourself Networking Your Home or Small Office Table of Contents

T his well-illustratedphotos and diagrams, complemented bybook includes

extensive and easy-to-follow text, to aid

novice and experienced do-it-yourselfers alike to

network their home or small office right—the first

time It’s designed to provide all readers with all

the information they need to get the most from

modern computer and networking technology at

home or in the office This is a book that geeks will

happily recommend to their technology-challenged

friends!

What You’ll Find in This Book

This book includes everything you need to know to

set up your home or small-office network, whether

it uses wired or wireless technology You will learn

how to select and set up Internet connections,

servers and workstations, firewall security, and

pro-tective software to minimize risks from malicious

code In addition, you’ll discover how networking

technology can be used to automate your home,

boost security of the physical premises, talk to

others via IP phone connections, provide

entertain-ment, and more Each step of the process is covered,

including selecting equipment, parts, and tools;

wiring and installing the network; and installing

and setting up required software

Who This Book Is For

This book is for anyone who wants or needs to set

up a home or small-office network, whether theyneed a little help or a lot The reader should havesome basic knowledge of computing and an understanding of how beneficial it is to design,build, and install a home or small-office network.Those who already have a home network but haveyet to add Web cameras, entertainment servers, orother features such as systems for controlling light-ing and appliances would also be interested in thisbook If your organization’s management just toldyou “We need a computer network Go make ithappen!” then this book should be your first read

How This Book Is Organized

The chapters in this book present material first in

a general way and then move to specific examples,showing in a step-by-step fashion how to set upand manage a home or small-office network Thefirst part of the book covers the basics, such asrequired tools, network-design fundamentals, security principles, and roles of the network func-tionaries

The text then focuses on more specific details such as server selection and configuration, locatingand selecting peripherals, and setting up a home-automation server to control lights and appliances

xiv

Introduction

The book concludes with appendices that will helpyou choose a mobile wireless provider, find freeand nearly free network software, and leverage networking technology to get your personal orcompany message out to the millions of peoplewho use the Internet.

This text is intended to remove any fears you mighthave about setting up your own network As I tellall my clients, “There is nothing you can do onyour computer that can’t be fixed.” So be bold!

Go forth and network without fear

Midway through the book, you’ll find information

on network operating systems, planning for and

installing wiring and setting up wireless networks,

connecting to the Internet, security concepts, data

classification, and protecting private information

and other important data

The final third of the book covers the ins and outs

of using wireless technologies at a specific location

as well as leveraging Wi-Fi to stay connected as

a working road warrior, vacationing vagabond, or

what have you In addition, this section teaches

you how to perform network software maintenance,

use and update security software, and work with

gateway firewalls

Picture Yourself Networking Your Home or Small Office Introduction

xv

©istockphoto.com/Olivier Blondeau

Indeed, most DIYers highly value their tool cache, and findadding to it to be nearly as much fun as using the tools toget a job done Those of us who are inclined to do the workourselves can never have enough tools.

If you have no tools, then getting started building your owncache will be the first step in installing your home or officenetwork In fact, you might consider tooling up to be a proj-ect of its own This chapter discusses the tools you will want

to have in your network installer’s toolbox; let’s get startedstocking your tool cache with the essential tools needed forbuilding a home or small office network

1

T he basic hand tools picturedFigure 1-1 are useful for many householdin

and office chores In fact, these basic tools

can be used for any number of DIY tasks, from

changing a drive belt on a clothes dryer to

replacing the handle on a faucet

Some tools you’ll want in your basic toolboxinclude the following:

씰 Phillips-head screwdriver assortment

씰 Flat-head screwdriver assortment

씰 Cutting knife

Basic Tools

To store this type of tools, a modestly

sized plastic or fiber toolbox is

recom-mended as this help keeps tool from

rusting Avoid the temptation to buy a

very large tool boxes; instead, consider

keeping a number of specialized

tool-boxes or totes with the tools and small

parts necessary for certain types of work

all in one place, making sure each

tool-box is light enough to carry easily

Figure 1-1

These tools are useful for many tasks Ever heard the expression “Sharpen the

saw”? It is an adage used anytime it is necessary to maintain something—your tools included Always take the time to clean your tools after use Inspect them for wear or damage and replace worn parts when needed before stowing them away When you pick up a tool to do a job, you want it in ready-to-work condition Well-cared-for and properly operating tools are safer tools.

2

Assembling Your Network Installation Tool Cache Chapter 1

The socket drives make tightening nuts andbolts easy; sometimes, deep sockets will berequired for nut tightening on long-windedbolts When running network wires in floorjoists, using an electric drill with a paddle bitmakes quick work of creating a path for thewires Drilling though a thick beam or wall isfacilitated with the elongated or extension bits,also shown in Figure 1-2

O f course, most DIYers feelcan never own too many power tools they

If, however, you are just getting started,

or your interest in tools starts and stops with

projects like installing a network or wiring a

sound system, you really need to own just two

power tools: an electric drill and a hand-held

electric jig saw

Figure 1-2 shows a portable electric drill, along

with a drill bit, a drill sizing card, an elongated

bit, a ream, and three sizes of socket drives that

fit the drill chuck The chuck on this drill does

not require a chuck key; instead, you place the

drill bits in the chuck, which you tighten by

rotating the two halves of the chuck Be sure

to acquire a drill that is variable speed; on a

variable-speed drill, the trigger functions like a

gas pedal, regulating the rotational speed of the

chuck This enables you to use the drill for fine

work such as tightening screws, where you need

to control the turning speed (Note that the

longer-style screwdriver bits can be put in the

drill chuck to make tightening screws easy work.)

3

Power Tools

These two power tools also come in

handy for other projects you might

undertake at home or in the office.

Starting with these tools and adding new

ones over time won’t just better equip

you for an ever-widening range of DIY

projects; it can also be fun!

Figure 1-2

A drill and bits are essential network-installation tools

When working in existing buildings and

installing wall outlets or drilling to create a path

for running network wires or TV cable, there are

two tools that further facilitate safe drilling and

even provide some degree of safety for the

premises Figure 1-3 shows a stud finder, which

is designed to find the uprights in a wall, and a

metal detector, which helps locate metal pipes

and other hazards in a wall They come in many

styles and types; be sure to become familiar with

the operating instructions for the one you buy

An electric jig saw is indispensable for such tasks

as cutting holes in drywall or paneling for

mounting wall boxes Although it is okay to use

a keyhole saw to install one or two outlet boxes,

if you have many to do, using a jig saw will

make the job much easier As with the drill, you

should look for a jig saw with a variable-speed

trigger so you can control the cut rate The

model shown in Figure 1-4 has another nice

feature: a quick release for swapping out blades

4

Figure 1-3

Think of these detectors as safety tools for you and

the building; using them prevents damage

to expand your tool cache, spring for battery-powered versions You’ll appreci- ate their portability—although they do cost more, and you’ll likely need extra batteries on hand.

Notice in Figure 1-4 that there are a number

of types and styles of blades for wood or metalcutting, each with different tooth counts and offsets for rough and quick or smooth cutting

Assembling Your Network Installation Tool Cache Chapter 1

A lthough there are manyof lighting that could prove useful, threetypes

types of task lighting come in particularly

handy for networking and wiring tasks:

씰 Pen light A small pen light, either

clipped to your shirt pocket or clipped

or hanging from a key chain (see Figure

1-5), can make it easy to see behind a

computer tucked into a corner or peer

into a wall opening to find a network

wire or the end of a fish tape (a.k.a draw

wire) like the one shown in Figure 1-6.

씰 Bent-neck flashlight You can lean the

bent-neck flashlight shown in Figure

1-5 against something or clip it to your

belt or shirt pocket to aid in visibility

for close-in work in dark corners.

Alternatively, you might hook it onto a

coat hanger or wire to cast light where

it is needed, leaving your hands free for

the task Powered by D-cell batteries, it

will stay lit for many hours if needed

씰 Corded trouble light If you find

your-self installing your network without

ambient lighting—for example, if you

are in a new build where lighting is not

yet available in every room—a corded

trouble light with a rough service or

appliance bulb installed will be the best

option for lighting your work area

This fish tape by Klein helps with pulling new wires

in walls and conduits

Notice in Figure 1-5 the protective shield in

front of the light bulb; never use a trouble

light without a shield, and always unplug the

cord to change a burned-out or broken bulb.

To keep your portable lights on and running

when you need them, and to save money,

pur-chase three sets of rechargeable batteries for each

light That way, you have one set in the light,

one set as backup, and one set in the recharger,

trading off as needed to ensure a steady supply

of on-task lighting Two views of a AAA/AA

plug-in battery charger and rechargeable

batter-ies are shown in Figure 1-7; notice the plug is

built right into the unit and folds away for flat

storage when not in use

6

Figure 1-7

Using rechargeable batteries saves money

In time, you may find yourself switching all your battery-powered devices over to rechargeable batteries, as doing so makes good sense economically—especially when you consider that rechargeable batteries can be recharged 500-plus times Assuming

a four-pack of standard batteries costs

$5, you’ll save roughly $2,500 over time (minus the extremely modest cost of electricity—$1 or less for 500 recharges, assuming electricity costs 15 cents per kilowatt hour) by using rechargeable bat- teries! Also, using rechargeable batteries means you’ll avoid time-consuming trips

to the hardware store for replacements and help preserve the environment.

Assembling Your Network Installation Tool Cache Chapter 1

Telephone-Wiring Tools

When installing Internet connections over DSL

or IP-to-analog phone interfaces or simply ing a phone to a new location, it is good to havethe necessary tools for working with phone wireand phone outlet jacks The telephone-wiring toolsshown in Figure 1-8, along with the basic handtools already mentioned, are sufficient to getyou through most telephone-wiring and outlet-jack installations

mov-I n addition to the basic toolspower tools, and lighting equipment men-,

tioned, you will want to build an inventory

of specialized tools for network wiring and other

network tasks such as installing NIC and other

cards in computers, mounting a shelf, or

installing a wall box

7

Specialized Tool Kits

As you read this section, you’ll notice

that several tools appear in multiple lists.

That’s because I wanted each individual

list to be as complete as possible My

strategy is to keep multiple toolboxes,

each with a label on one end—for example,

“Network,” “Telephone,” “Electrical,” and

so on—and to stock each toolbox with

all the tools needed to perform a certain

kind of job, enabling me to simply grab

the toolbox I need when I have a job to

do That means I frequently buy

multi-ples of the same tool I realize that to

some, this approach will seem like

overkill; I present it here, however, to

illustrate just one way to improve

effi-ciency when it comes to managing your

Tools for telephone-wiring projects

These include the following:

씰 Set of jeweler’s screwdrivers

씰 RJ-11 combination strip and crimp tool

씰 Punch-down tools

씰 Allen-wrench set

씰 Paddle drill bit

씰 Elongated drill bit

씰 Small adjustable wrench

씰 Magnetic pickup wand

씰 Small pointed-nose vise grip

씰 Small arched-nose vise grip

씰 Parallel-jaw pliers

씰 Assorted flat-head screwdrivers

씰 Assorted Phillips-head screwdrivers

씰 Multi-tip screwdriver with TORX and

square tips

씰 Needle-nose pliers

씰 Combination wire cutter and stripper

씰 Small open-end wrench set

씰 Lighted magnifying glass

씰 Scissors

씰 Slotted screw head starter

씰 Phillips-head screw starter

씰 Small diagonal cutting pliers

8

Figure 1-9

Soft-sided tools boxes are great for keeping tools handy

Assembling Your Network Installation Tool Cache Chapter 1

Network-Wiring Tools

Building home and small-office networks

involves myriad activities such as hooking up

battery backup units, installing NIC cards in

computers, running network wires and cable,

and often mounting equipment in shelves,

desks, and racks To meet the multifaceted needs

of a network installer, some general-use and

more specialized tools are needed Figure

1-10 shows the general-use tools needed for

installing networks; Figures 1-11 and 1-12 show

more specialized tools These tools include the

following:

씰 Small hand mirror

씰 Small diagonal cutting pliers

씰 Small offset needle-nose pliers

씰 Small straight needle-nose pliers

씰 Wire nippers

씰 Small level

씰 Standard diagonal cutting pliers

씰 Assorted flat-blade screwdrivers

씰 Assorted Phillips-head screwdrivers

The hand mirror is used mostly for seeing the

back of the computer while plugging in network

cables without moving the CPU case on the

desk The combination stripper and crimper kit

enables you to make any length network cable

you might need and to test them Notice that

this kit also includes the wrist grounding strap

needed for replacing components in a computer

to prevent static electricity discharge that could

damage sensitive electronic components The

wire pairing for termination Ethernet straight

and crossover cables is discussed in detail in

Chapter 7

TV Cable Wiring Tools

For installing cable modem Internet connections,

it may be necessary to install some additionalon-premise TV cable In that case, the only toolyou need to add to your networking kit is an RG-6 crimping tool—although if you only have afew to do and use the latest compression water-tight cable ends, it is easy enough to sledge theRG-6 cable into the fittings using a standardcombination pliers and a channel lock, situated

180 degrees apart to keep the squeezing sure even

pres-Electrical Repair Tools

Most DIYers feel comfortable doing minor trical work such as rack-mounting electric powerbattery-backup units, adding power strips thatplug in, or doing other very minor electricalwork such as replacing a power cord To make

elec-it easier to complete these types of simple andrelatively safe jobs, you’ll want to have handy

an electrical repair toolbox filled with the toolsshown in Figure 1-13

10

Figure 1-12

This kit contains an RJ-45 crimp tool and other

specialized tools for making CAT-5 or CAT-6

connec-tion cables, used to connect your network devices

together

When installing small office networks or more complex home systems, it may be necessary to make some minor modifica- tions to electrical wiring or electrical power outlets If you have never done this before, we suggest you hire a quali- fied electrician who is licensed in your state

Assembling Your Network Installation Tool Cache Chapter 1

They include the following:

씰 Assorted flat-head screwdrivers

씰 Assorted sizes Phillips-head

씰 Small adjustable pliers

씰 Large adjustable pliers

씰 Paddle drill bits

씰 Elongated drill bits

씰 Outlet tester

씰 Combination square

Note that these tools are useful for other jobs

such as assembling desks and racks, for

mount-ings of all sorts, and for doing many other home

and office network–related work For example,

the red plug-in outlet tester shown helps you

verify that backup power supplies are installed

in grounded and properly wired outlets

11

Figure 1-13

Electrical repair tools can serve many needs, just like

the basic tools discussed earlier

T here are many specializedtools you can buy and certainly justify thetesting

expense if you often perform network

installations For most DIYers, however—especially

those on a budget, or who will be installing only

one or two networks—there is one tool that can

be quite useful for testing wiring, batteries,

supply voltages, continuity of a circuit, and so on:

a volt/ohm/amp meter, sometimes called a

multi-meter Figure 1-14 shows one with a

selec-tion for measuring DCV (direct current voltage),

ACV (alternating current voltage), a diode test,

an ohms measurement, and a continuity test

This particular unit is auto ranging, which means

it automatically scales the digital readout to

match the range of the input applied up to 400

volts This tester and a little knowledge will help

you measure and troubleshoot circuits, wiring,

batteries, power supplies, and much more

When you hook up your network for the firsttime, things might not work as expected, making

it necessary to perform some troubleshooting.When this happens, it is helpful to have anassortment of cables and connectors on handthat are known to be good Figure 1-15 shows

an assortment of known-good cables and nectors, used only for troubleshooting; that way,you can eliminate (or confirm) the possibilitythat a faulty cable has caused the problem

con-12

Testing, Troubleshooting, and Repair Tools

Figure 1-14

This very versatile tester is used to compare actual

readings to specifications for ohms and volts

Figure 1-15

It is nice to have known-good testing cables in yourtoolbox

Assembling Your Network Installation Tool Cache Chapter 1

Helpful Holding Tools

From time to time, when working alone, youmay find yourself short of hands When con-fronted with more to hold than you have hands

or fingers, you can benefit from any number oftools designed to hold things when you can’t(see Figure 1-17):

씰 Small tool pouch that can be fitted

on a belt

씰 Small table clamp-mounted vise

씰 Meyer-pliers (vise grip with welded

C-clamp)

씰 Multi-armed clip stand

씰 C-clamp

The vise grip with the integrated C-clamp is one

of the greatest holding tools when workingalone Its C-clamp can clamp on to large or smallstationary items, and its grip jaws can be quicklyand tightly clamped on to objects of many sizesand shapes and hold them lightly or tightly Forcosmetic protection on finished parts use a cloth

to line the jaws to avoid scratching surfaces

Two important cables to have in your

trouble-shooter’s bag of tricks when connecting Ethernet

cables to computers, routers, or switches are a

straight-though CAT-5 or CAT-6 Ethernet cable

and a crossover cable The crossover cable is

used for connecting like devices, such as two

computers, to each other When connecting

a computer to a switch (an unlike device), a

straight through cable is used

Figure 1-16 shows one final tool you should

con-sider including in your cache: a soldering iron,

which is representative of a class of tools that

are typically used to make repairs This class also

includes instant glues, heavy tapes, silicone

glues, and shrink-wrap plastic wire wrapping

13

A basic troubleshooting rule is to start

with the easy, move to the obvious, and

then examine the more difficult Otherwise,

Murphy’s Law will almost certainly apply;

if you start with the more difficult, it’s

practically guaranteed that your problem

will be of the simple variety.

N othing takes the funproject faster than an injury—especiallyout of a DIY

one that is preventable You must always

keep workplace safety paramount in your mind

Indeed, having the right safety equipment is as

important as having the right tools

Your most important piece of safety equipment

is your safety glasses You should always use

them when working with tools—especially power

tools Even the simplest, most innocent job can

turn disastrous when a foreign object finds its

way into the sensitive tissues of the eye Face

shields and safety glasses can be used in

combi-nation when working with powered grinding

wheels or sanders Don’t take chances with any

potential for eye injury Beyond safety glasses,

you’ll want the following basic personal safety

equipment on hand for each person on your job

site (see Figure 1-18):

Assembling Your Network Installation Tool Cache Chapter 1

As mentioned, safety glasses or goggles should

always be available on the job when airborne

particles are being cast in to the air; so, too,

should dust masks A pair of well-fitting leather

gloves is helpful for saving your skin from

abrasive surfaces A hard hat is essential when

anyone in the work group is working over your

head—literally Anytime you are working with

power tools, it is highly advisable to use a GFCI

outlet or GFCI cord; both help prevent electrical

shock in the event a cord is cut or a piece of

equipment faults to ground and can also help

protect you when you are working outdoors, in

garages, or in basements They work by

monitor-ing the electric power gomonitor-ing out on the

non-neutral conductor (black wire) and comparing it

to the current returning on the neutral (white

conductor); if the variance exceeds 5 milliamps,

the circuit turns off, protecting the power-tool

user from a potentially fatal electric shock The

tester shown enables you to test the outlet into

which you are plugging your tools or lamps to

make sure they are wired properly

15

Safety is as much about your state of mind as it is about any safety equipment your might use Taking unnecessary risks, trying to work in a hurry, or attempting to complete a job without assistance when it is needed increases your chances of injury or other harm Take your time

and think though each set of tasks before you undertake them As you visualize the job, ine what could go wrong at each stage, and seek out both the equipment and procedures that will prevent the problem As a DIYer, you’re the boss; it is your job to keep the workers on the project safe—yourself included.

imag-Operating InstructionsWith all the languages printed on the oper-ating instructions included with tools, onemight think they are there to teach you afew foreign tongues Their real purpose,however, is to inform you about the use,care, and safe operation of the tool Take thetime to read them, and make sure anyoneelse using the tool does the same If it’sbeen awhile since you’ve used the tool,reread the instructions Keep them with thetools or in a safe storage place so you canfind them when needed Note that whenthe time comes to repair a tool, these multi-lingual instruction sheets will usually contain any necessary warranty informationand provide a phone number or address forsending the tool in for repairs

C omputer-technology gurusabout technical terms describing network features.freely bandyNaturally, these terms scare many of us mere mortalsaway, leaving us convinced we could never actually designand install a home or small-office network But here’s a secret:Even the pocket-protected gurus do not always understandeach other—although they rarely, if ever, admit it

This chapter dispenses with the jargon and acronyms asmuch as possible to discuss the fundamentals of networkdesign—those basic characteristics on which the success orfailure of your network will rest First, you’ll gain an under-standing of the various roles performed when building andrunning a network Then you’ll discover the characteristicsthat help to define quality in a home or small-office network.You’ll also identify the preliminary steps you should take first

to get your network design on paper, and then to get it intooperation

Designing a network might seem like putting together a hugejumble of puzzle pieces But by tackling each component onits own, you’ll quickly demystify the process and attain yourgoal of designing a network that is easy to use, always works,and takes very little time and effort to operate and manage

2

Network Design

Fundamentals

A s a DIYer, you will fillroles in the designing, building, and many

rollout of your home or small-office

network Each of these roles tends to play an

equally important part in the implementation,

use, and long-term management of the network

(see Figure 2-1) They include:

Network Designer

As the network designer, your first task is todefine the scope, reach, functionality, and size ofthe network If you’re building a home networkfor yourself and your family, this task should befairly simple; as the primary stakeholder in theoutcome, many of the decisions will be yoursalone to make

When you are building a small-office networkwith scores of end users, however, the detailsthat must be considered in the course of thedesign phase will multiply in quantity and com-plexity With a large number of network usersconnecting to an office network, there is bound

to be some divergent criteria put forth as sary features Part of your job will be to meet,validate, and mitigate the expectations as neces-sary—while staying within the budget As thedesigner, it will be your job to dialogue with theend users and workgroups in your organization

neces-to discover what their true networking needs are

so you can deliver those services in the finalproduct Often, those needs will be as simple ashaving access to shared files and libraries

Network Design Fundamentals Chapter 2

Network Administrator

After installation and setup of the network arecomplete, you will change hats to become thenetwork’s administrator As the administrator, itwill be your job to manage end-user accounts,oversee manual and automated backups of critical network data and files, and see to it thatnecessary updates and patches are applied tothe network software and application software

at appropriate times Occasionally, as the istrator, you also will have to deal with andresolve security issues

a problem crops up There may indeed be a bigproblem, but as the troubleshooter, you shouldalways be certain to check the easy, simple, orobvious issues first The “big” problem may be assimple as a cord being unplugged or a trippedcircuit breaker

As the troubleshooter, you will benefit greatlyfrom having easy access to the documentationand specifications for network components, so

be sure to collect this information during thedesign and build phase Finding a problem andapplying fixes are much easier when good docu-mentation is available

Regardless of the size of the network, as the

net-work designer you also have the responsibility to

collect, categorize, and store all pertinent

net-work, computer, peripheral, and device

docu-mentation in one place for use later when doing

upgrades or repairs It will also be your job to

be the software librarian—collecting, cataloging,

and storing all the software that is used on any

computer, server, laptop, or network device in

your domain

Installer

When wearing the network builder/installer hat,

your job is to further identify, specify, and

acquire all the necessary network components,

from the wire and connectors, to the file servers,

to software, to peripheral equipment, and

every-thing in between You must also assemble the

tools and equipment needed to get the network

built (Refer to Chapter 1, “Assembling Your

Network Installation Tool Cache,” for

informa-tion on assembling your basic networking tool

kit.) Finally, you will have to master certain skills

discussed later in this book so you can perform

such diverse tasks as cutting in a low-voltage

wall-outlet box to loading network and security

software to setting up and configuring that

soft-ware as you build out and set up the network

End User

As one of many end users, your own networking

needs must also be accommodated in the design

Before you talk to other users, you should get all

of your own requirements on paper first You

will find that other users will be seeking much

of the same functionality you are looking for

19

E soteric is not a termto a quality home or small-office network.that applies

In contrast, ubiquitous, simple, and

seam-less are A quality network is one that is

accessi-ble from everywhere feasiaccessi-ble and performs all

the tasks and chores it can do for you The

things it can’t do without your help should be

easy and painless for you to perform on your

own

Quality goes beyond the physical network itself

It also relates to measures that minimize

opera-tional, administrative, and troubleshooting time

needed after installation This section discusses

metrics that pertain to quality in any network,

be it small or large

Quality by Design,

Not by Default

Often, networks are built over a long period of

time First, one PC is connected to another Then

a file server is added, followed by more personal

computers and workstations on other floors or

in different buildings This little-by-little

con-struction often takes place without much

thought to the quality of services, the quality of

the design, or even the layout of the network

itself Indeed, the fact that a such a piecemeal

network can perform at all speaks volumes for

the technology involved

The fact is, while this approach may result in anetwork that works, it probably won’t result in

a network that works well—both in the near and

long terms For this reason, as you design andbuild your network, you should take the time tothink things through, plan ahead, and write itdown That way, you’ll never have to use thewords “I can’t do that on my network” or say

“It won’t work.”

Functionality

Successful network design begins with function

—essentially, answering these two questions:

씰 What do you need to do on the

network?

씰 What do all the other end users need

to accomplish on the network?

Answering these questions begins with ing what data will be traveling over the network

identify-to accomplish the end users’ access and nication goals Networking is essentially aboutsharing, exchanging, moving, or communicatingdata among people and/or devices

commu-20

Defining Quality

Network Design Fundamentals Chapter 2

Size

“Network size” refers to the number of nodes orports that can be supported on the network A

node (or port) is a place to connect a computer

or other network device A computer, a printer,and a shared fax are examples of networkdevices that would use one port and become anaddressable node on the network The networksize should be adequate to meet the needs ofthe location, building, or work site Your home

or small-office network may begin small, withone network server and perhaps as few as twonetworked computers and one printer

As you begin considering the size of your work, it might be helpful to think in terms ofimplementation phases First, consider the network that you would like or need to haveavailable from the first day to six months out asphase 1 Then decide how your network should

net-be from six months to one year, or phase 2.Finally, determine how large your networkshould be from one year to three years into thefuture (phase 3) If the number of nodes required

in the future is likely to increase, make your best estimate during the design process as tohow many you will need That way, the growthpattern can be considered and accommodatedfor in the first round of design and purchases ofrouters, hubs, firewalls, and switches

Reach

The most noticeable network issue, which willgreatly frustrate end users, is a speed degrada-tion or permanent difference in speeds betweenuser groups or locations For this reason, yournetwork must be designed to reach end-user nodeconnection points, offering equal service to all

Following is a list of common network functions;

feel free to add some of your own, including all

that apply to your network in your network’s

required functions list

씰 Sharing files

씰 Sharing printers and faxes

씰 File storage and data backup

씰 Running backup media or tapes

씰 Voice over IP telephone calls

씰 Accessing a common storage library

씰 Accessing online directories

씰 Transferring files to remote locations

and servers

씰 Printing documents

씰 Accessing music files

씰 Accessing and sharing multimedia files

씰 Downloading Web pages

씰 Viewing Web cameras

씰 Video conferencing

씰 Gaming

씰 Transferring files via FTP

21

Each of the various physical connecting media

(wire, fiber, cable, or wireless) and engineering

standards for carrying Ethernet signals involves

differing physical limitations with regard to

dis-tance, which must be accounted for in the initial

design As you design your network, consider the

size and frequency of data transmission over

var-ious network segments to identify potential data

choke points and eliminate them by choosing

sufficiently fast communications links that offer

the necessary range

If your network will be of the Ethernet variety

and contained within a 100-meter (328-foot)

radius, then CAT-5 or CAT-6 UTP cable will

gener-ally be sufficient Such a network can be wired

to run 10 Base-T, 100 Base-T, or 1000 Base-T

speeds Local networks that span more than 100

meters are typically connected using fiber-optic

cable, which can easily be used out to distances

of 2,000 meters

When two very distant locations need to be

connected together, the options are to use

the Internet for communication between the

networks, which works best if data streams are

modest in size and frequency, or to use one of

the available connectivity options from telephone

companies (Telcos) A dedicated point-to-point

or routed direct connection will be necessary for

data-intensive and steady-state communications

between network locations

Speed

You may have heard the term “world widewait”—slang used to describe a slow Internetconnection or a slow network To ensure that nosuch phrase is used to describe your network,you must make sure that the network’s datatransmission speed is adequate for all currentand planned uses and end users

Network data transmission choke points can becaused by any number of problems:

씰 The selection of media

씰 Using slow network components

씰 Overloading network segments

씰 Failing to use cable, devices, and

inter-faces that can handle the demand for data throughput volume and speeds

씰 Slow hard drives

씰 Insufficient memory

씰 Poor connections

Tables 2-1, 2-2, and 2-3 list the theoreticalspeeds of the most popular network media Your actual data throughput in bits transmittedand received per second will be far less, based

on many factors and conditions that will be discussed in later chapters

22

Network Design Fundamentals Chapter 2

23

Table 2-1 Ethernet Network Speeds over Copper Wire

Ethernet Unshielded twisting pair (UTP) 10 Base-T 10 megabits per

second (Mbps)

per second [Gbps])

Table 2-2 Wireless Ethernet (Wi-Fi) Speeds

Wireless Ethernet Standard Speed

Table 2-3 Fiber Optic Cable Ethernet Speeds