Networking

A computer network is a system for communication among two or more computers. These networks may be fixed (cabled, permanent) or temporary ( via modems or other devices, e.g. pigeons). The Internet is perhaps the most famous of the Wide-Area Networks in existence today, but there are many other networks that are better, faster, larger, smaller and more diverse, most of which are completely unrelated to the Internet.

There are many types of computer networks, most are either defined as:

local-area networks (LANs) : The computers are geographically close together (that is, in the same building).
wide-area networks (WANs) : The computers are farther apart and are connected by telephone lines or radio waves.

There are also some other network types that are named for their use(s). although they don't get the same kind of recognition, are equally used in conjunction with LAN/WAN network types:

campus-area networks (CANs): The computers are within a limited geographic area, such as a campus, office or military base.
metropolitan-area networks (MANs): A data network designed for a town or city.
home-area networks (HANs): A network contained within a user's home that connects a person's digital devices.

Becoming more common these days is the VPN or Virtual Private Network. VPNs can be used to provide a secure connection across an unsecure network such as the Internet. A set of standards, referred to wholly as IPSec (RFCs 2401-2412), allows network devices from different vendors to interoperate. There are two main types of VPN connections:

Remote access
LAN to LAN

In addition to these types, the following characteristics are also used to categorize different types of networks:

Network Devices : to identify, assist, aid, troubleshoot or describe a network for faster or more reliable network transmission.
Network Topologies : The geometric arrangement of a computer system. Common topologies include bus, star, and ring.
Network Protocols : The protocol defines a common set of rules and signals that computers on the network use to communicate. the most common Protocol for LANs is Ethernet, also known technically as IEEE 802.3.
Network Architecture : Networks can be broadly classified as using either a peer-to-peer or client/server architecture.

Computers and devices on a network are sometimes called nodes. Computers and devices that allocate or provide resources for a network are called servers.

Choosing an ISP

Either a New connection or Looking for newer Plans there are plenty of tools out there that are free to use This Includes Whirlpools Very own Broadband Choice Guide http://bc.whirlpool.net.au

Also there is http://yourbroadband.com.au/ and the Site i have listed below

Connection Speed and Drop outs

Also alot of people Find it hard to work out why they have slow speeds, this mainly due to Distances from an Exchnage or Being stuck on a RIM this Next site will help you work out that. http://www.adsl2exchanges.com.au/ if startitng a thread on this please go to this site and fill in your details and then post them in the thread .. you will be asked to do this anyways so why not just reduce the ammount of time wasted... Tho Whirlpool hjas reps from Major ISP"s there so it woudl be better off asked there.

Filtering

You need to have every device Filtered.. Extra Handsets (base stations for cordless phones), Fax Machines, Dial up Modems and Dialer devices Like Alarms and Medic alert devices you can only have 3 devices filtered via inline filters any more than that, you will need a Central Filter installed for you.

Guides

Note: Courtesy of User:stmok's forum sig

Also see Networking & Comms form the OCAU Content Archive.

Software

Top 75 Security Tools

Networking

Guides

Software

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